GOP Bill Mandates Equal Time For Political Viewpoints In NC Public Schools

Some members of the North Carolina GOP want public schools to provide what they're calling “balanced political discussions” in classrooms. 

Senate Bill 700 requires that public schools give equal weight to viewpoints associated with the two major political parties.

It comes in part as a response to the implementation of new state social studies standards designed to promote the views of historically underrepresented groups. Critics, including Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson, say the new standards promote a liberal social justice agenda.

In addition to mandating balanced presentations in classrooms, the bill requires school districts to list the instructional materials and activities that were used in a given school year.

Rodney Pierce is an eighth-grade social studies teacher who helped draft the new state social studies standards.

He tells The News and Observer that the bill displays a lack of trust in teachers and that balanced viewpoints are already being presented in classes.

The legislation is being co-sponsored by Republican Senators Joyce Krawiec, Chuck Edwards, and Ralph Hise, none of whom responded to a request for comment as of Wednesday.