Topic for Restless Minds Is Educational Gag Orders

What should children learn? How should we teach them? What should teachers say?

The Restless Minds discussion group will address those and related questions in April when it ponders “educational gag orders.”

The meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, in the Sewing Room of Oakwood’s Arts & Crafts Center. All people with open, inquisitive minds are invited to participate. There is no organization to join or fees to pay.

Legislatures in many states, including Arizona, have adopted or are considering legislation to limit what teachers can say in classrooms.

The trends accelerated last year with proposals to ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory. While that remains a contentious issue, in 2022 attention has turned to lesbian, gay, and transgender matters in lessons and teachers’ interactions with students. The most prominent focus so far has been on Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation.

Concern about what is taught to students has been around at least as long as there have been public schools. Efforts to ban books shows the issue goes beyond classrooms.

This discussion should be of special interest to retired educators, and they are particularly invited to share their experiences.

For more information, contact either Bill Gates or Bobbie Reed at 480-883-7410.