Controversial Indiana bill requiring all school curricula to be posted online removed

A bill was dropped by the state of Indiana Senate According to the Associated Press, Friday angered the state’s teachers union because it would give parents more control over what their children are taught by requiring all curricula. of the school must be posted online for parents to review, according to The Associated Press.

The bill would also limit what teachers are allowed to teach or talk about on certain topics around politics and race. Republican Party member in the state Senate worked on the bill throughout the week, AP reported, before deciding to drop the bill on Friday.

It would also prohibit public schools from requiring students or staff to “engage in training, orientation, or therapy that exhibit any form of prejudice or blame on the basis of race or gender identity.” sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, or political affiliation,” according to WTHR News.

However, two bills related to education transparency are still being debated in the House of Representatives, one of which passed an education committee earlier this week.

House Bill 1134, which is said to be akin to the now-defunct Senate bill, passed the House Education Committee on Wednesday and could face a vote in the chamber next week. coming, WTHR reported.

Second, the legislature heard testimony from teachers who opposed the bill. They say it will effectively censor teachers and force them to be careful about what they say in class, as well as add an unreasonable amount of work to an already packed schedule that requires them to post. online submission.

“There are a number of situations around the state where parents are upset because of their voice, they feel like it’s not being heard,” Indiana science teacher Paul Farmer testified during the hearing, according to WTHR. “I get that. But there are ways they can do it locally. We don’t have to have state laws that micromanage every detail of educational life.”

On Tuesday, Indiana State Teachers Association President Keith Gambill said his organization is concerned that both the Senate and House bill will place an additional burden on teachers that could hurt teacher numbers. New students join the state’s school system in the future, according to WRTV News.

“I am pleased that Senate Republicans have listened to our highly trained and experienced teachers who have testified about the disastrous consequences of this measure,” said Leader. Senate Democratic leader Greg Taylor said in a statement Friday, according to the AP. “Indiana classrooms should be a place where students can learn about facts and history without being censored.”

A third education-related bill still under consideration in the House would require students to be taught that ideologies include “socialism, Marxism, communism, totalitarianism, or similar political systems that are incompatible with and contradict the established liberal principles of the United States,” according to WRTV.

It would also allow parents to deny their children face masks or vaccine requirements, and prevent schools from being allowed to require vaccinations against COVID or other illnesses. , WRTV reported. It’s unclear what the prospects for either House bill would be if it passed and moved to the state Senate.