Representative Norlin Mommsen’s legislation requiring schools to have a camera in each classroom will receive a subcommittee hearing on Feb. 9. House File 2177 will be the topic of discussion at noon in Room 304 of the Iowa Legislature.
The topic of cameras in the classroom has grown increasingly popular due to a number of incidents involving Iowa teachers and activities taking place during school that involve indoctrination.
And now, with the issue gaining traction due to this video from California, it seems the conversation will only continue.
In the video, a substitute teacher argues with a student about his “Thin Blue Line” mask. The teacher suggests it is the new Confederate Flag.
Republican Representatives Bubba Sorensen and Tom Moore will join Democrat Rep. Ras Smith on the subcommittee.
GLBT Youth In Iowa Schools Task Force (Iowa Safe Schools), Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund, Rural School Advocates of Iowa, Iowa State Education Association, Professional Educators of Iowa and the Iowa Association of School Boards have all registered AGAINST the legislation.
No group or individual has registered in support of the legislation.
For those wanting to contact the legislators on the subcommittee, you can reach them at:
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
The Iowa State Education Association (teachers’ union) released the following statement on Feb. 3 about the bill, which would increase access and transparency to classrooms activities for Iowa parents:
“This bill is completely outrageous and dangerous,” said ISEA President Mike Beranek. “The bill was written with the intent of further insulting public education professionals and the locally elected school boards who oversee our public school districts.
“To suggest that precious school resources be spent on livestreaming equipment and additional bandwidth so that anyone can observe a classroom is misguided and dangerous. We need more resources, not less to meet the needs of our students. These funds should be used to employ additional qualified professionals, reduce class sizes and provide more programming that helps students love to learn.
“We call on responsible legislators to stop this belittling legislation punitively aimed at education professionals with zero benefit to the students in their care.”
To be clear, more than $17,000 is spent per pupil in Iowa when it comes to educating them in a public school. More than half of the state’s budget goes to education.
