Policy Matters Ohio speaks out for students’ freedom to learn our full history
Posted March 09, 2022 in Press Releases
Organization issues statement opposing HB 327
On Wednesday, March 9 at 11:30 am the Honesty for Ohio Education coalition will host a press conference in the Ladies Gallery of the Statehouse. The coalition is there to defend Ohio students’ freedom to learn and educators’ freedom to teach a full, honest history of our nation. Policy Matters is a founding organizational member of the coalition, which opposes HB 327 because it seeks to divide Ohioans, censor teachers and threaten schools’ funding. Policy Matters Ohio State Policy Fellow Tanisha Pruitt Ph.D. issued the following statement in support of the coalition.
“School is a place where students of all backgrounds go to learn, gain understanding of the world and gain the skills they need to shape our future. A core component of that understanding is learning the history and experiences of people who look like them, and of people who don’t.
“It is important that young people have the freedom to learn about every aspect of our history, including past injustices and how they affect our lives today, so we can make progress toward a more just, equitable, and sustainable future.
“The politicians sponsoring HB 327 are part of an extremist national agenda, backed by corporate interests, that are using racial fear to pit people against each other and erode support for public education. The bill threatens funding for districts if educators teach ‘divisive concepts’ — muzzling our teachers, whitewashing our history, and robbing our children of their freedom to learn. It similarly targets higher education and state and local government entities.
“HB 327 is part of a broader attack on public education that includes a destructive proposal for a universal voucher program and resistance to fully and constitutionally funding public schools. Policy Matters Ohio urges all legislators to vote no against HB 327, so our students have the tools to build a brighter future for all Ohioans, no exceptions.”