Lawmaker files bill to curb ‘ideological slant’ in SC schools. Some are skeptical

A South Carolina Republican lawmaker has introduced a bill to curb what she considers “ideological slant” within the Palmetto State’s schools.

But one teachers group says the bill is attempting to address a nonissue.

The bill, released last Wednesday, was filed by Rep. Lin Bennett, R-Charleston, who said she was inspired by calls from parents complaining about teachers exposing their children to political or “ideologically slanted” topics.

“I just want a balance of teaching what’s real and whats going on,” Bennett said. “This is all ideology and slanted stuff that these children are getting.”

Specifically, the bill seeks to curb any teaching that may misrepresent historical facts, omit context, encourage students to accept a certain political belief or degrade certain students for their views. The bill also aims to remove instructor’s personal views from teaching materials.

“Our children can’t read in South Carolina. We’re the worst,” Bennett said. “Why are we dealing with this stuff?”

But the legislation also seeks to limit certain topics from discussion in the classroom, many surrounding race and gender, and would apply to anyone who works for a state institution that gets state dollars.

It would prohibit teachers and school administrators from teaching topics it defines as discriminatory, including that one’s race or sex is better or worse than another, that a group should be treated differently because of their traits or that someone’s moral character has to do with their race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, heritage, culture, religion or political belief.

It also would block teachers from telling students that a group or person is inherently “racist, sexist, bigoted, ignorant, biased, fragile, oppressive or contributive to any oppression” subconsciously or consciously, and it defines teaching that someone “bears responsibility or must confess or atone for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, sex, or ethnic group,” as discrimination.

And it would block teachers from making students use inclusive language for the LGBTQ+ community, and from exposing minors to material on “controversial and age-inappropriate topics.”

Sherry East, the president of teachers group South Carolina Education Association, questioned the bill’s effectiveness.

“Its a nonissue,” East said. “People are getting upset and spending a lot of time about things that are not taught in South Carolina schools.”

Specifically, East said portions of the bill are reminiscent of others proposed across the country to curb the teaching of critical race theory. Critical race theory examines how institutions and public policies have created or increased inequality, but some critics say it’s overly critical of America and makes white children feel guilt for things they have not personally done.

Banning critical race theory has become a rallying point for conservatives. The latest example was during the recent Virginia governor’s race, but has emerged among some groups of South Carolina Republicans..

This month, after parents complained about a LGBTQ+ memoir in one district, Gov. Henry McMaster asked the state’s schools chief to investigate the book and any similar what he called “obscene” materials in South Carolina schools.

“We don’t teach that in South Carolina,” East said. “It’s not in the curriculum.”

East warned that limiting what teachers can talk about or creating a system where parents can choose what parts of the state-approved curriculum a child is taught could create issues with South Carolina’s current teacher shortage.

“It will get tricky and frustrating and more teachers will leave from it,” East said.

“Ask your teacher what is being taught before you assume it’s being taught because you saw it on social media.”