State School Board member blasts ‘emboldened’ teachers who preach ‘divisive ideologies’
February 15, 2023
Originally published at Deseret News
State School Board member blasts ‘emboldened’ teachers who preach ‘divisive ideologies’
Marjorie Cortez | February 8, 2023
Near the end of a recent 13-hour plus State School Board meeting, board member Natalie Cline blasted Utah educators who feel “emboldened” to “proselyte their divisive, inappropriate and highly offensive ideologies to students of all ages.”
Cline’s criticisms are related to a recently leaked Accuracy in Media video that includes purported statements by Utah educators on how they flout state laws and rules on teaching restricted content.
“There are some very real, very disturbing things going on in our public schools and it seems that no matter how many rules or trainings or documents have been put out, these same issues keep popping up like a never-ending game of Whac-a-Mole,” said Cline, whose board district on the Utah State Board of Education includes a large swath of the Jordan School District.
People in the video are identified as educators in the Jordan and Murray school districts. Jordan and Murray school district officials have described the video as “inaccurate,” “misleading” and “incomplete.” Both districts are investigating, officials said.
The Accuracy in Media video depicts educators appearing to comment on how they teach restricted topics such as critical race theory or discuss preferred gender pronouns. Some said they instruct high school seniors “who don’t tell their parents” or they send home information to parents after classroom presentations have already taken place.
State School Board Chairman James Moss said the state board continues to review the situation as well.