A bill was passed in the Iowa House last week about removing certain divisive concepts from public education curriculum and governmental training dealing with racism.

House District 47 Representative Phil Thompson says House File 802 prohibits gender or race-based stereotyping in k-12 public education, regent universities, as well as state, county or local government training. He points out the legislation targets certain divisive concepts.

“The divisive concepts that were outlined in the bill which often are referred to as ‘critical race theory’ that claim to be fighting in the name of racism, but themselves present certain stereotypes and labels that in of themselves are also racist.”

Thompson notes the bill doesn’t prohibit diversity training or limit teaching of African American history. Opposition to the bill argues it doesn’t allow for terms like systemic racism to be included. Thompson comments on that argument.

“I don’t think it’s fair to present our state or any kind of demographic as inherently racist. There are certain concepts with critical race theory that do present some pretty out there arguments as fact, as far as calling people inherently racist or just certain divisive training that we wanted to limit.”

Thompson adds the bill outlines ways for institutions, governmental entities to issue punishments if someone is found violating the policies. Click the link below to view House File 802. 

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&ba=hf802