Utah’s Rule On Teaching Race & Equity Goes Into Effect Without Amendment That Would Ban 116 Words

SALT LAKE CITY — Just weeks after the Utah State Board of Education established rules for teaching race and equity in the classroom, one board member tried to amend the rule by listing 116 words she believes should be banned when teaching about diversity.

However, Utah teachers are one step closer to going through the new diversity training courses established under the original rule.

After an extraordinary session of the Utah Legislature, the state followed a national debate to decide what teachers can teach about diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Utah State Board of Education voted 13-1 Thursday to allow administrative rule No. R277-328 on educational equity to go into effect on Monday.

The board passed the first motion on the matter, which meant it did not consider board member Natalie Cline’s document that proposed extensive amendments to the rule that was unanimously approved by the board in June.

Cline, a first-term board member representing Bluffdale, called the rule she previously voted for “unconstitutional.”

“This goes against Utah law,” Cline said during the seven-hour board meeting. “Critical Race Theory is designed to further divide Americans by indoctrinating young students into being ashamed of their race.”

In May, Utah lawmakers banned the teaching of “harmful” race-related concepts.

Cline felt like the education rule needed further bans.

Cline’s proposed amendments included a list of more than 100 terms and concepts that if taught through a conversation about race, would violate the board rule.

Words she wanted to ban in classrooms included: social change, empathy, marginalized voices, anti-racism, inclusion, social justice and validating values.

“We don’t need to script every word that our educators can and can’t say,” said board vice-chairperson Cindy Davis. “I don’t believe the intent of the board is to have this rule supersede standards in a way that we lose huge swaths of history and literature because it may have race as a component.”

Davis said she too considered making advocations on both sides to make minor tweaks to the rule. But in the end, she knew that would create a longer waiting period. And with school starting within weeks, she said teachers need to have the resources now.

Davis spoke with passion as she credited the weeks of preparation from board members who she said thoughtfully read thousands of emails and public responses.

“We teach wars in order to learn from the past — but sometimes I think we have learned nothing. Sadly we don’t need to go to war with another country when we are so at war with ourselves … where discord seems to be seeping in at every corner,” said Davis.

Four pages of amendments introduced by board member Jennie Earl were likewise not considered.

“Age-appropriate instruction is something we stress in this rule,” said board member Scott Hansen. “We talk about equity; it’s spread over every class and every minute that our kids are in school.”

Board members all referenced the outpouring of public feedback.

Board member Molly Hart said the emails she received all had similar themes.

“They all touched on parental involvement, the accurate teaching of history, and being aware of a student’s emotional health. And this rule is a framework for that. It’s time to put the rule into action,” Hart said.

Board member Carol Lear said Utah State Board of Education rules are more readily reviewed and updated. Her desire is that teachers feel supported.

“I hope this isn’t something that makes teachers lack confidence or fearful — that is the worst way to approach teaching,” Lear said.