Defend SC Students' Right to Learn

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Truthful and comprehensive discussions about United States and South Carolina history are critical for students to understand the racial and gender inequalities persistent in our society. Without an understanding of our past, we can’t build a more just and equitable future.

H. 3728 is a teacher gag order. It would forbid teachers to discuss racial and gender inequality, subject them to undue surveillance, burden them with unnecessary complaint processes, and threaten schools with loss of state funding.

During the 2023-2024 legislative session, the House and Senate each passed versions of this bill but haven’t been able to reach a compromise yet on the final bill. This means a committee of six legislators will work together to try to find a compromise and pass some version of a classroom censorship bill. We need to tell them before they convene that we want them to vote no – there is no acceptable version of legislation that prevents teachers from teaching the truth.

Please consider also calling these message recipients. Let them know, politely but firmly, that we can't afford to chase away more educators during a teacher shortage:
Representative Shannon Erickson: (803) 734-3053
Representative Adam Morgan: (803) 212-6795
Representative Terry Alexander: (803) 734-3004
Senator Shane Massey: (803) 212-6330
Senator Greg Hembree: (803) 212-6350
Senator Darrell Jackson: (803) 212-6048

"Strike out classroom censorship" is repeated several times on a yellow background. A red marker stroke goes through the words "strike out."

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I am asking you as a member of the conference committee to do everything in your power to stop House Bill 3728. Reasonable people have tried proposing amendments to this bill to lessen its impact, but the organizations seeking to censor teachers and sue our school districts are not reasonable. We cannot hand them this weapon, which is why I am asking you to stop H. 3728 before it becomes the law.

As I'm sure you know, teachers have difficult jobs. The bill before you would only make their jobs harder. We have already seen organizations across the state and country seeking to harass and intimidate public educators, and we can expect those attacks to ramp up if this bill is signed into law. With our state in the midst of a crisis-level teacher shortage, we cannot afford to chase more teachers away.

H. 3728 would create an ill-defined list of forbidden concepts in the classroom, subject teachers to undue surveillance, burden them with unnecessary complaint processes, and threaten schools with loss of state funding. No matter how you revise it, there is no "good" version of a classroom censorship bill.

I urge you to reject this bill and others like it so that we can focus on the real work of building a quality education system for all South Carolina's children. Thank you for doing your part as a public servant.

Again, I ask you to vote no on H. 3728.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

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