Republicans Claim New Teaching Standards Promote "Indoctrination"
First year Chicago Public Schools Teacher Jonathan White in 2019. He and thousands more Illinois teachers would be asked to follow new “culturally responsive” teaching standards if new rules are adopted by a state panel. (Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune)
Some Illinois House Republicans warn a proposed new set of standards for Illinois teachers would inject “partisan, progressive politics” into Illinois classrooms.
The Illinois State Board of Education has submitted the new teaching standards for adoption by the legislative Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers who approve rules to guide passed laws or administrative changes by the executive branch.
The proposed rule creates the Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards, which is a newly created part of teacher licensing and professional standards.
The rule includes, among other things, standards for an “inclusive learning community”:
1) Emphasize and connect with students about their identities, advocacies, and self-interest.
2) Offer guidance to students on how to develop a self-advocacy plan to inform decisions and choices.
3) Include students in the creation of an inclusive learning community with more opportunities for student expression.
4) Help students identify actions that can be taken to apply learning to develop opportunities and relationships for alliances.
5) Create a risk-taking space that promotes student advocacy.
6) Research and offer student advocacy content with real world implications.
7) Hold high expectations in which all students can participate and lead as student advocates.
8) Give students space to solve their own problems, negotiate their advocacy needs, and present their perspectives.
Rep. Steve Reick (R-Woodstock), who sits on JCAR, says the proposed rules are far too political.
The [standards] go far beyond what’s already public policy by inserting a politically motivated pedagogy into the training programs for new teachers and the professional development standards for existing teachers,” Reick said. “These new standards would require teachers to incorporate highly sensitive and politically charged topics into the classroom curriculum, elevating social activism over the mastery of basic skills.”
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen Ayala issued a statement Monday afternoon claiming she’s seen culturally responsive teaching benefit students.
“Culturally responsive teaching and leading helped me improve the reading and math skills of every one of our student groups when I was a district superintendent and to achieve double digit growth among my students of color,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen Ayala. “As we help students recover from learning loss due to the pandemic, giving our teachers opportunities to learn about effective, equitable, and research-based strategies like cultural responsiveness could not be more important. Every student deserves to feel welcomed, included, and accepted at school.”
But, Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon), who also sits on JCAR, says many standards on diversity and inclusion are already in existing teaching standards.
“It’s something good teachers choose to do. They choose to understand the communities they’re a part of, the school districts they’re a part of,” Demmer said. “What we’re talking about here is not simple acknowledgement of these long-running trends, instead its several pages of new, specific criteria about how a teacher has to develop counter narratives and engage in student advocacy and recognize systems of oppression. Things that go well beyond a what a normal and responsible teacher would bring to the classroom already.”
The rule wouldn’t take effect until 2025. JCAR is scheduled to vote on the proposal February 16th. At least two Democrats would have to join with Republicans to block implementation of the rule.
