Thanks to a new law, schools will be required to teach, and kids will be required to learn LGBTQ history. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, signed a bill into law last Friday that requires the contributions and history of LGBTQ people to be taught in public schools statewide.
This is not only a blatant attempt to indoctrinate younger generations with liberal propaganda, but it seems like a strange thing for legislators to focus on given how poorly American students are doing in school on a global scale: A national, public education system should not focus on social justice issues but on providing solid fundamental elements of learning.
Democratic Rep. Anna Moeller of Illinois, introduced House Bill 246 to revise the school code to add a more inclusive, LGBTQ-focused history curriculum. “In public schools only, the teaching of history shall include a study of the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State,” the bill states.
While it isn’t clear if the state will be purchasing a curriculum specifically designed to include LGBTQ activists, the bill does mandate that all textbooks “authorized to be purchased must include the roles and contributions of all people protected under the Illinois Human Rights Act and must be non-discriminatory as to any of the characteristics under the Act.” The new law will go into effect in July 2020.
State Sen. Heather Steans, a Democrat, who also sponsored the bill, said in a statement on her website earlier this year, “One of the best ways to overcome intolerance is through education and exposure to different people and viewpoints. An inclusive curriculum will not only teach an accurate version of history but also promote acceptance of the LGBTQ community.” CNN reported that Steans also expanded her views about the bill paving the way for tolerance: “It is my hope that teaching students about the valuable contributions LGBTQ individuals have made throughout history will create a safer environment with fewer incidents of harassment. LGBTQ children and teenagers will also be able to gain new role models who share life experiences with them.”
There aren’t any teachers or parents who would advocate for intolerance or bullying of LGBTQ students in school, it’s disingenuous to believe that this curriculum is designed just for this purpose, or even that it would be effective in preventing the kind of bullying that stems from intolerance. It’s clear that a statewide takeover is a purposeful step to ensure that social-justice activists are given a spotlight in Illinois schools, to the exclusion of other crucial topics.
Are all religions taught in Illinois public schools? The country was founded on the need for religious freedom. Curriculum on what other faiths believe would be helpful.
Even so, Pew Research Center reports that U.S. education lags behind that of other countries. American kids particularly struggle in important subjects like math and reading. Social justice history seems like it should be a low priority given the state of education today. Education should focus on simple but foundational subjects like math, science, reading, writing, and history. Laws like this remove the appropriate focus schools, teachers, and most importantly, students should have while receiving the education that is preparing them for life.
Nicole Russell (@russell_nm) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. She is a journalist who previously worked in Republican politics in Minnesota.
