Will County Gazette

Kendall County Republican Party Chairman James Marter is dismissing the state's proposed "Culturally Responsive" teaching proposal as another attempted power play by Democratic lawmakers.

"This is a direct assault on speech, liberty and religious speech," Marter told the Kendall County Times. "Democrats want power over everything, and they're willing to use our kids to get it if need be."

While the plan has the backing of the State Board of Education, Marter said he hardly buys the notion that supporters are only concerned with creating a more welcoming, overall environment for students.

The new rule could lead to teachers having to assess "how their biases and perceptions affect their teaching practice and how they access tools to mitigate their own behavior (racism, sexism, homophobia, unearned privilege, Eurocentrism, etc.)," The Center Square reported.

"This is about politics and the Democrats having absolute control going into the future by being able to manipulate the minds of our young people," he said. "They want to advance their crazy, radical, social agenda, and they see this as a chance to do that."

With the stakes being as high as they are, Marter said he plans to spend much of his time between now and Tuesday, Feb. 16, to inform residents about the proposal and why it would be wrong for Illinois. Feb. 16 is when the 12-member Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) is slated to take up the matter.

"We've got awaken the sleeping masses," he added. "Right now, it's like a circus in Springfield, and I believe that's part of the democratic strategy for getting crazy proposals like this through with as little notice as possible."

At least eight JCAR members would have to support a motion to block the proposal at this month's meeting to prevent it from taking effect in October.