Children work on an assignment at an Atlanta primary school. Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation April 28 that would restrict some lessons in public schools. | Photo by CDC on Unsplash
Children work on an assignment at an Atlanta primary school. Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation April 28 that would restrict some lessons in public schools. | Photo by CDC on Unsplash
Restrictions on the information public schools can teach in the classroom and the potential for school officials to ban transgender girls who play for public schools from competing against other girls may be underway as Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed new legislation April 28.
Kemp signed a series of seven education bills into law, with many drawing attention from the general public, according to a report by FOX 5 Atlanta.
"As a parent of three daughters I've been very concerned about things we've seen here in and around the country when it comes to fairness in girls' sports, making sure kids aren't indoctrinated in the classroom, obscene materials," Kemp told FOX 5 Atlanta.
One of the bills Kemp signed was House Bill 1084, which would ban the teaching of certain race-related issues in public schools, Fox 5 reported. The measure bans the teaching of nine “divisive concepts” in Georgia classrooms, including the idea that the country is “fundamentally racist,” that many people are "inherently racist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously,” and that no one "should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of his or her race."
One of the bills also tasks the Georgia High School Association with potentially banning transgender girls who play for public schools from competing against other girls, according to the report. However, the bill does not explicitly give the association the power to ban transgender girls who play for private schools from competition. A number of private schools are also members of the association.
The measure also bans the training of school employees by anyone who advocates for the banned divisive concepts, according to Fox 5. Alongside HB 1084, the governor signed the Parent’s Bill of Rights, giving parents and guardians increased access to and control over the materials their children see and are taught in schools.
At least 10 Republican-led states have already banned transgender women or girls in sports, Fox 5 reported, while a handful of other GOP-led states are considering similar bans.
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