A group of state Democratic senators want to amend the Minnesota education statutes to mandate a “cultural competency training” on topics such as “gender identity” and “implicit bias” for all public school teachers.
According to Senate File (SF) 289, the training program would promote “self-reflection, effective interaction with people of different cultures, and discussion on all of the following topics: racial, cultural, and socioeconomic groups; American Indian students; implicit bias; systemic racism; gender identity, including transgender students; sexual orientation; language diversity; and individuals with disabilities.”
“Training programs must be designed to increase teachers’ understanding of these topics and teachers ability to implement this knowledge with students, families, and the school community,” the bill adds.
SF 289 would amend various sections of Minnesota Statutes 2018 to require that public school teachers “participated in cultural competency training” before obtaining licensure or renewal.
Additionally, the bill would require teachers to present “to their local continuing education and relicensure committee” evidence of “work that demonstrates professional reflection and growth in best teaching practices, including among other things, cultural competence.”
The bill was introduced by five DFL state senators and referred to the E-12 Finance and Policy Committee for a hearing.
A second bill pertaining to education that was recently introduced would require public and charter schools to implement “age-appropriate instruction on consent in grades 8 through 12.”
“The commissioner of education, in consultation with the Department of Health, must assist districts and charter schools in developing and implementing an affirmative consent program to prevent and reduce the incidence of sexual assault,” SF 323 states.
That bill’s lone sponsor is Sen. Patricia Torres Ray (D-Minneapolis), a co-sponsor of SF 289, who defines consent as “affirmative, conscious, and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity.”
“It is a responsibility of each person involved in sexual activity to ensure that the other or others consent to engage in the sexual activity. Lack of protest or resistance does not mean consent. Consent must be ongoing throughout a sexual activity and can be revoked at any time. The existence of a dating relationship between the persons involved, or the fact of past sexual relations between them, should never by itself be assumed to be an indicator of consent,” the bill elaborates.
As funding sources, Torres Ray states that schools may accept funds for consent programs “from public and private sources, including public health funds and foundations, department professional development funds, federal block grants, or other federal or state grants.”
SF 323 was also referred to the E-12 Finance and Policy Committee for a hearing.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Gender Studies” by The CTBTO CC2.0.
[…] As The Minnesota Sun previously reported, another bill currently making its way through the committee process would amend the Minnesota education statutes to mandate a “cultural competency training” on topics such as “gender identity” and “implicit bias” for all public school teachers. […]
[…] As The Minnesota Sun previously reported, another bill currently making its way through the committee process would amend the Minnesota education statutes to mandate a “cultural competency training” on topics such as “gender identity” and “implicit bias” for all public school teachers. […]
[…] group of state Minnesota Democratic senators want to mandate “cultural competency” training for all public school teachers that would include topics […]
[…] group of state Minnesota Democratic senators want to mandate “cultural competency” training for all public school teachers that would include topics […]
[…] group of state Minnesota Democratic senators want to mandate “cultural competency” training for all public school teachers that would include topics […]
[…] group of state Minnesota Democratic senators want to mandate “cultural competency” training for all public school teachers that would include topics […]
[…] group of state Minnesota Democratic senators want to mandate “cultural competency” training for all public school teachers that would include topics […]
[…] Minnesota state lawmakers want teachers to pass “cultural competency training” before the state re-certifies them. This includes training on topics like “gender identity” and “implicit bias.” From The Minnesota Sun: […]
[…] From the story: […]
[…] From the story: […]
I would like to get some clarity on gender issues. Like if there are so many defined gender identities, then what is a transgender man to woman post op called, and what is a pre-op trans man to woman called? And don’t tell me it is a “woman” because that just means that that there are only two genders. If anything needs to be cleared up it is that. Transgender people must be responsible for disclosure of these things because of consent laws. If a man has sex with a woman and that’s what he intended to do but then finds out he had sex with a transgender man to woman, he isn’t giving consent to that. Right? It’s dangerous for transexuals who psychologically damage a man. If that man freaks out, he could beat up the person because he may feel raped. Makes sense. Are they going to make sure that all schools are taught the same thing? In Canada they are having problems with Muslims who are not down with the whole gender nonsense. If parents shouldn’t “gender” their baby at birth, then why do the now call the majority of the population cis-gender? If a man trans to woman says they are a woman, why do they get to steal that from me? Why aren’t they cis-gender and normal people be just men and women? Are the schools now going to have to change the definition in school sports like only cis-gender buys and girls teams? Shouldnt it be? I think so. If there are so many of these people out there that the schools have to teach this shit rather than say, cursive or civics, then they will have to have a different team for trans athletes. This whole thing is stupid. We need not to teach kids things any more than telling students that people are different and it’s not cool to bully or harass, or abuse anyone else. Period. But I would love to have this explained to me one on one because I have questions.