Critical Race Theory Slated For Cobb School Board Thursday

COBB COUNTY, GA — Critical race theory has been on the forefront of school districts, colleges and universities minds across Georgia in the last few weeks. Now, it's up on Thursday's Cobb County School District Board of Education agenda.

Critical race theory is an academic concept that says racism is not just about individual biases or prejudice, but about how racism is embedded into the states' and country's legal systems, policies and practices.

An item on the board agenda only states "Critical Race Theory - For Potential Action" with Board Chair Randy Scamihorn's name attached. The board already voted June 3 to effectively endorse Gov. Brian Kemp's opposition to critical race theory, despite criticism from advocates that it stifles open conversations about racism and oppression in America.

Superintendent Chris Ragsdale already issued a statement on critical race theory in late May.

"As long as I am superintendent, I will commit to keeping any theory or curriculum, which is not part of Georgia's standards, out of every Cobb County classroom," Ragsdale said in the statement.

The Georgia Board of Education also passed a resolution last week that says the board believes the U.S. “is not a racist country, and that the state of Georgia is not a racist state.” The resolution passed 11-2, with two of the board's three Black members voting against the measure.

The five-page resolution goes on to say that schools should not teach that anyone is "inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive" due to their own race or sex, and that no one "should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex."

Cobb school board member Tre Hutchins told the Marietta Daily Journal that the topic is moot, because critical race theory is not included in Cobb or Georgia curriculum at any grade level.

“I’m not sure why we’re talking about critical race theory nationwide or even here in Georgia,” Hutchins said to the MDJ. “Critical race theory does not even have a K-12 curriculum that could even be implemented in any school at all ... so to continue to talk about something that does not affect the children in schools is a waste of taxpayer dollars and a waste of our time.”

The CCSD Board of Education meets Thursday at 1 p.m. for a work session with public comment, followed by an executive session. A budget hearing is slated for 6:30 p.m., and the regular meeting begins at 7 p.m.

Update: Critical Race Theory Banned In Cobb County Schools