2022: Jen Kiggans Introduced A Bill In The Virginia General Assembly Banning “Inherently Divisive Concepts” In Schools Which Was Criticized By The ACLU For Having “Vague” Language And Restricting Teachers’ Ability To Teach About LGBTQ Issues And Black History

Kiggans Introduced A Bill Banning “Inherently Divisive Concepts” In Schools

Kiggans Introduced A Bill Banning “Inherently Divisive Concepts” In Schools. In January of 2022, Kiggans introduced a bill which “Requires each public elementary or secondary school principal to ensure that no curriculum utilized or instruction delivered in the school includes inherently divisive concepts, as that term is defined in the bill, regardless of whether such curriculum or instruction is provided by a school board employee or any other individual or entity.” The bill was killed in committee. [Virginia General Assembly, SB 570, 2/3/22]

• Kiggans’ Bill Required Principals To Ensure Their Schools Were Not Teaching “Inherently Divisive Concepts.” “Youngkin on Friday also threw his weight behind legislation requiring principals to make sure their schools are not teaching ‘inherently divisive concepts.’ The definition of inherently divisive includes teaching that one race is ‘inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously,’ and

that ‘meritocracy or traits, such as a hard work ethic, are racist or sexist or were created by a particular race to oppress another race.’ The bill was introduced by Del. A.C. Cordoza and Sen. Jen Kiggans, both Republicans from Virginia Beach.” [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 1/22/22]

Kiggans Claimed The Intention Of Her Bill To Ban “Inherently Divisive Concepts” In Schools Was To “Unify”

Kiggans Said Intent Of Her “Inherently Divisive Concepts” In Schools Bill Was To “Unify”. “‘The intent behind the bill is to unify,’ Kiggans said of her bill that would ban the teaching of ‘inherently divisive concepts’ in school, which the administration of Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) asked her to lead […] Regardless of the bills’ fates, Kiggans’s decision to carry the mantle on these two GOP priorities will probably lay the foundation for the record she’ll run on as she seeks the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. Elaine Luria (D) in one of the most closely watched congressional races in the nation.” [Washington Post, 1/31/22]

• Kiggans Said That Curriculum Should Not Include “Anything That’s Dividing.” “Pressed for a clear explanation of what would be banned, Kiggans said that she believed all history, the good and the bad, should be taught, but that curriculums should not include “anything that’s dividing, that’s making one group think they’re superior to the other.’ She offered one example, an exercise of ‘privilege Bingo’ played by a class in Fairfax County, in which military kids were considered privileged.” [Washington Post, 1/31/22]

Virginia ACLU Said That Kiggans’ Bill's “Vague And Overbroad” Language Would Restrict Teachers’ Ability To Teach About Slavery, Racism, And LGBTQ Issues

Virginia ACLU Said That Kiggans’ Bill's “Vague And Overbroad” Language Would Restrict Teachers’ Ability To Teach About Slavery, Racism, And LGBTQ Issues. “Breanna Diaz of the ACLU of Virginia charged that the bill targeting transgender athletes ‘strips trans athletes of their identity and dignity,’ and warned that the ‘vague and overbroad’ language in Kiggans’s ‘divisive concepts’ bill would restrict teachers’ ability to teach about slavery, racism and LGBTQ issues if those topics were to be interpreted as “divisive.” [Washington Post, 1/31/22]

Jeff Schapiro Op-Ed: Kiggans’ Bill Was Criticized For Banning Teaching Black History. “More insidious, if only because it’s being considered concurrent with the annual month-long reflection on Black history: Republican bills that ban teaching Black history. Not all of it, Republicans argue, only parts deemed by the thought police, be they noisy parents or nosy politicians, to be ‘inherently divisive’ — whatever that means. Senate Democrats have already consigned the bill to the ash heap of legislative history. That loss, nonetheless, could be a win for its Senate sponsor, Republican Jen Kiggans of Virginia Beach. She’s running for Congress in Hampton Roads’ 2nd District, angling to challenge Democratic incumbent Elaine Luria. Kiggans has to get through the primary. [Richmond Times-Dispatch, Jeff Schapiro, 2/2/22]

Kiggans Was Criticized For Becoming A “Culture Warrior” To Reassure Conservatives By Sponsoring This Bill

Jeff Schapiro Op-Ed: Kiggans Was “Comporting Herself As The Culture Warrior” To “Reassure Conservatives” In Introducing Such Legislation. “More insidious, if only because it’s being considered concurrent with the annual month-long reflection on Black history: Republican bills that ban teaching Black history. Not all of it, Republicans argue, only parts deemed by the thought police, be they noisy parents or nosy politicians, to be ‘inherently divisive’ — whatever that means. Senate Democrats have already consigned the bill to the ash heap of legislative history. That loss, nonetheless, could be a win for its Senate sponsor, Republican Jen Kiggans of Virginia Beach. She’s running for Congress in Hampton Roads’ 2nd District, angling to challenge Democratic incumbent Elaine Luria. Kiggans has to get through the primary. Comporting herself as the culture warrior could reassure conservatives. Maybe that’s what Kiggans meant in describing herself as a ‘normal Republican’ in her kickoff video.” [Richmond Times-Dispatch, Jeff Schapiro, 2/2/22]