Judge Halts Arkansas from Restricting Critical Race Theory in Classroom, Stopping Short of Prohibition

A federal judge has temporarily blocked Arkansas from preventing two high school teachers from discussing critical race theory in the classroom, while stopping short of prohibiting the state from enforcing its broader ban on “indoctrination” in public schools. The decision, made by U.S. District Judge Lee Rudofsky, follows the challenge of a new law signed by Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders last year. The law includes several educational reforms, but it also restricts teaching on topics such as critical race theory, which dates back to the 1970s and centers around the notion that systemic racism is deeply embedded in America’s institutions. The law does not clearly outline what constitutes critical race theory, and Rudofsky’s ruling prevented the state from punishing teachers for discussing or referencing it in class. However, the judge clarified that teachers could not force students to accept this theory as fact or reward students based on their beliefs. The decision comes amidst a wave of Republican-led states that have implemented similar bans on teaching certain concepts of race, gender, and prejudice in classrooms. A similar lawsuit was filed in neighbouring Tennessee last year, targeting that state’s wide-ranging restrictions on teaching these topics.