Gov. Kristi Noem signs bill limiting 'divisive concepts,' critical race theory in colleges
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Gov. Kristi Noem signed a bill Monday purporting to "protect students and employees at institutions of higher education from divisive concepts."
Noem said in a news release the new law as signed in House Bill 1012 will prohibit colleges from requiring students and teachers to attend trainings or orientations based on critical race theory.
CRT is an academic theory that states race is a social construct, that racism isn’t just the product of individual bias or prejudice, and racism is embedded in the nation’s legal systems and policies.
"No student or teacher should have to endorse critical race theory in order to attend, graduate from, or teach at our public universities,” Noem said. “College should remain a place where freedom of thought and expression are encouraged, not stifled by political agendas.”
The bill also states that the Board of Regents and Board of Technical Education may not direct or compel students to affirm, adopt or adhere to the following divisive concepts, or require students or employees to attend trainings or orientations on the following divisive concepts:
That any race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin is inherently superior or inferior;
That individuals should be discriminated against or adversely treated because of their race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin;
That an individual’s moral character is inherently determined by their race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin;
That an individual, by virtue of their race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously;
That individuals, by virtue of race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin, are inherently responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin;
An individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of the individual’s race, color, religion, ethnicity, or national origin; or
Meritocracy or traits such as a strong work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a particular race or sex to oppress members of another race or sex.
Noem also signed 11 more education bills into law Monday, and has signed 192 bills total into law and vetoed one this legislative session.
A similar bill applying to K-12 schools, House Bill 1337, was killed by the Senate Education committee earlier this month.
Top education officials in K-12 and colleges have said CRT largely doesn't show up in South Dakota's content standards or curriculum.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Noem passes anti-CRT bill limiting 'divisive concepts' in colleges
