INDIANAPOLIS (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Indiana lawmakers have heard hours of debate about legislation that would require that school curricula to be posted online and would ban the teaching of concepts like “critical race theory,” under the threat of lawsuits.
Republican State Senator Scott Baldwin, author of the bill, said it’s intended to prevent certain "discriminatory concepts" from being taught in classrooms.
The bill prohibits K-12 schools from requiring student or employees to "engage in training, orientation, or therapy that presents any form of racial or sex stereotyping or blame on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, or political affiliation."
"This bill isn't about not bringing to light historical injustices," Baldwin emphasized. "This bill is about letting our kids just be neutral and figure it out for themselves."
There was testimony from educators and parents.
"I don't want want him told that he is guilty of sins of other people and I don't want that he should feel remorse," said one parent regarding her son.
However, critics see the bill as problematic for students, according to the Associated Press.
“The bill is coming at a time of tremendous stress in our schools, coming at a time when teachers and staff have moved heaven and earth to put an educational program together to meet kids where they are, both in-person and remotely,” Gail Zeheralis, the Indiana State Teachers Association’s Director of Government Relations said.
“It will hurt kids’ abilities to learn and grow, both in terms of their understanding of the world, and in their own critical thinking skills development.”
The bill would open the door for parents to sue school districts. It was criticized as cumbersome and punitive. Baldwin admitted, “this is a tumultuous bill and topic.”
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