Their “demand” to the Illinois General Assembly is “non-negotiatble,” says the Illinois Education Association: Extend regulation by state technocrats to private schools and homeschooling during health emergencies such as COVID-19.
And they probably willl get it. Their bill already passed the Illinois House, 70-42, and has gone to the Senate. Gov. JB Pritzker probably will sign it since teachers’ unions get whatever they want, as reflected in his recent signature on a bill to expand the bargaining power of the Chicago Teachers Union.
The bill is HB 2789. It would extend the power of the Illinois Department of Public Health to decide when private schools could return to in-person instruction in the event of a public health crisis. Also among its mandates:
[IDHP] shall establish requirements by rule for providing in-person instruction at nonpublic schools and public schools that include, but are not limited to, personal protective equipment, cleaning and hygiene, social distancing, occupancy limits, symptom screening, and on-site isolation protocols and shall disseminate information about those requirements to nonpublic schools and public schools with the assistance of the Illinois State Board of Education. The authority to enforce the rules adopted pursuant to this Section lies with the Department and local departments of public health.
This is a travesty. Countless children in Illinois and across the nation have essentially lost a year of learning thanks, in large part, to obstacles created by teachers unions and politicians who pander to them with politicized, quack science and restrictions that are foolish on their face. Private schools have been a ray of light, having responded to COVID far more rationally.
This has nothing to do with health and safety. It is yet another power grab by teachers unions intent on destroying private competition in any way they can.
-Mark Glennon
Audio and summary 
If this bill passes, say goodbye to local control over all Illinois parks and expect to see open drug and alcohol use, needles, no sanitation and fire hazards, but no ordinary park users.
Non-negotiable? I’m sorry are we negotiating or legislating on behalf of the welfare of the entire state?
I have an email list of 4000 parents. Can anyone direct me to where they need to go in order to oppose this bill clear and step by step? I’ve tried multiple times and I’m not sure how to do it and Time is passing.
I need to be able to create something like they have:
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/pass-hb-2789-now?src=ieawebsite&fbclid=IwAR0G2jDu3fmcjhRKqSSZueieEsR5mt0n0i7enUz_pLx272t_XSabTkCP4cc
If anyone can help with information please let me know.
Its none of the states damn business how a privately funded school is operated or what they teach.
Well, not quite, no one wants massadras where the only ‘education’ is the memorization of a religious text. That’s how it is in some parts of the world. But this new law is certainly overreach.
Debtsor, actually “madrassa” is a very good description of what they want- schools to indoctrinate children in their sacred text, Critical Race Theory.
RIDICULOUS!! UNCONSTITUTIONAL MANDATES!!!
PUBLIC ENEMY #1-chicago teachers union and jesse snarkey…i mean sharkey!!
Here are the contents of the HB 2789 in the 102nd ILGA. “Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 2310-705 as follows: (20 ILCS 2310 / 2310-705 new) Sec. 2310-705. In-person instruction at schools. The Department shall establish requirements by RULE for providing in-person instruction at nonpublic schools and public schools that include, but are not limited to, personal protective equipment, cleaning and hygiene, social distancing, occupancy limits, symptom screening, and on-site isolation protocols and shall disseminate information about those… Read more »
They are just trying to stop comparisons from schools that actually have teachers that work. This cannot be allowed to pass – every private and Catholic school should be up in arms about this.
It’s ironic that the ISBE and the IDPH do not want this. It’s just the teacher’s unions pushing this.
Does no one see the irony of teachers unions attempting to stifle competition while holding exclusive bargaining rights?
The reason there trying to destroy private schools and competition like you said, they know the public has had enough of there shit and private schools and private teaching companies are gaining in extreme popularity unions just won’t admit it. I hope I live long enough to see the total collapse of the public education system.
there=in, at, or to that place or position.
their= plural possessive pronoun (We went to their house.)
they’re=contraction for they are
If that idiot BJ signs this Illinois schools are finished. Answer? MOVE, LEAVE IL, GET OUT WHILE YOUR HOME IS STILL WORTH SOMETHING.
Screw the IEA! Folks better stand up now to these freaks!
Further proof of the shattered social contract. Worst part is, it’s all by design.
The public school teachers need to STAY OUT of education that works!
Exactly
My grandchildren go to private schools. They benefit from rigorous remote learning that works. They benefit from slow re-opening of class rooms under very tight conditions for COVID safety. They are COVID tested several times per week. They have NOT lost a year of school and the teachers have bent over backwards to assure continuous learning. These schools are not in Illinois. They cost a lot of money. Public schools where they live are closed. Online instruction in those public schools is a joke. Public school administration has directed teachers to teach to the lowest common denominator of students until… Read more »
Well stated. Throughout history, governments have had a nasty habit of doing the opposite of what they say. The fact that so few realize this highlights the problems you mentioned.
A portion of House Bill 2789 in the 102nd ILGA strips power from locally elected school boards, and private schools, and and grants that power to the IDPH Director and local health departments, providing too much power unelected public sector workers. That is an egregious attempt to minimize parental involvement in education. The IEA does not like the narrative that some public and especially private schools have been successfully conducting in person learning. There is no good societal reason to strip that power from those who are willingly involved in in-person education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Where is the supporting… Read more »
Meanwhile, i read Indiana, Florida and other red states are expanding school choice options and school choice tax credit options–because its overwhelmingly popular. Dont know if any of these red states are able to use ARPfunding for expanding school choice.
Next the p.o.s teachers union in Chicago will be demanding free rent….oh wait,they already do!!
Hello when is this going to stop this is toll Tierney parents people in Illinois you better wake up and make some changes here immediately the state will be Venezuela within two years your kiids and religious organizations they should be fighting this as well. I will be out of the state very soon hoping there will be a new governor here in two years and mayor.Gary Rabine will be the next governor. Come on Illinoisans revolt now.
In the end, parents will have to fend for themselves in this field of jackals. Some will easily teach their kids advanced topics, others will not at all. And ‘inequality / inequity’ will expand. But, since everyone gets a trophy, no issue, I guess. Government grows to solve all ills. That is, until the dollar implodes and the empire implodes.
‘Harrison Bergeron’ by Kurt Vonnegut sums up this society nicely.
Teaching is a noble calling, but the teaching / government establishment is a POS in it’s current state.
Go long piano wire and lamp posts.
As I write this, I’m watching a report the national teachers union has been influencing CDC school guidelines. I’ve not participated in any type of political activism before, so now’s probably a good time to start. Progressive leftists have created a zombie apocalypse affecting students in our state, notably those most vulnerable. People who have voting Democrat for years must become enlightened, so they can think about taking their heads out of their asses!
Yup, a big national story for conservatives https://nypost.com/2021/05/01/teachers-union-collaborated-with-cdc-on-school-reopening-emails/
If you can read this it’s in spite of CTU and democrats. They need everyone to remain dumb and poor. They’re getting their wish in Illinois
Post of the year.
I’m glad I lived most of my life in freedom, retiring soon. A kid born today or in grade school will never know the gift of individualism and freedom. Additionally they will be living in a world with no local police. Once local police departments are abolished, the federal government will say they have to provide all policing nationwide, a police state. Nazis Gestapo etc. Education used to plant seeds of freedom, now they plant seeds of compliance to the state.
Resist this madness and the grab for total governmental control of our lives and children, even one’s very own thoughts. The brain police really are here, right now. When every media outlet, corporation, political figure and school is preaching the same nonsense, a bit of natural skepticism and cynicism might be in order. Not very long ago, the “left” and “progressives” took it upon themselves to challenge the ruling elite, but now they serve these very same corporate, globalist masters.
Anyone get the feeling that the “Department of Public Health” is now going to maintain a permanent amount of power over us forever? And that the teachers are just getting first in line to dictate how that plays out? Trust your teachers. Trust your doctor. I’m wondering if this is what happens as you age — you just completely lose faith in all institutions because you have the wisdom to see them for what they are. Or if these institutions are no longer like they used to be, and these things are new. I want to turn to people even… Read more »
First Chicago, then Illinois, then the world !!!!!!!