New Hampshire House Passes the Controversial “CHARLIE Act”
Republicans within New Hampshire’s legislative system are moving forward with their attempt to pass the “Countering Hate And Revolutionary Leftist Indoctrination In Education Act.” This bill, also known as the “CHARLIE Act,” after the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, is aimed at regulating the teaching of “certain pedagogies,” such as critical race theory, LGBTQ+ issues and history, and “Marxist” or “Hegelian” framing of history. In addition to the removal of LGBTQ+ curricula, the bill would also prevent teachers from implying that being a part of the LGBTQ+ community is in any way “ethical or normative.”
Under this bill, teachers caught in violation of this ban could face disciplinary action against their teaching licenses and allow students or parents to sue school districts for up to $10,000 per violation. Republican lawmakers have stated the law is essential to prevent the indoctrination of students and to end the teaching of progressive ideologies within public schools.
House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R-Auburn) emphasized the importance of the bill on the House floor, stating, “You cannot use a public school classroom to tell a child that they are inherently racist because of the color of their skin. You cannot use a public school classroom to push sexual ideology on children whose parents do not consent to it, and if a school district crosses that line, parents have the right to hold them accountable, and that’s what the private right of action in this bill does.”
This bill has yielded criticism from many within the House who believe that the bill will be harmful to students.
Rep. Matthew Coker (R-Meredith) spoke out against the bill, declaring that the bill would prevent students from understanding the importance of exchanging and debating ideas. “We used to believe in debate; we used to believe bad ideas should be defeated in the open, not banned, not buried,” Coker explained.
Additionally, Rep. Loren Selig (D-Durham) pointed out the lawsuits this bill would allow will increase division and harm public schools, many of which are already struggling.
“It will create expensive lawsuits, not better schools,” Selig said.
The bill passed 184-164 almost exactly along party lines, with only four Republicans in opposition. The “CHARLIE Act” is now headed to the Senate.
