Revising History California Style

Sacramento, Ca.~Almost identical to last session’s AB 1056, this bill would establish the Tolerance Education Pilot Program to promote “tolerance” in public schools as part of history/social science classes. The State Department of Education would select 10 schools to participate in the program and receive one-time grants of $25,000 each for participating in the “tolerance” training. According to the language of the bill, “tolerance” means “attitudes and behaviors that convey respect toward individuals and groups, especially those individuals and groups that have been, and continue to be, systematically and historically marginalized. Tolerance does not mean a passive allowance or indulgence of the beliefs or practices of another individual.” In other words, religious students would be required to accept lifestyles they find morally objectionable. No longer satisfied with traditional tolerance of “agree to disagree”, indoctrination advocates want a radical redefining of tolerance that demands approval.

AB 675 also requires the participating schools to consult and partner with human relations commissions and civil rights organizations that are involved in “addressing discrimination based on actual or perceived gender, ethnic group identification, race, national origin, religion, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, immigrant status, familial status, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.” This means that pro-homosexual and other radical indoctrination groups will receive state money to help implement “tolerance training” in schools.

CRI opposes all programs that seek to indoctrinate students instead of educating them. Parents want schools that provide their children the fundamental tools of learning, not centers of indoctrination for controversial lifestyles. At a time when many students struggle to pass exams necessary to graduate high school, legislators are focused on implementing radical social agendas. The California legislature is completely out of step with the average California family that simply wants to raise healthy, well- educated children.

Karen England serves as executive director of the Capitol Resource Institute(CRI).