Education bills headline Third House
Legislators uncertain on HB 1134, but oppose party system on school boards
This year, the Indiana Legislature is considering a seismic shift of the educational system with bills designed to dictate what children learn. Howard County’s representatives at the Statehouse haven’t decided where they sit on the issue, but it dominated the Third House session on Jan. 21.
Hosted by the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance via Zoom and Facebook Live, Representatives Mike Karickhoff (R-30), Heath Van Natter (R-38), and Senator Jim Buck (R-21) spoke to their constituents on the bills under consideration. Sen. Stacey Donato (R-18) was unable to attend the event.
While the legislators talked about a variety of topics, the main focus was public education, and in particular HB 1134, which would place restraints on what a teacher can say or teach in a classroom on sensitive subjects, forcing them to teach from materials that omits any stereotyping based on sex, race, identity, political party, color, or national affiliation.
Karickhoff said the bill has come at a time when parents want to see what their children are being taught, citing the teaching of the Critical Race Theory. He is uncertain what the bill will hold, but he hoped it will include legislation that will support parental involvement.
“We had this storm of change, and I would hope people would want as much parental involvement as possible,” said Karickhoff. “The more we have them engaged in the curricula and the school board, the better ... I get that we don’t want to over-regulate or give unfunded mandates, but we want to empower parents and students the best way we can.”
Senator Buck said he spoke with local educators last week during their rally. He said the bill has come from the sense parents are feeling pushed out during the education experience.
“That has sent off a nationwide revolt against what they see happening in our schools,” said Buck. “Whether all that’s true or not is immaterial. These people, when they go to a school board meeting, they expect to be heard. They don’t expect to be carted off in cuffs.”
He also said parents don’t expect their kids to go to a class that is “pure indoctrination.”
NB 1134 author Rep. Tony Cook (R-Cicero) said the legislation is aimed to ensure teachers “remain impartial in teaching” and “ensure that students are free to express their own beliefs and viewpoints concerning curriculum and educational activities without discrimination.”
Last week, educators teamed up with members of civil, faith, and other public education groups to voice their opposition to the bill.
The bill has not proceeded much due to Cook being out due to a family death. The senate abandoned its version, SB 167, after its author made national news for saying teachers needed to teach fascism neutrality.
While Karickhoff, Van Natter, and Buck are unsure of HB 1134, all three have said they do not support HB 1182, which would require school board candidates to announce their political party affiliation on election ballots.
Karickhoff stated candidates can self-identify with a political party if that is their wish, but to mandate such on a ballot goes too far. Van Natter concurred while Buck said he hasn’t heard much support for the measure in the Senate.
One measure gaining support is a filing deadline to run for a school board position. Instead of the Aug. 27 deadline, the time to file would be held earlier in the year, when nearly every other political seat is required to file.
“That gives another nine or ten months for the people to find out where the candidate stands,” Buck said.
Buck highlighted the bills he is promoting. SB 29 deals with eminent domain and costs involved with attorney fees and relocation costs. SB 283 deals with public notices where an individual who has three or more public notices may post them on the internet, instead of relying upon using local newspapers. The last of the bills is Senate Concurrent Resolution 2, which would direct the United States Congress to propose an amendment to the Constitution regarding the membership of the United States Supreme Court.
Karickhoff discussed three bills: HB 1193, an opioid bill which amends the deadline by which a political subdivision may opt back into an opioid litigation settlement; HB 1192, which defines “qualified provider” and “school based nurse” for purposes of providing Medicaid covered services in a school; and HB 1191, dealing with child pornography, which closes a loophole where the depiction of a minor, whether real or computer created, engaged in sexual activity will now be considered a crime.
Van Natter talked about HB 1174 which would make a county coroner a first responder, making them eligible for benefits in case of death while performing their official duties.
The next Third House session will be from 8-9 a.m. on Feb. 18. The final Third House session will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on March 16. The locations for those sessions will be announced at a later date.