Another bill banning Critical Race Theory in Alabama’s public schools has been prefiled for the 2022 regular session, the third piece of such legislation, with nearly six months until the legislature reconvenes in Montgomery.
The bill, HB 11, filed by State Rep. Danny Crawford (R-Athens), would prohibit public K-12 schools and institutions of higher learning “from teaching certain concepts regarding race or sex, such as critical race theory.”
During an interview with Mobile radio’s FM Talk 106.5, Crawford explained that should teachers choose to ignore and violate such a ban by the Alabama Legislature, it could result in termination according to current law.
“We have the teacher tenure laws and the students’ first law,” he explained. “There’s due process that must happen. But, if the legislature chooses to ban the teaching of that, then someone disobeys that ban or decides on their own what they want to do, then there needs to be consequences for that. And our code that deals with due process goes into what those things are. If the school system said we’re not going to teach it, then someone does teach it, is that incompetency, or is that insubordination, or neglect of duty, or failure to perform duties in a satisfactory manner? All of those things are types of disciplinary action that would be subject to termination, which falls into the same category. They all have due process. But I don’t think we need to have our teachers teaching something that the state of Alabama says will not be taught.”
The Limestone County Republican lawmaker also suggested the topic could come up in one of the special sessions rumored to occur before the end of the year, noting that was up to leadership.
“That’s all up to leadership,” he said. “But I do think it’s important to have this in place, whether its — sometimes special sessions, the call, we take other things onto the agenda other than say redistricting or something like that. So, all of these things — it could be added to the call if the Governor felt it was important enough. And I would like to emphasize to the Governor’s office that I think it is important, and I think a lot of my colleagues will, as well. It could be time enough. It could be discussed and passed. And it may not be. Leadership may decide we don’t want to do that. If not, then we’ll look at it in regular session in January.”
@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.
