In a recent article we exposed a false claim Senator James Sturch made about banning Critical Race Theory and other racist indoctrination. In a campaign mailer he falsely claimed he, “Passed legislation to ban-critical race theory and other divisive curriculum from public schools.”
We showed that no such legislation passed in the Arkansas legislature so his claim is not possible. Then we showed when he had the opportunity to support a ban on the Senate floor he didn’t vote. (See article)
When our article came out, multiple state legislators contacted us to say, “You missed the worst part.”
The Smoking Gun
Legislators told us “Sturch voted against banning Critical Race Theory in the Senate Education Committee and he was the deciding vote in killing the bill.”
Finding committee votes can be almost impossible because the General Assembly only lists when a bill passes committee, not when it fails. Senator Sturch probably thought we would never find his committee vote. We wouldn’t have except for legislators alerting us.
On April 26, 2021 the Senate Education Committee voted on HB1761 by Representative Mark Lowrey.. Specifically, the bill would have prohibited instructional materials teaching:
- That any race or ethnicity is superior to any other race or ethnicity;
- That any individual from a particular race or ethnicity is inherently racist;
- That any race or ethnicity should feel guilt or shame because of their race or ethnicity;
- That the United States, as a nation, is systemically racist; or
- The promotion of prejudice or discrimination toward any race or ethnicity.
Initially, there was a voice vote and the bill was declared passed but a Democrat requested a roll call vote. On the roll call vote, Sturch voted “No” (against a ban) and the clerk repeats Sturch’s vote to verify it.
Sturch was the ONLY Republican on the Senate Education Committee to vote AGAINST banning racist indoctrination. Sturch and the Democrats killed the bill and protected the ability of radical teachers to teach racist theories like Critical Race Theory.
You can watch the vote for yourself using this link (Senate Education Committee April 26, 2021). Again, the bill is HB1761. The vote begins at 10:15 AM.
Remember Sturch’s campaign mailer said he PASSED a ban on Critical Race Theory. Instead, his “NO” vote PROTECTED (not banned) the teaching of the Critical Race Theory and stopped the legislature from banning it.
Sturch’s Video To Try To Muddy the Waters
Meanwhile Senator Sturch tried to do damage control with a video in which he claims he helped pass legislation to fight Critical Race Theory. We bet he wouldn’t have made the video if he had thought we could find his committee vote protecting Critical Race Theory.
Here is the relevant portion of Senator Sturch’s video statement.
“As a high school social studies teacher I know how divisive liberal propaganda such as Critical Race Theory can be for our students. That’s why I helped pass Act 684. This gives the power back to local school boards and our parents. What’s being taught in schools should be a local decision. Parents should have more influence over their child’s education because parents know what’s best.”
Let’s look at his statement:
- Even if you took Sturch’s statement at face value (which you shouldn’t) it does not provide any support for his claim he passed legislation to ban Critical Race Theory.
- Sturch says he knows “how divisive liberal propaganda such as Critical Race Theory can be” yet he voted AGAINST banning it by voting “No” on HB1761 of 2021 and by failing to support similar legislation (SB627 of 2021) by NOT VOTING when the bill went to the Senate floor.
- Sturch said Act 684 “gives the power back to school boards and our parents.” WRONG! First, Act 684 doesn’t give any power to school boards they didn’t have already. Second, the only powers it gives parents is to inspect instructional materials and then to get a hearing with the school board to air their complaints. The school board can keep the materials if they want. Act 684 is NOT about giving parents the power to block offensive material. Instead, it only addresses a situation that occurred in other states where school officials told parents they couldn’t see instructional material and refused to listen to parents complaints.
- Sturch says,“What’s being taught in schools should be a local decision.” This means racial indoctrination can continue in school districts throughout Arkansas unless hundreds of school boards all act together to prohibit it. That is not realistic. Does Sturch really mean what he says? Does he really want school boards to make all the decisions on curriculum or does he just object to state action banning racist indoctrination? If he really wants to shift all the curriculum decisions to each local school district then he would need to repeal many Arkansas laws and state regulations requiring instruction on certain subjects statewide and setting minimum standards for graduation. Since Sturch has no problem with a school board adopting material that is racist indoctrination wouldn’t he have the same position of local school board control if some school board decided to follow the New Jersey decision to teach gender identity to mere second graders next school year?
Sturch falsely stated he banned Critical Race Theory. Instead, we discovered he voted to protect the ability of schools to teach such racist theories.
Sturch tried to use Act 684 to show he fought Critical Race Theory but the act only requires school boards to let parents see material when requested and to adopt procedures to give parents the opportunity to complain about instructional material. School boards can keep whatever material they want. It in no way fights Critical Race Theory.
We hope Senator Sturch will quit making false claims about his record and that other candidates won’t follow his example.
When a politician lies about military service it is called “stolen valor.” What should it be called when a politician makes a false claim about his voting record?
