Op-Ed: HB 1134 is disheartening, but we are not intimidated. We still want to be teachers.
House Bill 1134 will contribute to the censorship of an accurate curriculum, the increased partisanship of the field of education, and the prevention of educators from doing our job to educate students according to the state standards, so that they may be contributing members of a democratic society.
One of the first skills we are taught in Teacher Education Programs is adaptability. HB 1134 impedes a teacher’s ability to meet student needs and adjust lesson plans as they feel necessary.
A good teacher does not continue a lesson if their students did not grasp the concept the day before. A good teacher is adaptive, relevant to what the students are experiencing, and responsive to student needs.
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Through mandating that teachers are micromanaged by their administration and parents, we are telling qualified professionals that they cannot do their job and that people outside of the field know better than educators.
The manipulation of lesson plans and classroom curriculum also destroys the opportunity for student input.
Learning is challenging. If we deny students the opportunity to challenge their beliefs and form empathy for others, students will not see the purpose of learning and expanding their understanding of the world around them.
A common goal of education is to aid students into becoming functioning members of society by teaching them how to engage in democratic conversations surrounding important topics. If students are not able to speak to what is happening in their communities and the world around them in school, how prepared will they truly be to enter the conversation once out of school?
A key component in this preparation, beyond content knowledge and awareness of what is happening in their community, is introduced through Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). SEL enables students to understand their emotions, and others, so that they may be more empathetic in their interactions with their peers.
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HB 1134 would allow parents to opt their students out of SEL, which could be harmful to the students’ development, and would be difficult because SEL is often intertwined into the curricula of multiple content areas.
As we are sure many of you are aware, there is a teacher shortage across the country. This shortage has especially impacted this state. According to a study by Indiana State University, 97% of districts in Indiana have reported a shortage of teachers in their schools.
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Teacher education programs also are facing decreasing enrollment numbers each year. Since 2010, enrollment in Teacher Education Programs has dropped by more than one third, even with increased enrollment in bachelor’s degree programs.
This state needs teachers — qualified teachers — and this bill will surely drive many of them away.
HB 1134 was meant to intimidate teachers into teaching students a censored and inaccurate curriculum.
As pre-service educators we are disheartened by this coordinated legislative assault against Indiana educators. We call our senators to action, specifically members of the Education and Career Development committee; vote no to HB 1134.
Fellow Hoosiers, we thank you for your continued advocacy for Indiana educators and call on you to contact your representative to vote no on HB 1134.
Abby Martin, Secondary Social Studies Education
Anna Long, Secondary Social Studies Education
Grace Mayo, Secondary Social Studies Education
Thomas Arndt, Secondary Social Studies Education
Maiya Young, Secondary Social Studies Education
Bridget Clyma, Elementary Education
Wolfe Allen, Secondary Social Studies Education
Brian Gottlieb, Secondary Special Education
Scott Supra, Secondary Social Studies Education
Meghan Langford, Secondary Social Studies Education
Megan Schafer, Secondary Social Studies Education
Rachel Dyer, Elementary Education
Sarah Dyer, Early Childhood Education
Triston Miller, Elementary Education
Olivia Wood, Secondary English Language Arts Education
Grace (Matthias) Ament, Secondary Social Studies Education
Erin Matos, Special Education
Julia McClung, Elementary Education
Alexis Martin, Secondary English Education
Nathan French, Secondary Social Studies Education
Taylor Kozarits, Secondary Social Studies Education
Lauren White, Secondary Special Education
Megan Higgins, Secondary Special Education
Cameron Turner, Secondary Science Education
Joshua Payne, Secondary Social Studies Education
Madison Klein, Secondary Social Studies Education
Sydney Waterson, Secondary Special Education/Secondary English Education