The Thomas More Society and Pro-Family Alliance have called the new proposed teachers rule that allows them to promote progressive views unconstitutional and discriminatory.
The Illinois State Board of Education on Sept. 11 published the rule, entitled “Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards for Illinois Educators.”
According to a report by The Centre Square, the rule states that, “Culturally responsive teachers and leaders are reflective and gain a deeper understanding of themselves and how they impact others, leading to more cohesive and productive student development as it relates to academic and social-emotional development for all students. The culturally responsive teacher and leader will,” among other things “Critically think about the institutions in which they find themselves, working to reform these institutions whenever and wherever necessary,” and “Assess how their biases and perceptions affect their teaching practice and how they access tools to mitigate their own behavior (racism, sexism, homophobia, unearned privilege, Eurocentrism, etc.).”
The Pro-Family Alliance however argues that the rule is vague and a threat to teachers’ rights and freedom of religion.
“These elements of the proposed rule require teachers to enunciate a government-sourced ‘progressive’ and activist viewpoint in their educational work with students. As a consequence, certain narratives will be required, and counter-narratives excluded and proscribed. This is a form of compelled speech and viewpoint discrimination which is likely to be found unconstitutional,” they said.
Thomas More Society Vice President and Senior Counsel Thomas Olp shared the same sentiments, saying that mandated acceptance may be inconsistent to the educators beliefs.
The proposed rule is supposed to come into effect on October 1, 2021.
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