{"id":33218,"date":"2023-02-01T15:46:49","date_gmt":"2023-02-01T21:46:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/update.legislature.ne.gov\/?p=33218"},"modified":"2023-02-01T15:46:49","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T21:46:49","slug":"proposal-to-create-parents-bill-of-rights-considered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/update.legislature.ne.gov\/?p=33218","title":{"rendered":"Proposal to create \u2018parents\u2019 bill of rights\u2019 considered"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Education Committee heard testimony Jan. 31 on a bill intended, in part, to ensure parental access to learning materials and curriculum in public schools.<\/p>\n

\"Sen.
Sen. Dave Murman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Glenvil Sen. Dave Murman, sponsor of LB374, said the bill would establish a \u201cparents\u2019 bill of rights\u201d to clarify the principle that parents, not \u201ceducational bureaucrats,\u201d are the foremost decision makers in their children\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n

Murman said he introduced the bill because of parents\u2019 concerns about comprehensive sex education standards considered by the State Board of Education in recent years.<\/p>\n

Under LB374, parents could request that books, magazines, images and other library content that contains certain sexual content or \u201cexcessive\u201d profanity or violence be designated as inappropriate for minors.<\/p>\n

The bill also outlines a process by which parents could challenge the educational benefit of an item of library content. If a challenge is upheld, the item would be removed.<\/p>\n

LB374 would require school districts to create an internet-based tool with which parents could access learning materials, activities and curriculum used for student instruction, as well as other information.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the bill would prohibit schools from administering an attitude or belief examination to a student without parental consent.<\/p>\n

Murman said LB374 also would prevent schools from requiring students or teachers to \u201cadopt, affirm, adhere to or profess\u201d certain teachings, including that individuals \u201cbear collective guilt and are inherently responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, ethnicity, color or national origin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teachers who refuse to teach those ideas or other matters that contradict their sincerely held religious beliefs could not be subject to \u201cadverse licensure or employment action\u201d because of that refusal.<\/p>\n

Finally, the bill would allow a parent, student or teacher aggrieved by a violation to bring a civil action for appropriate relief, including actual damages and attorney\u2019s fees.<\/p>\n

Robbie Adams testified in support of LB374, saying she was \u201cappalled\u201d by parents\u2019 recent discovery of sexually explicit books in school libraries and the \u201csexualization of children by curriculum wholly inappropriate for any school setting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSchools must be free of political and social agendas and dedicate the school day to the primary goal of dissemination of basic knowledge and skills,\u201d Adams said. \u201cTransparency makes schools accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marni Hodgen also testified in support. She said many Nebraska parents feel they have little say over what their children learn in school. LB374 would give parents easy access to curriculum and the power to decide whether certain books are appropriate for students, Hodgen said.<\/p>\n

Shavonna Holman testified in opposition to the bill on behalf of Omaha Public Schools. She said the district\u2019s curriculum review and textbook approval processes already include parent input and require board approval at a meeting that is open to the public.<\/p>\n

Holman said making learning materials available on the proposed portal would require a significant investment of time and financial resources. Additionally, she said, the bill could give every parent veto authority over virtually any of the district\u2019s educational programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cShould we really be giving a single parent the right to dictate the education of all of our children?\u201d Holman said.<\/p>\n

Tim Royers testified in opposition to LB374 on behalf of the Nebraska State Education Association. He said many of the bill\u2019s components are redundant to existing state law or proposed in response to \u201cnonexistent concerns\u201d about things public schools are not allowed to do, such as direct a child\u2019s religious training.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not opposed to transparency,\u201d Royers said. \u201cBut this bill does not promote transparency \u2014 it promotes an image that teachers are a danger to kids and not to be trusted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also in opposition was Khenda Mustafa of Nebraska Appleseed. She said the proposal would have a chilling effect on classroom discussion of American history, particularly race-based laws and institutions that continue to cause economic, social and civic disparities for Black people, indigenous people and other people of color.<\/p>\n

\u201cPast history is not our fault,\u201d Mustafa said, \u201cbut it is our opportunity and our responsibility to understand and fix it together to prevent future disparities and harm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rachel West testified in opposition to the bill on behalf of the Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. She said LB374 could prevent schools from offering students evidence-based, age appropriate programming intended to prevent sexual and dating violence.<\/p>\n

The committee took no immediate action on the bill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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