Local teachers rallied today against a bill in Columbus that would prohibit teaching, advocating or promoting what it calls "divisive" concepts in schools.

This includes Critical Race Theory, which is used to teach American history from different perspectives.

They oppose House Bill 322, introduced by Republicans in the Ohio state legislature. 

Teachers against the legislation told 21 News it would violate First Amendment rights and force them to essentially lie when teaching students about the country's history.

They said not acknowledging the country's actual history, including racism and other oppression, is deception, not education. 

"They want us to stay away from making people feel uncomfortable in the classroom, and when you go in and learn our history, it's going to be uncomfortable," said Youngstown City School Teacher Heather Smith. "You're going to learn things that are very uncomfortable because you grew up believing another narrative."

To watch our story on Critical Race Theory, click here