Iowa lawmakers revive social studies curriculum bill, with focus on 'Western civilization'

Iowa lawmakers approved on Wednesday new social studies requirements that include a focus on "Western civilization," among other themes and topics.

Senate Republicans revived the proposal in a last-minute amendment to a separate bill Tuesday, approving a plan for the State Board of Education to review and revise Iowa's social studies standards — over the objections of Democrats. An evening vote in the House sent the legislation to Gov. Kim Reynolds' desk.

Those new standards would be required to include instruction on the structure of government, civics and "exemplary figures and important events in Western civilization, the United States and the state of Iowa." It also specifies teaching on "the crimes against humanity that have occurred under communist regimes since 1917," in addition to World War II and the Holocaust, the American Revolution and other historical events.

A previous bill containing the curriculum requirements passed the House but died ahead of one of the session's "funnel" deadlines. As lawmakers enter the final days of session, Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, added the requirements to House File 2545, which commissions a state review of standards and curriculum.

"It came over here, and it was negotiated into the bill we're talking about," Zaun said of talks between House and Senate Republicans.

More: Iowa plans to reshape social studies classes & review school standards pass House

Rep. Skyler Wheeler, R-Hull, touted the legislation as a necessary adjustment to K-12 education during debate Wednesday evening, and said he wished it had been prescriptive.

"If you're in America, you need to know our history and our heritage," Wheeler said. "You need to know Western civilization, you need to know the things laid out in this bill."

Senate Democrats unsuccessfully attempted to remove references to "Western civilization" throughout the bill, seeking to replace them with "world civilization." Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, argued that when using the former term, "what we're really talking about is white people."

"When we direct the study four times over to just Western civilization, we're giving a signal of the type of results we want," Quirmbach said.

Zaun responded that he didn't believe the language in the bill prohibited any teaching of other societies or world figures.

"There's nothing here to say that is not part of, or cannot be a part of (curriculum) in this amendment," Zaun said.

Democrats remained opposed to the amended bill, with Sen. Molly Donahue, D-Cedar Rapids, saying it "is not the job of the Legislature to prescribe curriculum that would limit teachers' time and resources."

And House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst criticized the plan to both commission a review of educational standards while simultaneously making changes to those standards.

"We're putting things in the cart while also writing the list," Konfrst said.

The version of the bill that earlier this session passed the House had curriculum requirements sourced from Civics Alliance, a New York-based group aiming to stop civics education from being turned "into a recruitment tool of the progressive left." The National Council for the Social Studies, which says it represents more than 10,000 educators, has opposed the Civics Alliance's proposed standards.

The bill passed by both chambers Wednesday also instructs the state board to craft a statewide literacy plan that focuses on "evidence-based reading instruction," and prohibits use of the "three-cueing system."

Senators approved of the altered bill in a 33-14 party-line vote, and the House sent it to Reynolds' desk on a 57-36 party-line vote.

Galen Bacharier covers the statehouse & politics for the Register. Reach him at gbacharier@registermedia.com or (573) 219-7440, and follow him on Twitter @galenbacharier.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa lawmakers make late push to pass social studies curriculum changes