DES MOINES, Iowa – State Rep. Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville, introduced HF 2053 in January. The bill prohibits teachers who teach social studies, civics, U.S. History, or U.S. Government from being compelled to teach current events and “controversial issues of public policy and social affairs.”
The legislation also requires teachers who teach such topics to present diverse and disparate positions. It also prohibits teachers from requiring students to lobby for particular legislation or advocate for a public policy.
The bill also prohibits schools from using private money to purchase curriculum, training, or professional development materials. It also prohibits schools from compelling teachers to affirm a belief in critical race theory or transgender ideology against that teacher’s religious or philosophical convictions.
An Iowa House subcommittee last Tuesday, consisting of State Reps. Salmon, Phil Thompson, R-Jefferson, and Sharon Steckman, D-Mason City, tabled the legislation for the year.
Salmon signed onto her bill, but the other two representatives declined to sign.
“This bill is intended to prohibit activist civics and make sure partisanship stays out of civics and civics-related classes in our schools,” she told The Iowa Torch.
“The other two committee members did not want to move the bill forward. Representative Thompson was supportive of some of the provisions and is helping to work on trying to move those portions forward, perhaps on another bill,” she added.
