Ky lawmakers took our books, stopped our pronouns, and now they’re going after diversity | Opinion

Since the start of Kentucky’s legislative session on Jan. 2, education has been the focus of many bills. One gaining significant media attention is Senate Bill 93 (SB 93). The bill is sponsored by Senators Meredith, Boswell, Douglas and Tichenor and proposes many changes to current state law, including removal of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, bans on endorsing political or social activism, and even prohibiting trauma-informed care in K-12 schools.

The proposed bill states, a “school shall not advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.” Under the guise of protecting students against discrimination and preventing potential student or parent discomfort, the bill prohibits k-12 schools from promoting DEI.

Such a change in statute would be harmful for students on many levels.

My school recently hosted our annual multicultural fair, an event that brought our entire school community together to celebrate the unique backgrounds and diversity of our students. Allowing participants to share their culture with their classmates through food and dance sent a message to the student body: that their identity is worth celebrating. Banning such an event would not protect students, but would instead make them feel as if they are not welcome at school.

The policymakers behind the bill claim they want to protect students from bias and differential treatment, essentially advocating for equality among students. However, in their quest for equality, they are lobbying against equity which is what is really needed to ensure each student has the resources they need.

As a high school student, there is nothing I want more than for my school to advocate for inclusion and belonging. During adolescence, we are still finding ourselves and our place in the world. Having a school and teachers that advocate for spaces where students can be free to be themselves can make all the difference between school being a miserable place and school being a safe place. Personally, I have been able to find my passion for journalism thanks to a class that allows us to come as we are and to explore a wide variety of issues. I’ve found my place in my school’s book club where we’ve explored diverse books, topics, and writers and where belonging is fostered by a clear message that “All are welcome here.”

Along with DEI initiatives the bill bans schools from endorsing “Political or Social Activism.” Students have their first amendment right to free speech, petition and assembly, just the same as anyone else, and the legislators should not try to diminish that. Our schools should be teaching us to be active and engaged citizens who think critically about the world around us and advocate for a better one. How can we learn about democracy and government without being taught the issues that shape and define our communities and without being encouraged to participate?

An additional problematic component of SB 93 is that it would effectively eliminate trauma-informed care in schools. The introduction of trauma-informed care language — part of the Republican school safety act in 2019 — was a huge step in making schools safer and more supportive for students. Current Kentucky law notes that a trauma-informed approach is recommended in schools by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration “to foster a safe, stable, and understanding learning environment for all students and staff.” The fact that it is recommended by SAMHSA shows that the principles are well vetted and based on research.

Why would we want such resources and strategies taken out of our schools, especially considering we are just coming off a global pandemic? Kentucky’s legislators are no longer recognizing the adverse childhood experiences so many are facing from poverty, to foster care, divorce and incarceration in the family, not to mention the challenges we all grapple with living in a world plagued with violence near and far.

Some of the language SB 93 would eliminate includes “all schools must provide a place for students to feel safe and supported to learn throughout the school day,” If schools aren’t doing that, then how do we expect to raise test scores and achieve the educational goals we all want?

By attacking DEI initiatives, social and political activism and trauma-informed care in our schools, Kentucky’s legislators are failing to protect Kentucky students and our rich and diverse identities. In recent sessions, they have taken our books, and they have taken our rights to choose and use our preferred pronouns. And now they are after the safe and understanding learning environments students need to succeed in school, in our communities, and in the workforce. In summary, Kentucky’s legislators should stop attacking public schools with bills like SB 93.

Isabella Edghill is a junior in DuPont Manual High School’s Journalism & Communication magnet. She is a student journalist with the Kentucky Student Voice Team and Manual RedEye, and is interested in covering legislation that impacts Kentucky’s students, bringing together her passions for advocacy and writing. She loves reading and exploring issues around diversity, identity, and empowerment. This article reflects the views and opinions of the author. This article does not necessarily represent the opinion of the organization.