Defending Honesty In Education

Tim Johnson, Ohio Poverty Law Center

Rachel Coyle, Innovation Ohio

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WHAT WE’LL COVER TODAY:

• Why this issue matters
• About HB 327
• How to follow HB 327/HB 616
• Contact Your Legislators
• How to Testify
• Q&A
• Practice testifying!
• Final questions?

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The Issue: Attacks on Honesty In Education

• Extreme conservative politicians are using lies about Critical Race Theory to ban books, curriculum, and historical figures from schools

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• Curriculum bans are being pushed by national extremist groups.
• Strikingly similar language (such as “divisive concepts”) in

bills across the country.

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• These bills:
• ban teachers from discussing racism, sexism, prejudice, gender studies, and other concepts.
• are written so broadly, they will scare schools/teachers away from covering crucial subject matter.
• aim to erode faith in public schools

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Similar bans are already doing damage in other states.

• In Texas, lies about Critical Race Theory are being used to remove leaders of color and women from history classes.
• Susan B. Anthony, Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King Jr.�
• Florida passed its incredibly harmful “Don’t Say Gay” legislation as an attack aimed specifically at the LGBTQ community. �
• Tennessee just this week unveiled new history curriculum filled with errors and troubling ideas.�
• Texas holds incredible power over national textbook content
• Has one of the highest populations of public school students (~5 million)
• Influences national textbook publishers
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Ohio Bill — HB 327

(NOTE: Substitute Bill)

• Introduced by Reps Sarah Fowler Arthur (R-Ashtabula) & Diane Grendell (R-Chesterland). In House State & Local Gov’t Committee.�
• Prohibits teaching of certain concepts. Also includes a “catchall” provision allowing for additional concepts.�
• HB 327 is broad in scope. Applies to colleges/universities/state agencies/political subdivisions.�
• HB 327 includes licensure and financial penalties for K-12 and higher education respectively, if divisive concepts are taught.�
• Includes all the worst parts of HB 322

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Ohio Bill— HB 616

• Introduced by Reps Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) & Mike Loychik (R-Bazetta) in House State & Local Government Committee

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• HB 616 is Ohio’s answer to Florida’s “don’t say gay” legislation but worse as it also rolls in “anti-CRT” provisions.

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• Bill declares a list of concepts as being “inherently racist” without bothering to define the concepts. Crucially it gives broad power to State School Board to determine what is “inherently racist”

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• Lifts anti LGBTQ language directly from Florida legislation to ban any discussion of gender identity or sexual orientation in grades k-3 and prohibits non “age appropriate” discussion is grades 4-12.

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• Retains licensure penalties from HB 327 and also includes school funding penalties for violation of HB 616

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Follow HB 327/HB 616

• Contact the Chair of the House State & Local Government Committee (Rep Scott Wiggam)

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• Email: Dillon.Barto@ohiohouse.gov (His aide)

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• Phone: 614-466-1474

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• Ask to be placed on the “House State & Local Government Committee notice list”

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• You will start receiving emails about the committee — when it’s meeting, which bills will have hearings, etc.

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OhioHouse.gov → Committees → State & Local Gov’t Committee

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The Bills Tab

is important!

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Legislature.Ohio.gov → Legislation → Search Legislation

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Legislature.Ohio.gov BILL PAGES LOOK LIKE….

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The Documents Tab is important!

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Contact your legislators — Phone

• Committee Chair Scott Wiggam
• 614-466-1474

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• House Speaker Bob Cupp:
• 614-466-9624

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• Senate President Matt Huffman
• 614-466-7584

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• +All State and Local Gov’t Committee Members!

• Your State Rep and Senator!
• Legislature.Ohio.gov

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• HB 327 Sponsors
• Rep Diane Grendell: 614-644-5088
• Rep Sarah Fowler Arthur: 614-466-1405

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Contact Your Legislators — Social Media

• Committee Chair Scott Wiggam
• Twitter: @Scott_Wiggam

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• House Speaker Bob Cupp
• Twitter: @SpeakerCupp

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• Senate President Matt Huffman
• Twitter: @MattHuffman1

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• + All members of the House State & Local Gov’t Committee!

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Contact your legislators — Email

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• Committee Chair Scott Wiggam
• Rep01@OhioHouse.gov

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• House Speaker Bob Cupp:
• Rep04@OhioHouse.gov

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• Senate President Matt Huffman
• Huffman@OhioSenate.gov

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• +All State and Local Gov’t Committee Members!

• Your legislator!
• Legislature.Ohio.gov

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• HB 327 Sponsors
• Rep Diane Grendell: Rep76@OhioHouse.gov

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• Rep Sarah Fowler Arthur: Rep99@OhioHouse.gov

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Testifying — Basics

• After a bill is assigned to a committee,�it (usually….) starts to receive hearings.�
• Committee hearings (normal process): 
• 1st hearing — sponsor testimony
• 2nd hearing — proponent testimony (supporter)
• 3rd hearing — opponent/interested party testimony
• 4th hearing+ — All testimony ←HB 327 is here
• (NOTE the number of hearings can change!)  

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TESTIFYING IN COMMITTEE

• Come testify against HB 327
• GOAL: Testify in person.�
• Please TRY TO present your testimony in person whenever possible. BUT….
• Can’t testify in person? You can also submit �written-only testimony.�

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HOW TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY �(IN-PERSON OR WRITTEN-ONLY!):�

STEP 1: Write your testimony.�

STEP 2: Email your (written or in-person) testimony to the Committee Chair. 24 hours in advance.�

STEP 3: Email a completed “Witness Slip” form along with your testimony.

• If you’re submitting written-only testimony, that’s it. You’re done!
• If you’re testifying in person, all that’s left is to show up!

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WHAT MAKES GOOD TESTIMONY�

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• Short and sweet!!
• If there’s a lot of testimony, you’ll likely be limited to 2-3 minutes. Make them count.

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• Consider your audience
• Think of your most conservative relative. That’s your audience.

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Messaging For HB 327/HB 616

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• Keep politicians out of our classrooms ← Highly effective message!
• Defend the freedom to learn ← Highly effective message!

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• These bills:
• are anti-academic freedom ← Highly effective message!
• remove local control. Local school boards should be able to �implement policies based on what is best for our communities
• prevent an open, honest discussion of history & current events
• punish schools by taking away funding
• take service learning opportunities away from children
• unfairly target LGBTQ+ students
• hinder efforts to address racial disparities

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After you finish testifying….

The committee members can ask you questions.

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For each question, start your response with “Through the Chair, to the Representative….”

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LIVE BROADCASTS OF COMMITTEE HEARINGS�

• You can watch all House and Senate Sessions AND all committee hearings live on OhioChannel.org – it’s free!�
• The videos are also archived on the site!�

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Contact Us:

@InnovationOhio

@OhioPovertyLaw

@HowThingsWorkOH

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Innovation Ohio

Ohio Poverty Law Center

How Things Work at the Statehouse

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Coyle@InnovationOhio.org�TJohnson@ohiopovertylaw.org

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Twitter

Facebook

Email

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Follow Honesty For Ohio Education!

HonestyForOhioEducation.info → Contact

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Facebook: Honesty For Ohio Education

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Questions?

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Next, we’ll practice testifying!

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