CLAY COUNTY – The state’s board of education recently banned the teaching of critical race theory in schools and it spurred more controversy for a topic that’s already a hot button issue.

Britannica defines Critical Race Theory as “an intellectual movement and loosely organized framework of legal analysis based on the premise that race is not a natural, biologically grounded feature or physical distinct subgroups of human beings but a socially constructed – and culturally invented – category that is used to oppress and exploit people of color.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis was one of the key figures behind the state’s push to ban Critical Race Theory lessons.

“As the Governor of Florida, I love this state and I love my country,” he said earlier this month at a press conference related to this ban. “I find it unthinkable that there are other people in positions of leadership in the federal government who believe that we should teach kids to hate our country. We will not stand for it here in Florida. I’m proud that we are taking action today to ensure our state continues to have the greatest educational system in the nation.”

Clay Today asked its readers what it thinks of this new ban and for the most part, Clay County responded with a show of support for DeSantis.

“Very few, if any, are teaching actual Critical Race Theory,” Jason Doane said. “If they were, I would not have an issue as they would have to teach it as what it is...a theory. Basically, a scholarly opinion based on the author’s research on factual history. That would have openings to teach differing and opposing opinions.

“Unfortunately, they are teaching the opinions of these CRT scholars and pillars of their theories as facts tied into history with no discussion that these are opinions.”

Becky Price said Critical Race Theory should be taught in college, but not necessarily in junior and high schools.

“Critical Race Theory is the stuff of graduate studies, not elementary or high schools,” she said. “That so many are strident about is that they have no idea what it is beyond thinking it is being nasty to white people. Totally ludicrous. History must be taught and this can wait for graduate school.”

Teresa Sanday, on the other hand, finds this ban hypocritical.

“What do you call it when you don’t teach your children about slavery, but preserve Confederate monuments and flags of truly awful people, hellbent on enslaving other humans? Hypocritical race theory. Raise your racist flags, claim there is no racism.”

Sanday was the only response that voiced dissent with DeSantis’ opinion and the state’s decision. Multiple people flatly responded with a simple “no” when asked if Critical Race Theory should be taught in schools while others, like Woods Allen, said they feel it’s just a way to divide people.

“CRT is just another way to divide groups of people when what we should be doing is celebrating our unity,” Allen said. “Yes, it is a process and yes, it has taken a long time but we don’t see a line of people trying to leave our republic.”

What do you think of this ban in schools? Let us know by responding to last week’s Facebook Question of the Week and be sure to follow the official Clay Today Newspaper Facebook page so that you don’t miss this week’s question.