SB 56, a new bill potentially gives license to criminally charge teachers or principals from discussing material such as Huckleberry Finn. Executive Director of the ACLU of Kansas was recently interviewed by several local news sources regarding SB56.
"Because, if a teacher is afraid, they're going to be tried and charged and convicted of a misdemeanor. They're going to be less likely to share information [in fear] that someone somewhere might potentially object it," said Micah Kubic, the executive director for the ACLU of Kansas.
- Read the entire article and watch the video at KSHB 41 from February 6th, 2015
“Senate Bill 56 could criminalize teachers simply for distributing handouts, displaying posters or sharing educational information,” added Micah Kubic, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Kansas. “Teachers should not be criminalized for doing their jobs.”
- Read the entire article at the Kansas City Star from February 5th, 2015
"If a teacher is afraid that they're going to be charged and convicted of a misdemeanor just for doing their job, they're going to be a lot less likely to share any information that someone somewhere might object to," said Micah Kubic, the executive director of the ACLU of Kansas.
The ACLU and the Kansas National Education Association have both testified against the bill, saying that it's too broad and could ban literary classics like "Huckleberry Finn" and "Catcher in the Rye." They argue that parents already have tools they can use if they object to materials without the threat of criminal charges.
"They can go to the school board. They can complain directly to administrators," said Kubic.
- Read the entire article and watch the video on KMBC from February 5th, 2015