Politics Versus Learning

Misinformation. Disinformation.

It happens everywhere, and Iowa is no exception.

No, you aren’t re-reading yesterday’s article, but the first two lines of both posts are the same – because providing reliable information to young learners and their families is under attack everywhere, including the Hawkeye State.

The latest example of misinformation comes from the Iowa Legislature which was gaveled into session earlier this month.

The Des Moines Register reported last week that,

“Iowa lawmakers are seeking to require schools to show students a computer-generated video depicting the stages of pregnancy that critics say could be used to share medically inaccurate information and to promote a religious viewpoint.”

“Similar legislation last year was inspired by the ‘Baby Olivia’ video created by the anti-abortion group Live Action, which contains what several medical groups describe as inaccurate information about pregnancy. Last year’s bill passed the Iowa House, but not the Senate.”

“Senate Study Bill 1028, which advanced through a Senate subcommittee Thursday, does not specifically mention the ‘Baby Olivia’ video, although a separate House measure, House Study Bill 34, does cite the video as an example.”

“The bill requires students in first through 12^th grade be shown ‘a high-quality, computer-generated rendering or animation that depicts the humanity of the unborn child by showing prenatal human development, starting at fertilization, noting significant markers in cell growth and organ development throughout every stage of pregnancy.”

“The legislation also requires students to be taught information about the stages of pregnancy and fetal development in the womb, and to be shown a high-definition ultrasound video ‘showing the presence of the brain, heart and other vital organs in early fetal development.’”

“’I support the bill, because human growth and development doesn’t start just with birth,’ Senator Jeff Taylor, Republican from Sioux Center, said. ‘It begins before birth. It begins with fertilization, or conception.’”

“The bill strikes a portion of Iowa law that lists the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Public Health Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses as groups ‘leading professional organizations and agencies with relevant experience in the field.”

“Senator Sarah Trone Garriott, Democrat from West Des Moines, criticized the bill.”

“’If the intention of this legislation is about truth, why on earth would we strike references to the leading experts on pregnancy and human development?’ she said. ‘It seems to indicate plans to avoid their guidance and oversight in favor of some other entities who are not the recognized experts.’”

“The bill also strikes a line from Iowa law that requires information ‘that is free of racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender biases,’ Instead, the bill inserts language saying information must be ‘complete’ and ‘unbiased.’”

“’This struck language in this bill is an absolute stain on our state,’ said Mazie Stilwell, director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa. ‘Instead of relying on time-tested subject matter experts and medical professionals, this proposal makes way for discredited and dangerous organizations to influence the trajectory of young Iowans lives.’”

“Taylor defended the language in the bill striking references to certain forms of bias.”

“’In terms of removing that language that specifies the types of biases that are forbidden in providing this information to our school children, I am okay with that,’ he said. ‘Because it actually opens it up in a wider context by just saying the information has to be unbiased.’”

“Samantha Thenuwara and Alex Weresh, a pair of fourth-year medical students at the University of Iowa’s Carver College of Medicine, addressed lawmakers about medically inaccurate information in the Baby Olivia video, including misstating when a heart rate is detectable in an embryo and when a fetus is viable outside the womb.”

“’We’re deeply discouraged by the consideration of presenting factually inaccurate information and education materials to our youth,’ Weresh said. ‘Such misinformation undermines the integrity of medical education and could mislead young people in their understanding of critical medical issues, making it harder to stay in the state and build our careers here.’”

“Senator Sandy Salmon, Republican from Janesville, who supported the bill, said it would be good for children to see a rendering that shows ‘the humanity of a developing human being.’”

“’Why wouldn’t we want them to be able to see that?’ she said. ‘And maybe, just maybe, it would engender within them a respect and an awe at what God has done to create a human being. A baby. A little boy. A little girl.’”

“Michelle Johnson, a lobbyist for the Iowa Association of School Boards, said her group opposes the bill because she doesn’t think the state should dictate curriculum for school districts as specifically as the bill does.”

“’We think the state should mandate broad requirements such as human growth and development classes, then the State Board of Education adopts content standards, and then local school districts adopt a curriculum to meet those content standards,’ she said.”

Jeff Pitts, a lobbyist for the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, said his group enthusiastically supports the bill. He said it would ‘root politics out of the education system.’”

“This bill would arm Iowa kids with the fundamental facts about basic biology 101,’ he said. ‘Straight science about a baby’s development from conception to birth. Now, who wouldn’t want that?’”

One of the reasons families are leaving America’s public school system – both conservatives and liberals – is because of over-zealous legislatures attempting to apply majority rule toward the minority. We saw that in yesterday’s column regarding the language of science, and today with the topic of pregnancy and life.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I will place my hopes in a well-educated family to make the best learning decisions for their children over a group of state legislators anytime, anywhere. That hope depends on us helping families develop learning plans so that their children become smarter and stronger in their reading, writing, problem-solving, and character development abilities.

Politics has no place when it comes to youngsters learning.

I’ll be away until Friday. Til then. SVB