Remember when it was relatively noncontroversial to believe in the longstanding principle that public school teachers, as representatives of the state, shouldn’t attempt to influence their students’ beliefs? As more people have identified topics they feel strongly enough about to advocate for, that time period seems like a distant memory.
Don’t get me wrong, I love advocacy. I love the passion and determination that comes alongside it. I love the collaboration that often results when people with different views and beliefs come together. I just don’t love when advocacy is done in our schools.
I promise this isn’t a tirade about teachers. I firmly believe Utah has some of the very best teachers in the county. Incredible teachers are still humans, though, and humans feel an instinct to teach others about things they care deeply about. Across the country we’ve seen an increase in reports of personal beliefs being brought into classrooms and, while that isn’t inherently a bad thing, the trouble comes when teaching and accepting becomes promoting and advocating.
As a mother of two young children, I don’t think I’m telling anyone anything new when I say that young children are impressionable. Really impressionable. I mean, how many of us just spent 24 nights housing an Elf on the Shelf? So, when high-emotion topics like religion, politics or sexuality are presented by a person in a trusted position like a teacher, the opportunity for persuasion is high.
We can’t talk about this subject without bringing in parental rights and whether a school or teacher has the right to persuade student’s viewpoints. Especially when a teacher’s philosophy might run counter to the values and beliefs that are being taught in the home. I’ve taken up residence in the pro-parent rights camp with most issues, but particularly on this one.
I simply believe that parents exclusively hold the right to morally and socially educate their children.
I think when it comes to topics that rest on morality and societal behaviors, it’s best to limit them in classrooms, which is why I appreciate the work being done by Rep. Jeff Stenquist with his classroom neutrality bill. I’ve heard people attack it as an anti-LGBTQ bill, but they overlook the protection it creates. The bill safeguards family representation for teachers and students. Many of our students have same-sex parents or relatives. It’s a disservice to them when they learn that only teachers with rainbows displayed in the classrooms are “safe people,” and it discounts all the amazing teachers we’re so fortunate to have in our state.
This bill will help us return to our children knowing that, by and large, Utah teachers are safe — rainbow or not. This bill also ensures that teachers will no longer have to fear being reprimanded or losing their jobs over displaying a photo on their desk of them and their same-sex spouse or for telling their students about their summer vacation with their wife to Disneyland, just as a heterosexual teacher can talk about their husband.
Rep. Stenquist’s bill is also thoughtful to maturation and abuse prevention education being taught in our schools and has protections for the programs as long as they are USBE-approved. With all that being said, it’s an easy choice for me to support the classroom neutrality bill.
Our K-6 kids have plenty of time with these charged topics. There’s no need to rush them by introducing possibly conflicting concepts at such young ages. Let’s give parents the opportunity to design the foundation of the characterological development of their children.
Leslie Carpenter
Leslie Carpenter, Hyde Park, is the vice president of the Elephant Club, founder of Become a Delegate and a lover of all things Utah politics.
The Salt Lake Tribune is committed to creating a space where Utahns can share ideas, perspectives and solutions that move our state forward. We rely on your insight to do this. Find out how to share your opinion here, and email us at voices@sltrib.com.
