Kathleen Malsbenden

I am writing as a retired educator and concerned citizen to urge an ITL vote on SB 431. Our students deserve an education that is honest, accurate, and prepares them for the real world. This bill creates a climate of fear in our schools, discouraging teachers from tackling complex historical and social topics for fear of professional sanction. When we restrict the ability of experts to teach their subject matter, we rob our children of the critical thinking skills they need to be informed citizens. Please trust our teachers and keep political censorship out of our classrooms. To add, half the ‘forbidden’ concepts stated in this bill, must have taken some really deep searching as I never used any of them in K-5 classes. We did simple things like asking “who, what, where, when and why.” Not too complex but created some good critical thinking.