Hearing on Bill Penalizing Schools Teaching Critical Race Theory

Thursday, August 12th, 2021 -- 8:01 AM

(WRN) At the Capitol on Wednesday, the Republican author of a bill that would penalize school districts for allowing the teaching of critical race theory struggled to define it.

Representative Chuck Wichgers (of Muskego) was questioned by Democrat Gary Hebl (of Sun Prairie) 

"What's your definition of critical race theory?/There are dozens/What is your definition of critical race theory, do you have one?/It is irrelevant, there are dozens."

Representative Gae Magnafici (of Amery) was questioned by Democrat Greta Neubauer (of Racine)

“So I’m wondering if you could offer a definition of critical race theory?/To me, it’s just where you’re putting people into groups. You’re not treating the individual. Teaching that there’s people that are oppressed, and people that are oppressors.”

State Senator LaTonya Johnson (of Milwaukee) at a public hearing on Wednesday 

“This bill doesn’t provide mechanism as to what that violation would be. There’s no concrete saying if you do ‘a’ it will result in ‘b’”

Representative Wichgers is the bill’s Assembly author

“Parents would have recourse. The district would have to fix it. The teachers would have to fix it. And then if they stopped doing . . . something wrong. They would have to stop doing that.”

The bill, which does not actually use the term “critical race theory,” calls for cutting ten percent of state aid to districts that don’t stop teaching it, and allows people to sue if they feel the law was violated.

The Assembly and Senate education committees held a joint hearing. Governor Tony Evers would almost certainly veto the bill should it pass.

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