On 25 Feb 2022, Yuri <lweber@trumpfag.org> posted some
news:svbqsm$1qbm5$112@news.freedyn.de:

> I believe everything a Democrat says

PHOENIX (AP) � The Arizona Department of Education launched a hotline this
week for people to report classroom lessons that use critical race theory
or emotional support curriculum, concepts that have been the target of
conservative outrage in recent years.

The Arizona Republic reports that the �Empower Hotline� was a key campaign
promise of Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, who
ran on a platform that promised to focus on math and reading instruction
and �declare war� on conversations about emotions and identity.

Arizona residents should report �inappropriate lessons that detract from
teaching academic standards,� the department said on its website. That
includes topics like social and emotional learning or that could be
considered critical race theory.

Critical race theory � a way of thinking about America�s history through
the lens of racism � is not taught in state schools but it's a hot-button
issue for social conservatives who view the concept as an effort to
convince white people that they are inherently racist and should feel
guilty because of their advantages.

Social and emotional learning involves being taught how thoughts, feelings
and behaviors are linked and that learning how to control and reframe
thoughts can lead to more positive outcomes.

Studies have shown that social and emotional learning programs can improve
academic performance, classroom behavior and stress management. But
conservative critics say schools use the concept to promote progressive
ideas about race, gender and sexuality, and that a focus on well-being
takes attention from academics.

According to Horne, if a teacher or staff member is named in a hotline
complaint, the department will dispatch an investigator to that school.
Investigators will tell the teacher to stop the alleged wrongful
instruction, and if they do not do so, will consider discipline through a
process laid out by the state board.

The State Board of Education is responsible for approving disciplinary
action on an educator.

Critics say the hotline is a waste of limited educational resources � and
will only heighten the political tensions that have pushed teachers out of
the classroom.

This effort �continues to politicize and disrespect educators and their
profession and the relationships that they have with their families,� said
Arizona Education Association president Marisol Garcia.

Arizona is not the first state to try to tackle allegations of divisive
teaching with a hotline.

Virginia�s governor started a similar call line for critical race theory
reports but shut it down in November when parents used it primarily to
report special education violations and praise teachers.

<https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/arizona-schools-chief-sets-up-critical-
race-theory-hotline/ar-
AA18t6uG?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=e7d5b9f034d74a5bbbb706b2563a0f6b&ei=67
>