Donnie Palmer (left), a special education teacher and at-large candidate for Boston City Council, is one 13 registered voters who signed on to the initial effort.
Palmer said that while administrators and other officials, including the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, deny that CRT is being taught, his firsthand experiences suggest otherwise.
"When the public schools indoctrinate one group of children into identifying as victims of oppression, and another group into believe that they're the oppressors, all based solely on the color of their skin, that's dangerous," Palmer said. "You can teach children about the history of slavery in America without guilt-shaming them, you can teach them to be respectful of others without bringing skin color into it.
"We think that the overwhelming majority of Massachusetts voters would agree."
Massachusetts Republican Party Chairman Jim Lyons said the initiative campaign is certain to draw attention and varying opinions.
"Ultimately this is an issue that should be decided by Massachusetts voters," Lyons said.
Petitioners are required to collect at least 80,239 signatures from registered voters by early December, and an additional 13,374 by next spring, in order to advance the petitions.
Proposed language:
INITIATIVE PETITION FOR A LAW RELATIVE TO OUR NATION’S HISTORY
Be it enacted by the People, and by their authority:
Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following Section 69B.
No teacher shall present our country’s history to his or her elementary school or high school students with the specific intent of making any such students feel personally responsible, at fault or liable, either individually or as a member of a racial or ethnic group, for the actions or omissions of others.
