Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) critical of new teaching standards in Illinois. | File Photo
Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) critical of new teaching standards in Illinois. | File Photo
A Republican candidate for governor is railing against new education standards meant to serve as a positive progression in professional development.
The "culturally responsive teaching and learning standards," or CTRLS, have been met with stiff opposition from Republicans and conservatives, including Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville), who said in a Chicago Sun-Times story that this policy is "replacing our children's education with political indoctrination."
The bill passed on partisan lines 36-17 and now waits in the House for consideration.
In an April 29 Facebook post, Bailey said he's had it with strings-attached programs funded by taxpayers' dollars.
"It's got to stop," Bailey said. "Let me be clear, our nation was founded on July 4, 1776, and this ridiculous theory and racially divisive rhetoric are not bringing our state or our nation any closer together — it's dividing us."
The CRTLS will go into effect by 2025 and aim to help educators develop their responsiveness to racism, sexism, homophobia, privilege and Eurocentrism.
According to Illinois Policy, critics of the bill feel it is forcing teachers to embrace leftist ideologies and prioritize social activism in the classroom when most students can't even perform to par on basic skills tests.
One commenter on the post, Larry Sheaves, strongly agreed with Bailey.
"Darren is totally right," Sheaves said. "It is in crisis mode! This stuff is being belched out of Chicago and destroying our state and nation. You don't have to ponder very hard to know where it is coming from. We need Bailey as governor and Illinois to turn to conservative leadership."
Alerts Sign-up