Educators and citizens against HB 1134 and SB 17

I would like to address State Senator Rick Niemeyer. On February 12, you came to the Crown Point library to hear complaints from your constituents about your stance on these education bills. As people were questioning why you, and Representative Olthoff who was also there, support these bills, you said that these laws aren’t targeting Lowell Public Schools (one of the schools in your area), as they don’t have any problems and things are going well there. Ms. Olthoff then said the laws weren’t targeting Crown Point Schools either, as they don’t have concerns. These problems with education were happening elsewhere, in schools and communities you couldn’t define, let alone represent. My question to you then, is if the schools in your district, like Lowell, are servicing students in the way that is best for their community, and the community is happy with the way those schools are working, why have you decided the state needs to come in and tell these local schools how things should be done? I would love to know your rationale for supporting big government making decisions about education in local districts, and why you are punishing a school district like Lowell, who, according to you, is doing just fine without the state government interfering. As a teacher in a Lake Central School, I would now like to address how HB1134, will affect me and my fellow English teachers. In this, I will also address how difficult it is to define “materials harmful to minors” as that is viewed very differently by different people. At the 8th grade level, I teach The Diary of Anne Frank. In order to help my students understand her story, we discuss Hitler, Nazism, and the Holocaust. We spend a quarter focusing on the Holocaust through literature. In the 6 years I’ve taught this, I’ve had pushback from parents in three different years, whether it be because they don’t believe all of the Holocaust to be true or the Holocaust too indecent a topic. History is ugly and indecent;

Passing this law is detrimental to all students but especially those requiring Individualized Education Plans (IEP) to receive free and appropriate education as required by law! These bills should NOT be put into effect!

As an educator and a parent, I was shocked and horrified that bills like HB1134 are being brought about to become a potential law in our state. I have been teaching for almost a decade, and it shocks me with how out of touch the politicians are that not only co-wrote the bill, but those that voted yes on this bill. I am going to indulge you in how teachers are educated professionals in that we do not need those who are not trained telling us how to do our jobs. I know this not only because I am a teacher, but I am also an adjunct instructor at a local university, helping future educators in their goals of becoming a teacher. In order to become a teacher in Indiana, students must take many classes in pedagogy and also in content per which subject they wish to be licensed in. From there, aspiring educators must take various standardized tests, such as the Praxis, in order to ensure that they know what exactly they are teaching their students. I will tell you from my experience, in order to teach social studies, I had to study and learn the history of the United States, and the world, in addition to other social sciences such as economics, government, psychology and sociology. In order to student-teach, aspiring educators must pass these tests that cost hundreds of dollars. Students spend at least 12 weeks, unpaid, in a school setting where they learn how to teach from a mentor teacher. Once one becomes a teacher, in your first year, you are placed on an initial licensing program where you work together with your principals and administration where you have extensive observations and professional development to ensure that you know your skills as a teacher. Each year, teachers must complete various trainings and professional developments to hone in their skills and help provide new and unique learning opportunities and experiences for our students. Teachers take additional classes through local colleges to help keep their licenses, as teachers must earn at least 90

American public education has always embodied a sense of reality, universal appeal and inclusion. The hard facts which created this country have opened up an avenue to the free exchange of thoughts and ideas, which unfortunately, it appears our society is beginning to suppress. The free exchange of thought, the embracing of hard facts, and the realization of both sides of a story are what make America unique and exceptional. The involvement of politicians, non-professionals, and corporate interests in public education is a break from an inclusive and successful business model. Quite frankly it makes no sense. In a nutshell, what you are asking educators to do is akin to asking a coach to list each play they will run from the beginning of a game to the end. The coach would be forced to ignore their opponents ability, their own player's performance, situational circumstances, emotions, injuries, crowd noise, flow of the game, substitutions, score and time among others. If a coach were to run through their playbook in order, be expected to stay with it, and refuse to adjust they would be criticized and subsequently fired. Imagine too, if you were to allow the loudest fans to then choose a random play they think would work and force the coach to run it in the middle of a game. This analogy is ludicrous, but so too are the demands in this proposed legislation. Make no mistake; I am a believer in true equality. Every American citizen (all people quite frankly) regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, political affiliation, lifestyle choice or religion should have a fair shot at a place at the table. But with malice toward none, and acceptance of all is the only clear path to this opportunity. By entertaining the masses and caving to the calls for censorship or boycotts, you are waging a battle you cannot win. No matter which side you choose, you cannot fathom the backlash you are putting yourself in position to receive. You have n

I apologize for grammatical errors, I was writing fast and with emotion as this subject is very important to me.

The Dept. of Education made it a law that children need to attend school because they decided that if left to parents, some would not send their kids to school. State standards were worked on and developed in partnership with feedback in this state. Now you are going to say that parents- whatever their education level have the right to allow their children to opt out of parts of the standards that have legally been put in place? Then why have standards? Why was it decided that this information was important enough for us to cover? Why are we evaluated on how well we cover these standards if they don't matter? Why are schools evaluated on how well students on these standards if they are not important. Standards are already posted and teachers are evaluated based on providing correct curriculum. Reducing our standards or allowing students to opt out is a white washing and exactly what parents are already saying we are doing "indoctrination". Should students of German background not learn about the Holocaust? Should we not discuss Japanese intermittent camps? Should we not teach the Trail of Tears? History is exactly that and it is not meant to make students feel guilty but rather aware of the past of this country so as to understand the how everyone can improve the future. It is very dangerous to have people in power who do not have a firm grasp of history. It is critically important that children's education not be reduced by line item vetoes of based on a political climate that does not currently invade their school day. If these harmful petitions are passed, parents are going to get what they want, they will need to be teaching their own kids at home because their won't be enough teachers left. Society is our client. Students need to have a broad well rounded education and simply saying "I know my child will never need Alg. II so I am going to let them opt out" is a dangerous and terrible path backboard. Backward to tracking students and determining ahead of

I have been a teacher since 1994, and I feel I am at the top of my profession. However, if a bill like this gets passed, I will look for other employment. I can't possible do what the government would ask of me. This bill is insanely insulting to the professionals in this state. Please, do away with it.

I am a 25 year veteran school counselor. I also have several family members who are either teachers or administrators. I feel that my experience, knowledge, and dedication to this profession gives me the right to comment on this ridiculous bill. I work with some of the most dedicated educators out there--this bill will hurt them. I don't understand why our politicians constantly want to bully teachers. The state of Indiana has already lost several educators in last couple of years. This will hurt kids as well because more educators will leave the profession. I don't tell a surgeon how to perform surgery, so therefore, why are politicians that have never stepped a foot into a school and don't have a degree in education-- telling educators how to teach and create a curriculum? This is sad, uncalled for, hurting so many amazing educators and kids. Please vote no.

Please stand up for teachers and for proper education by voting NO for these Bills! Thanks!

These bills would add unneeded stress and anxiety to already difficult working conditions. I already sacrifice my spare time to coaching and teaching that I don't have anymore to give. These bills are not necessary. We are already told what curriculum to teach from the state. We do not need a bunch of parents that are non teachers telling us what we should and shouldn't teach and how we should be teaching it. Teachers already have enough people who are non teachers trying to tell us how to do our jobs. Please vote "NO" to these bills. Thank you.

Both of these bills hurt education! It makes teachers' jobs more difficult. HB1134 will make it more difficult to teach effectively!

We are NOT scared to stand up against this moronic bill.