Gov. Parson: CRT has no business in Missouri

Missouri Governor Mike Parson says Critical Race Theory “has no business being taught in Missouri classrooms”, claiming that a “vast majority of our schools are not doing that.”

In the statement Monday evening, Parson says Missouri schools are “teaching diversity, equity, and inclusion to help prepare our students for life and for the workforce by allowing them to better understand and respect each other’s differences.”

However, Parson says the state does NOT need the extreme teachings of CRT in order to accomplish that goal. Proponents of critical race theory say it is a way of thinking about America’s history through the lens of racism.

“I believe in local control and our state has a long history of valuing local control, and that is why local schools districts have statutory authority over curriculum,” said Parson. “Individual schools receive direct input from teachers and parents and know best how to address these topics in their curriculum.”

His comments come as a Missouri legislative committee held a hearing on how race and racism are taught in schools.

Republican Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin says she wanted to raise voices of critical parents who feel they haven’t been heard by their local schools.

Democratic lawmakers and Missouri’s NAACP president say the hearing was one-sided, with no black Missourians being invited to speak.