Plan: Stop school political bias
State lawmakers want law to curb teachers who push views in class
By Daniel Scarpinato
arizona daily star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 02.10.2007
As part of a national movement to bring objectivity to the classroom, the Legislature is considering putting an "Academic Bill of Rights" into law that would penalize instructors from kindergarten through college who use their podium to espouse political views.
"We should be teaching students how to think, not what to think," said Senate Majority Leader Thayer Verschoor, R-Gilbert, the bill sponsor.
"You don't need to be in a science class and have someone telling you whether Bill Clinton is or isn't a great president," he said. "It's just not the place for it."
The bill before the Legislature is one being pushed by conservative writer David Horowitz. Author of the book "The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America," Horowitz is on a national push to institute such laws.
"This is cutting-edge for Arizona," he said in an interview. "Unfortunately, there is a movement to indoctrinate students in our K-12 system."
If the bill passes and avoids Gov. Janet Napolitano's veto, teachers could ultimately face the loss of their teaching certificate for showing political bias.
Verschoor said the bill, which would apply to public-school teachers at both traditional and charter schools, will eventually be broken into two — one to deal with elementary through high school teachers and another to address college professors.
Verschoor is committed to making Arizona the first state to pass such a law.
"I'm willing to work with folks on language to protect your freedom of speech, but at the same time the students have the right to have the freedom not to be captive to your personal political beliefs," Verschoor said.
I sent a letter to the reporter about Crazy Davey and I'll let you know what he has to say.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment