SUPPORT HB 1040: Keep Critical Race Theory Out of Our Schools
Summary:
Prohibits school corporations from subjecting any student to obscene material harmful to minors. Requires school corporations to provide all student grade 6 through 12 recitations concerning the system of government in Indiana and the United States. Provides that socialism, Marxism, communism, totalitarianism, or other similar political systems are incompatible with and conflict with the principles of freedom upon which the United States was founded. These systems are prohibited from being taught to students as compatible with the principles of freedom upon which the United States was founded. Provides that a parent of a student or emancipated student may opt out of a face mask or face covering requirement in a public school. Disallows the governor, state agency, local health board, or school corporation from requiring a student to quarantine against COVID-19 or other communicable disease if the student is asymptomatic. Forbids school corporations from requiring immunization against COVID-19, as a condition of a student’s employment, attendance, or other participation within the school. Provides that only an act of the Indiana General Assembly may modify or expand the list of communicable diseases that require documentation of immunity. Provides that the Indiana Attorney General may assess a civil penalty against a school for unauthorized disclosure of a student’s education record. The Attorney General may also assess a civil penalty against a school if the school requires a student to participate in any medical inspection, medical treatment, mental health assessment, mental health service, psychiatric or psychological examination or test, or psychiatric or psychological treatment without the informed written consent of the student’s parent. Also allows the parent of student or protected right petitioner to bring a civil action for certain violations. Provides that third party vendors that administer personal analysis, evaluation, or surveys to students that reveals or attempts to affect a student’s attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs, or feelings, may not maintain or collect responses in a way that would identify the responses or results of an individual student. Requires schools to post, in a manner accessible to the public, certain information regarding materials and educational activities. Repeals provisions requiring the Department of Education develop children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health plan.
Analysis:
Over the past few years, Indiana’s families have seen schools continuing down a leftward trajectory in their ‘educational’ activities. House Bill 1040 helps alleviate some of these left-learning tendencies. For example, the bill prevents students from being indoctrinated with liberal philosophies. The legislation accomplishes this by preventing socialism, Marxism, communism, totalitarianism, and other similar political systems from being taught as compatible with the freedoms upon which American was founded. Ronald Reagan once said, “Throughout the developing world, people are rejecting socialism because they see that it doesn’t empower people, it impoverishes them.” House Bill 1040 helps protect our children from being exposed to these evils of socialism and the evils of other related political systems. One need only look at our ally, Israel, to see the benefits of rejecting socialism. In January 1983, the United States offered Israel a $1.5 billion grant to bail the nation out of a failed socialistic system. Shortly after adopting capitalistic policies, Israel’s inflation tumbled from 450% down to just 20%, a budget deficit of 15% of GDP decreased to zero, and Israeli investment increased by 600%, transforming the failing socialistic nation into a key player in our high-tech world. Capitalism trumps socialism, and we must ensure Hoosier children are taught this fact.
Furthermore, the legislation puts health care back into the hands of the parents, by allowing parents to opt their students out of face mask or face covering requirements. In addition, the bill prevents school corporations from requiring students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to attend school or participate in extracurricular activities. Furthermore, the legislation allows the Indiana Attorney General to assess a civil penalty against a school if the school requires a student to participate in any medical inspection, medical treatment, mental health assessment, mental health service, psychiatric or psychological examination or test, or psychiatric or psychological treatment without the informed written consent of the student’s parent. The bill also empowers parents to bring civil suits against schools for certain violations. All of these actions help hold school corporations accountable and would allow parents to make the best decisions regarding their own family’s health and safety.
Additionally, HB 1040 ensures that school corporations handle student’s personal information and identities with care. The legislation accomplishes this goal by providing that third party vendors who administer personal analysis, evaluation, or surveys to students that reveals or attempts to affect a student’s attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs, or feelings, may not maintain or collect responses in a way that would identify the responses or results of an individual student. This tenant helps prevents schools from targeting students based on their personal beliefs or convictions. Overall, as aforementioned, this tenant ensures that school corporations handle student’s personal information with care and respect.
Finally, this bill encourages transparency within Indiana’s public school system. Parents should be confident that their child is receiving a world-class education. Parents should also know the curriculum their child is being taught is appropriate and educational. House Bill 1040 assists with parent’s ability to assess the curriculum their child is being taught. The bill requires schools to post, in a manner accessible to the public, information regarding materials and educational activities. This tenant allows parents the ability to ensure their child is getting the education they need in a way that is appropriate and effective.
Conclusion:
It is imperative the Indiana General Assembly pass this important piece of legislation. Indiana must ensure Hoosier children are being brought up and trained in the way they should go. Liberal ideologies and philosophies have no place in that upbringing. House Bill 1040 prevents these liberal influences from infiltrating Indiana schools. Overall, this legislation helps ensure Hoosier children receive an effective education that prepares them to be a successful, contributing member of American society.