LETTER TO THE EDITOR — The Utah State Board of Education became a political office by legislative order in 2016 rather than a nonpartisan board. When that changed, it made the School Board a political institution that has negatively impacted our education system. In addition, every year there is politically motivated legislation, over 100 education bills each year, that has our schools constantly jumping through new legal hoops. Even in a mostly conservative state, schools and students have become pawns in a political war.
This year I had the opportunity to attend the Utah GOP Nominating Convention as a state delegate. I was there as a caucus-elected delegate because I believe in doing my patriotic duty and supporting conservative principles. Several State School Board positions were in contention, including ours. The audiences were mostly energized by candidates who expressed their fears of the indoctrination of students in our schools. This has become a galvanizing topic among conservatives. It has also taken the focus off of the serious discussions needed to improve the education process for our students, teachers and schools.
The concerns over indoctrination of students in our schools have risen to a frenzy because of recent extreme examples in other states. Conflating what is going on in liberal states such as New York and California with what is happening here in Utah schools is unwarranted. What is not widely known is that in Utah, teachers are not allowed to express political opinions or try to persuade students on controversial issues. The Supreme Court ruled that public employees and teachers do not have First Amendment protection for on-the-job speech, according to UEA.org. Teachers are regularly reminded to not share controversial opinions or political beliefs in the classroom. Safeguards are already in place designed to protect from the kind of speech that fuels conspiracies that propel much of the anti-teacher and anti-public education rhetoric. The direction given to teachers is “to follow the Utah state standards when developing your lesson plans and use the district-approved curriculum.”
As a teacher in our elementary schools for over 25 years, I see things from a different perspective inside the classroom. I have not seen or heard the kind of controversial instruction that spreads these fears. Nor have I heard any verifiable evidence of indoctrination in Utah suggested by political candidates. If there was, certainly it would be covered by the media, and teaching licenses would be suspended. What I have experienced are the social changes that impact students and parents because of outside influences including the internet. The schools and teachers are on the frontlines of how to adjust and handle these societal shifts. Some necessary adjustments have been distorted for political advantage and lumped into the mire of indoctrination.
Clearly, this fear-mongering approach gets people elected. The new candidates in nearly every State School Board race received more votes than the incumbents at the State GOP convention. Too often in the political arena, it’s not the truth that wins elections.
According to their website, the Utah State Board of Education’s purpose is policy-making, funding of charter and public schools, compliance with state and federal law, core standards, licensing, graduation standards and “general control and supervision of the public education system.” A tall order for a 15-member board in a state with over 40 school districts. If partisan concerns continue to dominate the selection of candidates, will this board have the focus it needs to do its job?
Additionally, what is the cost to our teachers and schools when the public believes that school is a dangerous place for their students? If you are a parent who believes these exaggerations, you would pull your children out of public schools in favor of homeschooling or private school. Imagine how teachers feel about their profession being maligned and lied about. Is it any wonder that we are losing many teachers to other professions? These kinds of controversies serve to weaken our public schools instead of reforming them when improvement is a continual need. They also waste time and resources spreading fear, rather than spending them on the less politically charged duties like improving outcomes for all children.
Political talking points about our schools win elections but do not equate to better schools, just more unfounded criticisms of them. Talk to our local teachers, parents and students about all the good being taught in their schools, and don’t believe all you read on the internet about indoctrination in our local schools.
Submitted by ELLEN BENNETT, who taught for 27 years in Washington County elementary schools and holds a master’s degree in education.
Letters to the Editor are not the product of St. George News, its editors, staff or news contributors. The matters stated and opinions given are the responsibility of the person submitting them. They do not reflect the product or opinion of St. George News and are given only light edit for technical style and formatting.