Measure approved by state House, advances to Senate

State Rep. Pamela Hornberger, chair of the House Education Committee, helped advance a plan to prohibit Michigan public school curriculum from including any form of race or gender stereotyping.

Race or gender stereotyping is defined in the legislation as a set of statements, beliefs or ideas that imply that all individuals of one race, ethnicity or gender hold a collective quality or belief, act in certain ways, hold certain opinions or are born racist or sexist based on their race or gender.

Hornberger, a former public school teacher, said the legislation will ensure Michigan students are taught that the action of one individual does not serve as an indictment against all people who share that individual’s race or gender.

“Race and gender teachings can misinform students that certain individuals are guilty by association because of the bodies they were born into,” said Hornberger, of Chesterfield Township. “This bill would ensure those falsehoods are never impressed upon our young people – it would absolutely not prevent the teaching of any part of our nation’s history, including the civil rights movement, the women’s suffrage movement and more. This isn’t about erasing the past – it’s about improving the future.”

“It’s difficult to understand why anyone would believe any student should be to stereotype others based on their race or gender. But unfortunately, only the Republicans in our chambers voted in support of this plan.”

House Bill 5097 now advances to the Senate for further consideration.