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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBill No. 22-11 Substitute Resolution in Support of Academic FreedomSharon L. McBride President Sheila Nieagodski Vice President Catuteth Lee Chairperson, Committee of' the Whole Canneth Lee First. District 1-tiny Davis, Jr. Second District Sharon L. McBride "Third District Troy Warner Fourth District Eli Wax Fifth District City of South Bend Common Council 441 Cowity-City Building • 227 W. Jeflerson Blvd South Bend, Indiana 46601 Office February 28, 2022 -_ - South Bend Common Council FEB 4th Floor, County -City Building South Bend, IN 46601 CITY CLEKK, b6O I ri BEND, IN Re: SUBTITUTE BILL 22-11 SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, IN SUPPORT OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN TEACHING INDIANA STUDENTS Dear Council Members: Bill 22-11, a Resolution in support of academic freedom in teaching Indiana students was voluntarily tabled at the February 14, 2022, Community Relations Committee in order to provide clarification to some Council members and to work collaboratively to strengthen the Resolution. The attached Substitute Bill 22-11 is the result of those efforts. Teaching should be left to teachers and school administrators, not to legislators. Legislative efforts to suppress factual teaching on unpleasant or controversial facts are repugnant to the very foundation of this country. Sheila Nieagodski This substitute Resolution demonstrates the Council's solidarity with all educators, Sixth District counselors, school administrators and school board members who advocate for truthful disclosure of facts in the academic setting. This substitute Bill has the Karen L. White support of groups such as the Local Chapters of the NAACP and Faith in Indiana, At Large along with many teachers and other individuals. Rachel Tomas Morgan We ask that this substitute resolution be distributed to all Council members before At Large this afternoon's Committee meetings. Lori K Hamann Thank you for your consideration. At Large Sincerely urs, Lori K. amann., South Bend Common Council, Member At Large 'I - 04 (574) 235-9321 * Fax (574) 235-9173 • TDD (574) 235-5567 • littp://www.southbencfiii.gov City of South Bend Common Council 441 County -City Building • 227 W. Jefferson Bled South Bcud, Indiana 46601 �- Henry Daum, Jr., Sou 6fta,Common Council, Second District (574) 235-9321• Fax (574) 235-9173 • TDD (574) 235-5567 0 httl)://wmv.soudibeudin.gov SUBSTITUTE BILL NO.22-11 SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION NO. CITY CLEKK, Z)U J f H BEND, IN A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, IN SUPPORT OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN TEACHING INDIANA STUDENTS G*�, state legislative proposals are being introduced and passed across the United States that target academic discussions of racism and related issues of oppression in American history in schools; and Gam, best practices strongly support approaches that educate the "whole child" including academics as well as social and emotional learning and restorative justice skills; and Nam, The American Academv of Pediatrics in 2019 published a policy statement regarding the impact of racism on child and adolescent health that discussed the impact racism and oppression had on mental and physical health: "Racism is a core social determinant of health that is a driver of health inequities;" and Gam, teaching the truth about race, gender, and cultural differences is necessary to inform students about existing systemic discriminations; and Gam, the truthful, accurate teaching of history often requires teaching about race and cultural oppressions of all kinds; and Gam, while we acknowledge that parents are the primary educators of their children, decisions about curricula and subject matter and what pedagogical methods should be used are best made by educators who have expertise in the subject; and, 6 the truthful teaching about race, gender, and cultural differences in this country in no way implies that someone of similar traits as the perpetrators are inherently responsible for the past actions of others who share those traits; and G,hCvmz� the state of Indiana is already facing a critical teacher shortage and House Bill 1134 would create additional challenges when finding qualified teachers to fill openings in the classrooms, having short-term as well as long-term negative impacts on the community as a whole; and G,fil;aa� the state of Indiana already has comprehensive rules and regulations in place for K-12 schools regarding what teachers are required to teach about historical facts and events; and 6* the South Bend Common Council stands in solidarity with all teachers and administrators of K- 12 students; and 60,, the South Bend Common Council stands in solidarity with guidance counselors and academic advisors of all K-12 students; and 6 , the South Bend Common Council stands in solidarity with all trainers, educators, and elected school board officials working toward a thriving and highly effective K-12 educational system; and (A" the South Bend Common Council stands in strong opposition to any encroachment of these academic freedoms as mentioned above. Section I. We affirm the importance and necessity of teaching the truth about race, gender, and cultural differences. Section II. We also affirm the principle of academic freedom and acknowledge its import and neccessity. Section III. We recognize and support educators' right and responsibility to teach on the topics they deem appropriate and/or necessary. ,i�b iQ ,5* day JQ-..7 2022 Sharon L. McBride, Council President South Bend Common Council Sharon L. McBride President Sheila Niezgodski Vice President Caiuietli Lee Chairperson, Committee of the Whole Cainieth Lee First District Heiny Davis, Jr. Second District Sharon L. McBride Third District City of South Bend Common Council 441 County -City Building • 227 W. Jellcrson Blvd South Bend, Indiaiia 46601 Filed in Clerks Uliice . _....._._...._._ _� FEB U 9 M'22 February 8, 2022 South Bend Common Council 4th Floor, County -City Building South Bend, IN 46601 CITY CLERK, SOUTH EMEND„ IN Re: A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, IN SUPPORT OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN TEACHING INDIANA STUDENTS Dear Council Members: The Indiana Legislature is currently considering a bill that, if passed, will limit what teachers say in the classroom regarding race, history and politics. However, teaching the truth about race and racism is necessary in order to inform students about existing systemic discrimination and enable them to craft creative solutions to the problem. Troy Wanier Teaching should be left to teachers and school administrators, not to politicians. Fourth District Politicians' efforts to suppress factual teaching on race and racism, or to erase Eli Wax unpleasant facts about U.S. history is akin to ideological indoctrination. These Fifth District efforts are repugnant to the very foundation of this country. Sheila Niczgodski We ask that this resolution be assigned to the Community Relations Standing Sixth District Committee for discussion on February 14, 2022, and then considered by the full Council at its meeting later that night. Karen L. White At Large Thank you for your consideration. Rachel Tomas Morgan At Large Lori K Hamaiiii At Large Sincerely yours, Lori K. Hamann., South Bend Common Council, Member At Large (574) 235 9321 • Fax (.574) 235-9173 • TDD (574) 235-5567 0 littp://www.southbeudin.gov City of South Bend Common Council 441 County -City Building • 227 NV Jcllcrson Blvd South Bend, Indiana 16601 Henry Davis, Jr., South Bend Common Council, Second District (?m � vj.W,4^ Rachel Tomas Morgan, South Bend Common Council, Member At Large (574) 235-93219 Fax (574) 235-9173 • TDD (.574) 235-5567 • littp://www.soudil)eii(iiu.gov FEB U 9 20212 BILL NO. 22-11 RESOLUTION NO. I —,i DAWN M. JONES CITY CLERK, SOUTH BEND, IN A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, IN SUPPORT OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN TEACHING INDIANA STUDENTS Gam, the Indiana State House of Representatives in a largely party line vote by the OOP members, passed House Bill 1134, an anti -CRT bill to limit what teachers say in the classroom regarding race, history, and politics; and 60C,, Critical Race Theory is a college graduate level course which is not being taught in K-12 schools in Indiana; and 6* an accurate, truthful teaching of race and racism acknowledges that the legacy of slavery, segregation, and the ongoing imposition of second-class citizenship on Black Americans and other people of color continues to permeate the social fabric of this nation; and OACeby recognizing how race and racism shape our institutions, faculty and administrators can find innovative ways to value the lived experiences of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) students, prioritize the recruitment and retention of BIPOC faculty and staff, elevate the voices and experiential knowledge of BIPOC, adopt culturally responsive teaching practices and historically accurate U.S. history curriculum, and embrace the traditions of the communities in which they work; and G, decisions about curriculum and subject matter should be made by educators who have expertise in the subject; and, Gam, the Supreme Court's decision in Sweezy v. New Hampshire (1957) held that "to impose any straitjacket upon the intellectual leaders in our colleges and universities would imperil the future of our Nation;" and G,, The American Academy of Pediatrics in 2019 published a policy statement regarding the impact of racism on child and adolescent health that discussed the impact racism had on mental and physical health: "Failure to address racism will continue to undermine health equity for all children, adolescents, emerging adults, and their families," the statement said. "Today's children, adolescents, and emerging adults are increasingly diverse. Strategies to address health and developmental issues across the pediatric life span that incorporate ethnicity, culture, and circumstance are critical to achieving a reduction in health disparities." "Racism is a core social determinant of health that is a driver of health inequities;" and Off, teaching the truth about race and racism is necessary in order to inform students about existing systemic discriminations; and G*;ea,, having an awareness of existing systemic discrimination is necessary in order to solve the problem and build systems that are truly equitable; and 60f;read, learning the truth about race and racism may be uncomfortable, but the central purpose of higher education is to challenge students to think hard about their own perspectives; and OMB, growth and learning often require confronting topics that create discomfort, including those related to racism and sexism; and G, the truthful, accurate teaching of history requires teaching about race, racism, and racial discrimination; and 6AC;w4, efforts to suppress factual teaching on race and racism, or to erase unpleasant facts about U.S. history is akin to ideological indoctrination; and 6*6, Indiana House Bill 1134, would require the highly competent and dedicated teachers in Indiana to be monitored and to have lesson plans and syllabi be reviewed and scrutinized by non -educators; and G*59;m4, the state of Indiana is already facing a critical teacher shortage and House Bill 1134 would further drive teachers out of the classroom over concerns that their work would receive unjust judgment and also over the additional workload; and 6Mo,4, the state of Indiana already has comprehensive rules in place for K-12 regarding what teachers are required to teach and they are required to teach the whole history of the United States ... not just the parts that we can feel celebratory about; and 6*;ea,�, the similar Senate Bill 167 died in the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development (the same committee now considering House Bill 1134) earlier this year after it caused the state of Indiana to become a laughingstock on the national stage. Mimi�. � � si is :�� a i V< < V< < i �. � �i ,.�s^^. i � i i i i,• � � Section I. We affirm the importance and necessity of teaching the truth about race, racism, and systemic discrimination, along with related topics. Section IL We also affirm the principle of academic freedom and acknowledge its import and neccessity. Section III. We fully reject brazen, politically motivated efforts to censor educators, and we recognize and support educators' right and responsibility to teach on the topics they deem appropriate and/or necessary. Sharon L. McBride, Council President South Bend Common Council