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After much discussion and comments from district residents, the Montoursville Area School Board rejected a resolution to oppose Critical Race Theory at its recent meeting.
Some board members claimed a policy, rather than a resolution that has no enforcement powers, would be better.
In addition, the resolution itself contained ambiguous language, it was argued.
The resolution appearing on the school board agenda appeared as follows: "A resolution of the board of directors of the Montoursville Area School District opposing public school and publicly funded charter school, curriculum instruction, or materials promoting 'critical race theory' or advocating similar divisive concepts relating to sex, race, ethnicity, color, or national origin."
Board member Ron Snell made the motion for the board to pass the resolution, but the motion died when no one seconded it.
Although noting he was against CRT, board member Dale Ulmer said he felt a policy, rather than a resolution, was needed.
Board President David Shimmel agreed.
"It (resolution) has no regulatory teeth to it," he said.
Ron Snell said he felt the resolution should be passed.
It could be helpful to the administration in preventing teachers from using CRT in their instruction, he noted.
"Why do we have teachers who are putting it into their curriculums?" he asked.
Joseph LeCrone had a different view.
"I am wholeheartedly for teaching history as it happened," he said. "If someone feels bad, that is on them. I can't vote for this because it doesn't define CRT to a level that everyone understands. This doesn't do it for me."
Daniel Albert said nothing can be done about opposing views on the issue.
He noted that while he doesn't support CRT, a resolution to ban it will do nothing but "open up a new can of worms."
"Somewhere along the line, we have lost the ability to coexist with each other," he said.
District residents took turns stating their views on the resolution.
Tina McCloy said she supported the resolution, referring to CRT as "a perfect repackaging of Marxism" that indoctrinates children.
Corey Flick said a ban on CRT is a ban on free speech.
Cindy Wentzler, a district English teacher, said she feared the resolution could prevent her from teaching such books as "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," which schools have been banning over the years.
"Students need to read something of substance," she said.
She suggested to the board that more people, including teachers and parents, be consulted before a resolution is considered.
"I am OK with my kids learning things," Pamela Nelson said. "I don't want this resolution."
Richard Houser, of Loyalsock Township, said CRT is divisive and destructive to the nuclear family.
"You must pass this resolution," he said. "You will assure a far bright future for this district and for the nation of which it is a part."
Brenda Oberheim told the board to support the resolution.
"No one wants to take away books that have been taught," she said. "We can still have the resolution without doing things like that."