North Carolina House Of Representatives Override Veto Of Bill That Prohibits DEI In Public Schools, Community Colleges, And Public Universities – AfroTech

North Carolina passed a new law prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in education.

According to the Raleigh News & Observer, Republican lawmakers voted to override a veto of a bill that prohibits the integration of DEI programs across the state’s public schools, community colleges, and universities. According to N.C. House Speaker Destin Hall, the law ends “divisive DEI policies for good,” EdNC reports.

Gov. Josh Stein had previously vetoed three anti-DEI bills, which included Senate Bill 227, “Eliminating ‘DEI’ in Public Education,” according to a separate story from EdNC.

“As the legislature leaves teachers and law enforcement officers waiting for hard-earned and desperately needed pay raises, members of the General Assembly are stoking the culture wars that divide us rather than fulfilling their long-overdue responsibility of passing a budget,” Stein said, according to EdNC.

With its passing, this means “discriminatory practices” and the teaching of 12 “divisive concepts” are no longer permitted. These “divisive concepts” include implying one race or sex is better than another or that an individual can be inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, per EdNC. The legislation states that these “divisive concepts” also cannot be encouraged by public institutions and community colleges to students, professors, and other employees.

DEI offices also cannot be created, per EdNC.

“Every child in North Carolina deserves to walk into a classroom and be treated as an individual, not as a category,” House Majority Leader Brenden Jones, R-Columbus, said, according to the outlet. “Let us stand with parents and students. Let us stand with teachers who want to teach and not indoctrinate.”

Some leaders and educators are against Jones’ positioning. This includes North Carolina Association of Educators President Tamika Walker Kelly, who has different sentiments.

“Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion aren’t political talking points,” Kelly said in the statement, per the outlet. “They are the foundation of schools that are safe, welcoming, and strong for every child that steps through the schoolhouse door.”

Candi Tucker, a civics teacher in Northeast North Carolina, commented:

“We do not indoctrinate. I don’t know of a single teacher that is trying to force their personal opinions on any group of students.”