Pennsylvania lawmaker introduces bill to ban teachers from discussing politics, government in class

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-...troduces-bill-to-ban-teachers-from-discussing

A Pennsylvania state lawmaker has introduced a bill that would ban public school teachers from discussing politics or government in their classrooms.

Will Tallman (R-Adams County), who has said he will not seek re-election in November's midterms, introduced the “Teacher Code of Ethics” last week, The Morning Call reported Thursday.
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What happened to civics class where you learned how your government works?

JacksinPA said:

What happened to civics class where you learned how your government works?

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This was my original thought from the headline as well. How do you teach Civics or History if you can't discuss politics or the government. But then I read the inside parts of the story:

According to a memo Tallman sent to his House colleagues, the bill would bar teachers from endorsing or opposing political candidates or issues while in the classroom. The bill would also prohibit teachers from discussing any pending or enacted legislation, court cases or executive orders at any level of government.

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So it's not saying you can't discuss politics or government; it's saying you can't endorse or speak negatively about current candidates or political issues in the classroom.

Specifically, according to another story on this, the latter part would seem to be focused on instances where it's not germane to being discussed. So for instance, it's fine to talk about Brown vs. the Board of Education if there's a discussion in history class about the civil rights movement. However, if let the curriculum didn't include any part about abortion, bringing up abortion laws or Roe v. Wade as part of some discussion on the government wouldn't be allowed.

In some ways, I don't disagree with the general essence of it. I don't think, even in Civics class, a teacher should be presenting any particular side of a currently debated issue or legislation in a positive or negative light; that's not the place of the teacher. At the same time, opening up discussions within class about issues of the day and how they may relate to the particular subject matter at hand, and allowing the students to discuss and potentially share their views or thoughts on it, can be a useful teaching tool. I also can understand, similarly, forbidding a teacher from promoting or advocating on behalf of/against legislation that's currently in process or for actions in violation of the law or antagonistic towards law enforcement.

However, the restrictions regarding discussion of enacted legislation or court cases seems far too stiffling in principle to properly be able to engage in a civics or US history class. Ultimately I don't think, just based on what's available, this would likely work out well or have a positive effect. But it's such a broadly presented idea at this point it's hard to really definitively say anything.