Bill Filed To Ban Teaching of Critical Race Theory in Wyoming

A bill that would ban the teaching of critical race theory in Wyoming schools has been filed for the 2024 session of the Wyoming Legislature.

You can read House Bill 132 here. Among other things, the bill would ban the teaching that any ''sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color or national origin is inherently superior or inferior.'' 

It also forbids teachers from telling Wyoming students that a person's moral character is somehow related to their "race sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin attributed to that person." Another provision of the bill would ban the teaching that the  United States is fundamentally or systematically racist or sexist.

The website worldpopulationreview.com says the following states have so far banned the teaching of critical race theory: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Several other states are considering banning the teaching of CRT.

Supporters of such bans say CRT is little more than an attempt at political indoctrination and is inherently racist even while being presented as anti-racist. Many conservatives cite CRT as an example of "woke" ideology, which they say is infiltrating American society and threatening freedom of speech and thought in the U.S.

Opponents argue that CRT is not taught in K-12 schools, and is generally only discussed in advanced college-level courses. Some opponents also argue that such laws interfere with teachers' rights to freedom of speech and an honest discussion of American history.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. John Bear [R-Campbell County] and co-sponsored by Representative(s) Allred, Banks, Haroldson, Heiner, Hornok, and Senator(s) Biteman and Brennan.

A similar bill, House Bill 205, also sponsored by Rep Bear, was not considered for introduction in 2023. Since 2024 is a budget session, non-budget bills such as House Bill 132 will need a 2/3 majority vote for introduction.