Let me share with you a proposed piece of legislation (word for word) from the IL Senate Republicans. Yes, either party can propose legislation but I think that any such legislation solely proposed by one party is ill advised.
Here is Senate Bill 4179 - "The legislation requires school districts to publicly post on the districts website, at least twice per year, all of the learning materials and activities used for student instruction, as well as the policies and procedures for review and approval of the materials and activities."
On the surface this appears to be a rather benign bill; perhaps even a positive one. I'm wary of this proposed piece of legislation for a number of reasons.
- First, as I alluded to, above, a bill crafted by one party is often ill fated
- Second, the bill seems to assume that teachers aren't already sharing learning materials and activities as part of their every day work. Teachers have always done this.
-Third, excellent teachers, for a variety of reasons (sometimes out of their control) must by necessity or choice alter learning materials and activities. When this takes place are they then suppose to make the changes on the website?
-Fourth, making the above Senate Bill 4179 law simply adds another responsibility to a teacher's workload; a workload already often too burdensome.
-And fifth, though there are other reasons to oppose this bill, we already have principals, assistant principals, dept. chairs and district curriculum coordinators who are in charge of seeing to it that teachers are making clear to students and parents what is taking place with regard to learning materials and activities. Bottom line...does the legislature trust these individuals, along with the teachers in the state, to do their jobs?
Thanks and have a good day, Dick
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