The Tennessee legislature has passed a law controlling the freedom of teachers and college professors to discuss racism. Quite literally, teachers are required to deliver content without expressing a point of view, for instance, acknowledging that slavery was wrong. The author of the bill says he is promoting freedom of expression by restricting freedom of expression.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—
“Divisive concept” rules are a set of laws passed last year that include many concepts usually taught in courses like sociology, psychology and political sciences.
The bill passed the House of Representatives on April 13, after passing Senate on April 5.
In 2022, lawmakers passed rules that allow state leaders to withhold funding for schools that teach about social, cultural and legal issues related to race and racism. Most of those concepts focus on how the impact of racism affects people today.
The law also specified that schools can teach about ethnic groups’ histories as described in textbooks and instructional materials. Educators can also only teach about controversial aspects of history, such as racial oppression or slavery, as long those discussions are impartial.
The bill, HB 1376, was introduced by Representative John Ragan (R – Oak Ridge). He previously said that the new bill was meant to strengthen the law passed in 2022 by “promoting freedom of expression,” and keep “colleges about advancing knowledge, not about advancing political or social agendas.”
Originally, the bill required institutions to publish a syllabus for each course offered in the semester on its website, meant to assess whether a “divisive concept” may be included in the curriculum. That requirement was removed in an amendment to the bill.
The bill restricts universities from using state funds for meetings or activities of an organization that “endorses or promotes a divisive concept.” It also requires employees who support diversity initiatives to “increase intellectual diversity” and support students through mentoring, career readiness and workforce development initiatives.
Employees would be exempt from the requirement if the new duties conflict with other laws, such as Title IX officers.
It also allows students and employees who believe that the school violated last year’s law a chance to file a report with the school. The school would then need to annually report violations to the comptroller of the treasury, redacting them as needed to stay in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
The bill would also specifically require universities to allow any guest speaker on campus regardless of “non-violent political ideology” or “non-violent political party affiliation.”
The concepts that were banned from lessons in 2022’s law are listed below.
- That one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex
- That a person, by virtue of their race or sex, is inherently privileged, racist, sexist or oppressive — whether consciously or subconsciously
- That a person should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of their race or sex
- That a person’s moral character is determined by their race or sex
- That a person, by virtue of their race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex
- That a person should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or another form of psychological distress because of their race or sex
- That a meritocracy is inherently racist, sexist or designed by a particular race or sex to oppress members of another race or sex
- That Tennessee or the U.S. is fundamentally or irredeemably racist or sexist
- Promoting or advocating the violent overthrow of the U.S. government
- Promoting division between, or resentment of, a race, sex, religion, creed, nonviolent political affiliation, social class or class of people
- Ascribing character traits, values, moral or ethical codes, privileges or beliefs to a race or sex, or to a person because of their race or sex
- That the rule of law does not exist but instead is a series of power relationships and struggles among racial or other groups
- That “all Americans are not created equal and are not endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”
- That governments should deny to any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the law
It also bans lessons that include “race or sex scapegoating” or “race or sex stereotyping,” as those terms are defined in law. In October 2022, a group of UT faculty called the law “chilling,” and questioned the law’s intent.
Rep. Justin Jones (D – Nashville) spoke about the bill when he returned to the House of Representatives after he was expelled and reinstated. He asked a series of questions, such as whether “college students are mature enough to talk about race and systemic racism, some of the concepts you want to prohibit being discussed at the college level?”
“I believe in God. All else is settled by facts and data,” Ragan said.
Jones again asked him to answer the question, but Ragan said he responded to the question.
“So, we’re playing ‘not-answer.’ Okay,” Jones said.
He also asked why the bill was introduced and said it seemed based on “white fragility and fears of the truth of history.”
“This bill was brought to me by a dean of college education, in addition to another university contributed to this bill. That was my motivation, too,” Ragan said.
He also said he did not want to name the person who brought the bill to him.
“How will we be honest about our history if you’re prohibiting any concepts about America’s racist history?” Jones said. “This sounds like fascism. This sounds like authoritarianism. This does not sound like democracy or freedom … This member has consistently invoked God to justify this unjust, immoral and extreme, racist law.”
Speaker Cameron Sexton (R – Crossville) stopped Jones from speaking. Rep. Justin Pearson (D – Memphis) also spoke after being reinstated to the House.
“This is a deeply concerning bill because it is continuing a pattern of practice that is harmful to all people,” he said. “When you try to control what a person thinks, then you are assuming the role of God rather than allowing freedom of thought.”
He said that the list of “divisive concepts” bars discussions on biases, white privilege and racism’s role in slavery.
The bill passed by a vote of 68-26 in the House.
During a meeting on March 13, Ragan said he received complaints from universities in the state about an “overemphasis” of the original law at the expense of “intellectual diversity,” which led to him proposing the new bill.
Representative Harold Love, Jr. (D – Nashville) previously asked if a conference focusing on Black history could still be held and promoted by a university should the bill pass. Ragan said it would be allowed as long as they “are not required to promote or endorse.”
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Diane Ravitch's blog 
Cameron Sexton has been identified as corrupt in recent investigation of his buying a half million dollar house in Nashville but still charging the state money to cover his commute home. I guess God told him to do that.
As for the law passed, I am sure Christian organizations are now officially banned on campus. After all, Jesus suggested a form of radical love that requires believers to sacrifice their own lives for their enemies. Too much discomfort in that idea.
Tennessee folks are tweeting about a big Cameron Sexton scandal that will go unmentioned here. Actually, two scandals. One, he apparently does not live in his district. The other….
“are not required to promote or endorse” Sure, you can have it, you just can’t let anyone know about it. Now that part will get you in trouble.
I taught for thirty years 1975 – 2005 in public schools, and the only time I remember expressing an opinion of mine was about cow milk not being good for humans. Scientific studies have proven it isn’t. Milk does not protect us from.
As a teacher, I avoided politics in my classroom and students never brought up that subject. We focused on reading from library books and textbooks and I taught my students how to write and express what they think about anything. I never told him what they can or can’t think like DeSantis and MAGA is doing.
The one time I talked about cow milk, parents that didn’t care about the science complained and I was ordered never to do that again.
If a student asked me a question I’d answer it but without an opinion. In 1982, I transition to veganism for health reasons. After a few years, the student grapevine spread that fact so every year some student, or more than one, would ask me what I ate if I didn’t eat meat and dairy.
There are thousands of vegetables, nuts, and fruits, et al. Have you ever had stinky tofu or fresh tofu juice? I’ll bet that I’ve eaten vegetables and fruit most people in the US have never heard of.
How many types of meat are there? Where does most milk and cheese come from?
“The mean number of unique foods for each age and sex group was similar—approximately 25 foods.”
Meat, milk, cheese, potatoes, chocolate and sugar in the form of candy and sodas are the main food groups for most Americans.
That was my answer when asked, but I made sure not to tell them what I thought of the most common American diet that often leads to cancer, heart disease, dementia, diabetes, et al.
We are what we eat!
https://www.godigit.com/health-insurance/lifestyle/what-are-lifestyle-diseases
Contrary to popular opinion, dairy products from cows do not protect humans from osteoporosis.
Sorry, I got off topic. My point is that most teachers do not have time to talk about their personal opinions. California has a curriculum for each grade level, K to 12, and each list is too long to teach all in one year.
I read this morning that there is a public school teacher sharing what she does as a teacher each day through her TikTok page. I did something similar starting in 1995-06, when I kept a daily journal documenting an entire teaching year— in great DETAIL. By the end of that year, the journal ran more than 500 pages, single spaced and printed out using a printer. I put the journal in a box and didn’t take that box off the shelf until several years after I retired. Then I turned it into a memoir titled “Crazy is Normal, a classroom expose.” I also launched a blog called “Crazy is Normal.” I don’t promote that book. I only promote my fiction. “Crazy is Normal” sold more than 400 copies in its early years. I suspect most of them were bought by former students of mine. Now it just sits there selling not one copy.
Here’s one of the reviews from another educator.
“Readers who envision eager students lapping up learning led by a Tiger Teacher will be disappointed. Lofthouse presents us with grungy classrooms, kids who don’t want to be in school, and the consequences of growing up in a hardscrabble world. While some parents support his efforts, many sabotage them—and isolated administrators make the work of Lofthouse and his peers even more difficult. Throughout this journal, though, Lofthouse seems able to keep the hope alive that there’s a future for each student that doesn’t include jail—thanks in large part to his sixth period journalism class and its incredible editor, Amanda. – Bruce Reeves”
I believe strongly that we all harbor or acquire certain prejudices and bigotries in our lifetimes, some big, hopefully most small. The key is to recognize them ourselves for what they are and do something about it. I’ve found I tend to go through three stage — again, all my problem, but my way of dealing with it. Recognition, acceptance, and finally, not giving a damn. I am always amazed by people who do so, often vehemently, as a reason for superiority, separation or innocence.
The anti-woke bill for higher education in Ohio was introduced by Sen. Jerry Cirino. There will be a hearing about the bill on Thursday.
From Cirino’s site, “(he is) active in the Catholic Church and is Board Chair of Cleveland Right to Life.”
Cirino included an anti-strike provision in the bill.
“We’ve finally found the true ‘welfare queen.’ It’s Clarence Thomas.”-MSNBC
Ginni is a beard? Well, at least sideburns.
Diversity of Opinion (according to Republicans in the Tennessee Legislature): I disagree with what you say, but I will upend to your death your right to say it”