Missouri Senate Bill 4 focuses on increasing curriculum transparency in schools, but one of its most widely debated components is its push to stop the teaching of critical race theory throughout the state.
At Wednesday’s hearing, the bill’s sponsor, Senator Andrew Koenig, a Republican from Manchester, spoke on how he felt critical race theory was impacting his own children.
“It is hard to think of a more racist policy than to teach my black kids that they are oppressed and can't make it in this world because they're oppressed by white people, or tell my white kids that they are oppressing my black kids.”
Several witnesses testified in opposition of banning critical race theory in classes, including Missouri’s NAACP Chapter, Missouri Equity Education Partnership and two current Missouri high school students.
