'Social indoctrination': SD308 Board member voices concerns over LGBT history bill

SD308 Board of Education member Brent Lightfoot voiced concerns over legislation currently pending in the Illinois General Assembly that would require public school students to learn about the historical contributions of LGBT individuals in their history classes.

Introduced to the Senate in February by Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, the amendment to the School Code is commonly known as the "Inclusive Curriculum Bill," and would require public school students from kindergarten through high school, to learn about the historical contributions of LGBT individuals, as they come up in their history classes.

The summary description of the legislation says that it, "Provides that the teaching of history of the United States in public schools shall include a study of the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State. Requires every public elementary school and high school to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the significant role of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals in society."

Lightfoot told his board colleagues Monday evening, July 30, he has concerns, "not just with the content," but with language in the bill that says that students would not be allowed to graduate from junior high or high school if parents choose to have their child opt out of, "this line of education."

"That's a huge problem," Lightfoot said.

The text of the bill, however, makes no reference to parents choosing to pull students out of class; instead it states that, "No pupils shall be graduated from the eighth grade of any public school unless he or she has received such instruction in the history of the United States and gives evidence of having a comprehensive knowledge thereof."

Lightfoot continued, "This isn't math, this isn't science, this isn't spelling. It is, I think, social indoctrination, and I have no problem with exposing kids to all sorts of different things, items beyond just reading, writing, and math; but when the state feels that they need to tell the parents exactly what their child should or should not learn or you're not allowed to graduate...that's overstepping the state's bounds, and I think we can all at least agree (on that)."

The amendment would require textbooks that are authorized for purchase to include the roles and contributions of groups and peoples protected under the Illinois Human Rights Act, and must also be non-discriminatory to all characteristics covered by the Act. It also allows the Illinois State Board of Education to post recommended resources and educational materials that may be used by a school board to help develop a district's curriculum.

Advocacy group Equality Illinois was one of several groups that pushed for the legislation.

“As a former first grade teacher, I know how an inclusive education system can create change within a community,” CEO Brian C. Johnson said, in a press release posted to the group's website earlier this year. "By including information in public school curriculum about the contributions of LGBTQ people and the historical events they were involved in, we will get closer as a state to telling the whole story of our shared history.”

Equality Illinois has given examples of several historical individuals who could be included under the legislation including: Jane Addams, founder of Hull House and the "mother" of social work; Sally Ride, the first American woman in space; California politician Harvey Milk; and Alan Turing, considered to be the "father" of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence. Historical events like the 1969 Stonewall Riots, considered to be the fundamental event that led to the modern fight for LGBT rights in the United States, would also be included.

The last action taken on the legislation was on May 31, when it was re-referred to the state House of Representatives' Rules Committee. It has stayed pending since that referral. If passed, the change will take effect July 1, 2019.