McHenry Times

The "Culturally Responsive" teaching standards that the State Board of Education endorses is a political power play by Democrats in Springfield, Rep. Dan Ugaste (R- St. Charles) said.

"I definitely believe it's inserting politics into education," Ugaste told the McHenry Times. "We are no longer focusing on teaching students what I consider the basics of education, such as thinking for themselves and forming their own opinions. This plan calls for a progressive platform and agenda when we should be just concentrating on educating our youth."

While supporters of the plan promote it as one that would create a more welcoming overall environment for students, the new rule would lead to such changes as teachers having to assess "how their biases and perceptions affect their teaching practice and how they access tools to mitigate their own behavior (racism, sexism, homophobia, unearned privilege, Eurocentrism, etc.)," The Center Square reported.

"It's clearly someone's platform for how they want to steer kids and have them educated," Ugaste said. "It's not hard to see the politics at play here."

Ugaste wants to inform people about the proposal and urge them to contact lawmakers.

He said another chief concern he has is how the proposal leaves those who believe the standard's few options if they plan to continue being part of the system.

"It stands to force at least some teachers into teaching something they may not believe in," he said. "So, in addition to all the residents and businesses we're losing to outmigration, we soon many have teachers to add to that list."