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Illinois Cultural News
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Education: How Did We Get Here?
By Joyce Geiler
Critical Race Theory. Comprehensive Sex Education. Project 1619. Contraceptives and abortions without parental knowledge. Shared bathrooms and showers. Mediocre educational performance. How did America go from being the best-educated society in all of human history – a moral and intellectual superpower – to being a dumbed down, ignorant and increasingly immoral nation on the brink of destruction?
It certainly didn’t happen overnight or even within the last 50 years. When one grasps the enormity of the ever-increasing snowball of government control of public education, it can be overwhelming and hopeless. Keep in mind while reading this article, that it will end with the declaration, “but God.” While I could write much more than this article has space to contain, I will, with permission from the magazine, utilize research provided in the 2020 edition of The New American magazine article entitled “From Education Excellence to Mediocrity” by Alex Newman. In recent meetings, Illinois Family Institute distributed copies of this special edition of The New American magazine. (Material from other sources will be duly noted.)
Public schools as they exist today did not exist in America from the time of the first settlers to the mid-1800s. Rather than hand children to the government to be educated, almost all education was handled by families, religious institutions, tutors, private schools and the free market. In Philadelphia, for example, Quaker schools often allowed poor Quaker and non-Quaker children to attend without paying fees. The Scottish Presbyterians, the Moravians, the Lutherans and Anglicans all had their own schools plus private schoolmasters established hundreds of schools. Over 125 private schoolmasters advertised their services in Philadelphia newspapers between 1740 and 1776 offering instruction in Latin, Greek, mathematics, surveying, navigation, accounting, bookkeeping, science, English and contemporary foreign languages. At home, children were taught by parents and older siblings. Literacy was widespread. The “Federalist Papers” published in the late 1870s explaining the newly drafted U.S. Constitution were aimed at the common American farmer, merchant and laborer who could read and comprehend.
The first giant step away from traditional, classical, Christian education toward socialistic and humanistic education began in 1837 in Massachusetts under Horace Man who was appointed the first Education Secretary of Massachusetts where he served in the legislature. Mann, a unitarian who rejected the Bible as God’s Word, introduced the Prussian system of education, the first systemic effort by Western government to seize total control over education. Teachers were trained by the state, and statism and unquestioning obedience to government was instilled in children by teachers who were trained by the state. The goal was to equalize the conditions of men under the premise that everyone would be more equal if everyone received the same education. By the mid-1800s compulsory attendance laws and government schools were becoming common in the northern United States and by 1900, dozens of states had imposed the Prussian-style system. This writer notes that in reading a history of Horce Mann one can easily be convinced that his approach was a wonderful improvement as he was adept at countering concerns expressed by those who objected to his secular approach.
After Mann came John Dewey, who was the next major reformer and who, along with Mann, is regarded as the founding father of the American public education system. Dewey was transparent in his zeal for reforming mankind to fit his atheistic, collectivist vision. Mann went to Prussia for his educational inspiration and Dewey visited Lenin’s Soviet Russia returning ideas. He wrote in 1935, “organized social planning is the sole method of social action by which liberalism can realize its professional aims.” Dewey quoted Edward Bellamy who envisioned a communist America without private property by the year 2000. Dewey signed and played a key role in developing the Humanist Manifesto, which is essentially a complete rejection of freedom and the Creator and, therefore, a rejection of the inalienable rights of individuals from their Creator as expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
Dewey viewed education as the key to bringing about societal changes. Dewey recognized however, that to force it too quickly would compromise its final success by inciting a violent reaction. One avenue he used to hijack the educational system was to take over the most important teaching colleges, especially the University of Chicago and Teachers College at Columbia University so that future educators could be trained as he desired.
The Rockefeller Foundation funded Dewey’s and other’s similar endeavors. Another aspect of Dewey’s “reformation” was to institute the “whole word” method of reading, a method used for teaching deaf children to read since they could not hear to sound out words phonetically. “Sight words” are still mandated as part of Common Core standards and although there was a great cry against Common Core, 35 states including Illinois plus Washington D.C., still use Common Core standards as of 2021.
(More information on Common Core available here.)
Two-thirds of high-school seniors are not proficient in reading according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Common Core standards align with Dewey’s premises.
In 1962, the Supreme Court banned school-sponsored prayer in public schools, although students could be allowed to meet and pray on school grounds as long as they do so privately and don't try to force others to do the same. In 1963, the Supreme Court ruled that prayers and religious practices in government schools were unconstitutional. Note that the First Amendment clearly states that Congress, not the Court, shall make no law regarding the establishment of religion. In 1965, Congress passed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act which provides federal funding to primary and secondary education. Over the years, increasing regulations have been passed on how schools may use the funds, thus enabling federal control over schools. In order to receive the funds, schools must comply with federal mandates. The establishment of the U. S. Department of Education in 1979 enabled the federal government to have more control over government schools. (End of material from The New American)
American government as well as state governments, including Illinois, have cooperated with and promoted a globalization of education by signing on to the United Nations Agenda 21. American government as well as Illinois state government have bowed to please every voice shouting loudly for its supremacy to overthrow personal responsibility and morality as expressed in Christianity. The foundation for the success of these efforts was laid nearly 200 years ago by people who understood long term thinking. God also understands long term planning as evidenced by His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to make of their descendants a great nation. Our Founding Fathers understood that the fledgling United States of America would succeed only by cooperating with God’s long-term strategies. The conflict of thrones has become very evident in our time. Who will control/ rule the generations and the future of America: those who sit on the thrones of the world or those who are seated with Christ Jesus in heavenly places, not only legislating from that heavenly position and perspective but also actively reclaiming the responsibility of educating their children in righteousness?
By Joyce Geiler
Critical Race Theory. Comprehensive Sex Education. Project 1619. Contraceptives and abortions without parental knowledge. Shared bathrooms and showers. Mediocre educational performance. How did America go from being the best-educated society in all of human history – a moral and intellectual superpower – to being a dumbed down, ignorant and increasingly immoral nation on the brink of destruction?
It certainly didn’t happen overnight or even within the last 50 years. When one grasps the enormity of the ever-increasing snowball of government control of public education, it can be overwhelming and hopeless. Keep in mind while reading this article, that it will end with the declaration, “but God.” While I could write much more than this article has space to contain, I will, with permission from the magazine, utilize research provided in the 2020 edition of The New American magazine article entitled “From Education Excellence to Mediocrity” by Alex Newman. In recent meetings, Illinois Family Institute distributed copies of this special edition of The New American magazine. (Material from other sources will be duly noted.)
Public schools as they exist today did not exist in America from the time of the first settlers to the mid-1800s. Rather than hand children to the government to be educated, almost all education was handled by families, religious institutions, tutors, private schools and the free market. In Philadelphia, for example, Quaker schools often allowed poor Quaker and non-Quaker children to attend without paying fees. The Scottish Presbyterians, the Moravians, the Lutherans and Anglicans all had their own schools plus private schoolmasters established hundreds of schools. Over 125 private schoolmasters advertised their services in Philadelphia newspapers between 1740 and 1776 offering instruction in Latin, Greek, mathematics, surveying, navigation, accounting, bookkeeping, science, English and contemporary foreign languages. At home, children were taught by parents and older siblings. Literacy was widespread. The “Federalist Papers” published in the late 1870s explaining the newly drafted U.S. Constitution were aimed at the common American farmer, merchant and laborer who could read and comprehend.
The first giant step away from traditional, classical, Christian education toward socialistic and humanistic education began in 1837 in Massachusetts under Horace Man who was appointed the first Education Secretary of Massachusetts where he served in the legislature. Mann, a unitarian who rejected the Bible as God’s Word, introduced the Prussian system of education, the first systemic effort by Western government to seize total control over education. Teachers were trained by the state, and statism and unquestioning obedience to government was instilled in children by teachers who were trained by the state. The goal was to equalize the conditions of men under the premise that everyone would be more equal if everyone received the same education. By the mid-1800s compulsory attendance laws and government schools were becoming common in the northern United States and by 1900, dozens of states had imposed the Prussian-style system. This writer notes that in reading a history of Horce Mann one can easily be convinced that his approach was a wonderful improvement as he was adept at countering concerns expressed by those who objected to his secular approach.
After Mann came John Dewey, who was the next major reformer and who, along with Mann, is regarded as the founding father of the American public education system. Dewey was transparent in his zeal for reforming mankind to fit his atheistic, collectivist vision. Mann went to Prussia for his educational inspiration and Dewey visited Lenin’s Soviet Russia returning ideas. He wrote in 1935, “organized social planning is the sole method of social action by which liberalism can realize its professional aims.” Dewey quoted Edward Bellamy who envisioned a communist America without private property by the year 2000. Dewey signed and played a key role in developing the Humanist Manifesto, which is essentially a complete rejection of freedom and the Creator and, therefore, a rejection of the inalienable rights of individuals from their Creator as expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
Dewey viewed education as the key to bringing about societal changes. Dewey recognized however, that to force it too quickly would compromise its final success by inciting a violent reaction. One avenue he used to hijack the educational system was to take over the most important teaching colleges, especially the University of Chicago and Teachers College at Columbia University so that future educators could be trained as he desired.
The Rockefeller Foundation funded Dewey’s and other’s similar endeavors. Another aspect of Dewey’s “reformation” was to institute the “whole word” method of reading, a method used for teaching deaf children to read since they could not hear to sound out words phonetically. “Sight words” are still mandated as part of Common Core standards and although there was a great cry against Common Core, 35 states including Illinois plus Washington D.C., still use Common Core standards as of 2021.
(More information on Common Core available here.)
Two-thirds of high-school seniors are not proficient in reading according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Common Core standards align with Dewey’s premises.
In 1962, the Supreme Court banned school-sponsored prayer in public schools, although students could be allowed to meet and pray on school grounds as long as they do so privately and don't try to force others to do the same. In 1963, the Supreme Court ruled that prayers and religious practices in government schools were unconstitutional. Note that the First Amendment clearly states that Congress, not the Court, shall make no law regarding the establishment of religion. In 1965, Congress passed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act which provides federal funding to primary and secondary education. Over the years, increasing regulations have been passed on how schools may use the funds, thus enabling federal control over schools. In order to receive the funds, schools must comply with federal mandates. The establishment of the U. S. Department of Education in 1979 enabled the federal government to have more control over government schools. (End of material from The New American)
American government as well as state governments, including Illinois, have cooperated with and promoted a globalization of education by signing on to the United Nations Agenda 21. American government as well as Illinois state government have bowed to please every voice shouting loudly for its supremacy to overthrow personal responsibility and morality as expressed in Christianity. The foundation for the success of these efforts was laid nearly 200 years ago by people who understood long term thinking. God also understands long term planning as evidenced by His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to make of their descendants a great nation. Our Founding Fathers understood that the fledgling United States of America would succeed only by cooperating with God’s long-term strategies. The conflict of thrones has become very evident in our time. Who will control/ rule the generations and the future of America: those who sit on the thrones of the world or those who are seated with Christ Jesus in heavenly places, not only legislating from that heavenly position and perspective but also actively reclaiming the responsibility of educating their children in righteousness?
What Do the Scriptures Say About Our Children’s Education?
By Joyce Geiler
Stan and Delbra Pratt, Pastors of Way of Life Church in Taylorville, hosted the bimonthly gathering of the Coalition of Apostolic Alliances on July 12. Over 50 participants sought scriptural understanding regarding the role and responsibilities of the education of Illinois youth so they could agree as an Ekklesia on biblically affirmed declarations regarding the education of the children of Illinois. Those who gathered agreed that the children of Illinois must be rescued from the grievous legislation that has been passed by Illinois legislators, including Critical Race Theory and the destructive SB 818 (Comprehensive Sex Education) that is poised for Governor Pritzker’s signature.
At the CAA gathering, Illinois Family Institute provided information regarding alternatives to public education. Paul Hurst from Illinois Family Action and Illinois Senator Darren Bailey both encouraged parental involvement in Illinois’ educational system. The main information shared, however, was researched from the Scriptures. What does God say about the education of children? While there are many instructive scriptures, perhaps the most definitive passage is Deuteronomy 6 in which the responsibility for a child’s education is clearly defined.
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one [the only God]! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being]. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be [written] on your heart and mind. You shall teach them diligently to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand (forearm), and they shall be used as bands (frontals, frontlets) on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 AMP)
Without question parents have the biblical right and responsibility for ensuring their child is educated not only in God’s word but also the application of that word to all aspects of life.
Participants reviewed the concept of jurisdictions or spheres of responsibility established by God. Self-government, the authority of the family, the jurisdiction of the church and civil jurisdictions are the four scriptural spheres of responsibility or jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction has responsibilities or duties and each has limitations. One jurisdiction is not to invade the boundary of another. Self-government is taught by the family. The family is to teach and model through nurturing love and support, through coaching and apprenticeship, and by applying age-appropriate precepts that lead to maturity. When parents apply these methods, the child matures and can be released into their identity, purpose, and destiny; and the grown child can exercise self-governance and in the dual citizenship: citizens of earth and citizens of heaven. During this maturation process, the family protects the spirit, soul and body of the child and provides for them spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically. The family can choose to delegate some of these responsibilities but cannot abdicate them nor allow them to be taken from their sphere of authority.
The God-appointed role of the church is to restore man to that which God originally entrusted to Adam and again made accessible to man by the redemptive work of Christ through preaching, teaching and discipleship. (Dr. Patti Amsden; East Gate Reformation Training Institute; Kingdom Pillars of Cultural Reformation; Course #6 The Cultural Pillar of Education.) In that role, the church rightly teaches parents their biblical responsibility regarding their children. The church can also offer private or church-sponsored educational opportunities to which parents may choose to avail their families. Churches can also practice charity by offering aid or funding to children and families who are not able to participate in parent-paid or family-supported acceptable educational opportunities.
The civil jurisdiction protects and defends its citizens. (Romans 13:4,5) “It is to establish laws that reflect God’s eternal principles for administering societal justice. It is to keep the peace by intervening with punitive power to restore jurisdictional sovereignty when one realm breaches the legally-defined boundaries of another. The civil realm has no biblical mandate to build, maintain, fund or operate state schools nor to attempt to force equality in educational opportunity through legislative action, judicial sanctions or fiscal inducement.” (Ibid. Dr. Patti Amsden) In other words, the government has no role in education at all except to educate those who are to function in the civil realm services.
Participants realized that families have allowed the government to take over the education of our children to such an extent that many feel there is no alternative, even when the civil is now mandating comprehensive sex education and the teaching of Critical Race Theory. Some participants believe the answer is to revamp and improve the public/government school system. Searching the scriptures, however, reveals that government has no right or role in the education of our children and that the primary responsibility for all aspects of the care of children falls into the jurisdiction of the family. Exactly how to change the approach to education and what it will look like can only be accomplished incrementally. Resources were given for those who can more immediately take charge of their children’s education. Participants agreed that, in general, the necessary direction is toward restoration of the role of the family in education and the prayers and declarations made at the gathering reflected that conviction. Many powerful decrees were made regarding bringing heaven’s order into the earth of Illinois. A good example of those declarations can be found in the Prayer Points.
By Joyce Geiler
Stan and Delbra Pratt, Pastors of Way of Life Church in Taylorville, hosted the bimonthly gathering of the Coalition of Apostolic Alliances on July 12. Over 50 participants sought scriptural understanding regarding the role and responsibilities of the education of Illinois youth so they could agree as an Ekklesia on biblically affirmed declarations regarding the education of the children of Illinois. Those who gathered agreed that the children of Illinois must be rescued from the grievous legislation that has been passed by Illinois legislators, including Critical Race Theory and the destructive SB 818 (Comprehensive Sex Education) that is poised for Governor Pritzker’s signature.
At the CAA gathering, Illinois Family Institute provided information regarding alternatives to public education. Paul Hurst from Illinois Family Action and Illinois Senator Darren Bailey both encouraged parental involvement in Illinois’ educational system. The main information shared, however, was researched from the Scriptures. What does God say about the education of children? While there are many instructive scriptures, perhaps the most definitive passage is Deuteronomy 6 in which the responsibility for a child’s education is clearly defined.
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one [the only God]! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being]. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be [written] on your heart and mind. You shall teach them diligently to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand (forearm), and they shall be used as bands (frontals, frontlets) on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 AMP)
Without question parents have the biblical right and responsibility for ensuring their child is educated not only in God’s word but also the application of that word to all aspects of life.
Participants reviewed the concept of jurisdictions or spheres of responsibility established by God. Self-government, the authority of the family, the jurisdiction of the church and civil jurisdictions are the four scriptural spheres of responsibility or jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction has responsibilities or duties and each has limitations. One jurisdiction is not to invade the boundary of another. Self-government is taught by the family. The family is to teach and model through nurturing love and support, through coaching and apprenticeship, and by applying age-appropriate precepts that lead to maturity. When parents apply these methods, the child matures and can be released into their identity, purpose, and destiny; and the grown child can exercise self-governance and in the dual citizenship: citizens of earth and citizens of heaven. During this maturation process, the family protects the spirit, soul and body of the child and provides for them spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically. The family can choose to delegate some of these responsibilities but cannot abdicate them nor allow them to be taken from their sphere of authority.
The God-appointed role of the church is to restore man to that which God originally entrusted to Adam and again made accessible to man by the redemptive work of Christ through preaching, teaching and discipleship. (Dr. Patti Amsden; East Gate Reformation Training Institute; Kingdom Pillars of Cultural Reformation; Course #6 The Cultural Pillar of Education.) In that role, the church rightly teaches parents their biblical responsibility regarding their children. The church can also offer private or church-sponsored educational opportunities to which parents may choose to avail their families. Churches can also practice charity by offering aid or funding to children and families who are not able to participate in parent-paid or family-supported acceptable educational opportunities.
The civil jurisdiction protects and defends its citizens. (Romans 13:4,5) “It is to establish laws that reflect God’s eternal principles for administering societal justice. It is to keep the peace by intervening with punitive power to restore jurisdictional sovereignty when one realm breaches the legally-defined boundaries of another. The civil realm has no biblical mandate to build, maintain, fund or operate state schools nor to attempt to force equality in educational opportunity through legislative action, judicial sanctions or fiscal inducement.” (Ibid. Dr. Patti Amsden) In other words, the government has no role in education at all except to educate those who are to function in the civil realm services.
Participants realized that families have allowed the government to take over the education of our children to such an extent that many feel there is no alternative, even when the civil is now mandating comprehensive sex education and the teaching of Critical Race Theory. Some participants believe the answer is to revamp and improve the public/government school system. Searching the scriptures, however, reveals that government has no right or role in the education of our children and that the primary responsibility for all aspects of the care of children falls into the jurisdiction of the family. Exactly how to change the approach to education and what it will look like can only be accomplished incrementally. Resources were given for those who can more immediately take charge of their children’s education. Participants agreed that, in general, the necessary direction is toward restoration of the role of the family in education and the prayers and declarations made at the gathering reflected that conviction. Many powerful decrees were made regarding bringing heaven’s order into the earth of Illinois. A good example of those declarations can be found in the Prayer Points.
Sex Education in Illinois’ Public (Government) Schools
By Joyce Geiler
Many Christians are familiar with Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Without taking this verse out of the context in which the Apostle Paul is encouraging believers to persevere knowing that God is working a higher purpose in their lives, consider applying this scripture to the Covid pandemic. Is God really able to work that for our good? There is most certainly one area in which He already is - the sphere of education of our children. As frustrating as schooling has been for parents and students during the shutdown of schools, the biggest take-away for many parents has been the exposure to the education their children are or are not getting in Illinois’ government-run public schools. Eyes have been opened and parents are searching for alternatives. This article will begin to explore weaknesses and contra-biblical aspects of Illinois’ public school system. This is not intended to be an attack on teachers, but a discussion of the system that has overtaken the parental role in education in a most detrimental way.
Although this article begins by presenting data regarding the inadequate job Illinois’ public schools are doing in the area of education, the second part of the article will address the larger issue, the more egregious issue, of what is happening regarding sex-education in our schools.
IllinoisReportCard.com is the state’s official source for information about public schools across Illinois. (1) Illinoisreportcard.com reports that only 32% of students met or exceeded grade level proficiency standards in math for the 2019 school year after completing the Scholarship Aptitude Test (SAT). Only 38% of students met or exceeded grade level proficiency in English Language Arts. The Illinois Science Assessment test shows 49% of students are at grade proficiency in science. Illinois Report Card states: “These skills are necessary in order for students to be successful in the real world.”
From 2006 to 2016 the overall average SAT scores fell a total of 34 points, falling in each of the three sections tested. There was a sharp increase in scores in 2017 partly due to the massive redesign of the testing, not an increased proficiency. (2) Overall, Illinois is neither the highest nor the lowest among the states in SAT scores.
Illinois Family Institute notes that rather than focus time and resources on helping students master the basics, “social justice warriors in Springfield, the Illinois State Board of Education, and in government schools are spending increasing amounts of time and resources indoctrinating students with leftist dogma on race, homosexuality, and ‘trans’-cultism.” (3) Our children are truly at risk.
The Illinois Family Institute explains that a small committee approved of the revision of teaching standards, which will require all teachers to become well versed in Critical Race Theory, LGBTQ ideology, and BLM Marxist brainwashing. (4) On May 20, the Illinois Senate passed SB 818, the highly controversial “comprehensive sex education” bill. On May 28, the House likewise passed the bill, which as of this writing awaits the signature of Governor Pritzker to become law. Since he has expressed a plan to "trans" all public schools, he is expected to sign the bill into law. The Illinois Legislature and Governor Pritzker have crossed the boundary lines of parental authority and are claiming authority to direct the education process with sweeping mandates.
SB 818 is named the “Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act.” According to the Illinois ACLU, the bill:
“Creates personal health and safety standards for grades K-5 and updates and expands comprehensive sexual health education standards in grades 6-12 to give young people the information and tools they need to be safe and support responsible and informed decision making about their health and well-being throughout their lives. These topics include but are not limited to: anatomy and physiology; healthy relationships; identity; personal safety; pregnancy and reproduction; puberty, growth and adolescent development; and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.”
“It also expands the current requirement that instruction be medically accurate, developmentally and age appropriate to include instruction that is also culturally appropriate, inclusive, and trauma informed. The bill also ensures that comprehensive personal health and safety and sexual health education in Illinois is affirming of identities including those who historically have been stigmatized or excluded including LGBTQIA and pregnant or parenting youth.” (5)
What is it about this legislation that is so offensive and distressing to parents and Bible believing people? In their booklet “Comprehensive Sexuality Education,” the Illinois Family Institute writes that if a school teaches any form of “personal health and safety,” it MUST teach Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE). (6) Note that in 2013, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law mandating that any public school that teaches sex ed must teach comprehensive sex ed (CSE), so that part is not new. SB 818 expands the curriculum already in place in Illinois to ensure Illinois schools align with national standards. (7) Note specifically in one of the above paragraphs, SB 818 “creates personal health and safety standards for grades K-5 and updates and expands comprehensive sexual health education standards in grades 6-12.”
CSE proponents claimed that CSE curricula are “age-appropriate” and “evidence-based.” Opponents argue the criteria for determining age-appropriateness and the source for the criteria are not identified, and no conclusive evidence has been provided proving that CSE curricula are more effective than abstinence-based curricula at solving the problems of STDs and unplanned pregnancies.
Opponents further argue that CSE is designed to change the sexual and gender norms of society. CSE promotes high-risk sexual behaviors and encourages even the youngest of children to experiment sexually. CSE is promoted globally through the United Nations and Planned Parenthood. Smaller countries have been threatened with federal aid cuts if they don’t comply.
Proponents define “culturally appropriate” as “affirming culturally diverse individuals, families, and communities in an inclusive, respectful, and effective manner, including materials and instruction that are inclusive of race, ethnicity, language, cultural background, immigration status, religion, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and sexual behavior.” (8)
The legislation does make provision that “No student shall be required to take or participate in any class or course in comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education. A student’s parent or guardian may opt the student out of comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education by submitting the request in writing. Refusal to take or participate in such a course or program may not be a reason for disciplinary action, academic penalty, suspension, or expulsion or any other sanction of a student.” (9)
While that sounds like an opt out, what student will want to be singled out and embarrassed in front of their peers. And consider that their peers will most certainly share the information with which they are being indoctrinated. This article has not touched on the disregard, even rebellion, against biblical standards of parental rights and responsibilities regarding education and sexuality and the boundary violation of civil government incursion into the family sphere. The Illinois Family Institute has scheduled eight events around the state in which they will lay out a plan that includes several options for individuals, families and churches. That information will be reported on in follow-up articles along with pertinent history on how education arrived this lamentable place. (10)
Endnotes:
https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/
https://blog.prepscholar.com/average-sat-scores-over-time
IFI-PSE-Reasons-to-Exit-Illinois-Government-Schools-web.pdf
https://illinoisfamily.org/education/alliance-seeks-to-rescue-illinois-children-from-indoctrination/
https://www.aclu-il.org/en/legislation/sex-ed
IFI_PSE_Comp-Sex-Ed-booklet-web.pdf
https://wgem.com/2021/05/28/illinois-lawmakers-pass-sex-education-bill-for-k-12-students/
https://illinoisfamily.org/homosexuality/cultural-collision-comprehensive-sex-ed-passed-in-illinois-senate/
https://illinoisfamily.org/education/sex-education-opt-out-for-students/
https://illinoisfamily.org/education/christian-education-is-vital-we-have-a-plan/
By Joyce Geiler
Many Christians are familiar with Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Without taking this verse out of the context in which the Apostle Paul is encouraging believers to persevere knowing that God is working a higher purpose in their lives, consider applying this scripture to the Covid pandemic. Is God really able to work that for our good? There is most certainly one area in which He already is - the sphere of education of our children. As frustrating as schooling has been for parents and students during the shutdown of schools, the biggest take-away for many parents has been the exposure to the education their children are or are not getting in Illinois’ government-run public schools. Eyes have been opened and parents are searching for alternatives. This article will begin to explore weaknesses and contra-biblical aspects of Illinois’ public school system. This is not intended to be an attack on teachers, but a discussion of the system that has overtaken the parental role in education in a most detrimental way.
Although this article begins by presenting data regarding the inadequate job Illinois’ public schools are doing in the area of education, the second part of the article will address the larger issue, the more egregious issue, of what is happening regarding sex-education in our schools.
IllinoisReportCard.com is the state’s official source for information about public schools across Illinois. (1) Illinoisreportcard.com reports that only 32% of students met or exceeded grade level proficiency standards in math for the 2019 school year after completing the Scholarship Aptitude Test (SAT). Only 38% of students met or exceeded grade level proficiency in English Language Arts. The Illinois Science Assessment test shows 49% of students are at grade proficiency in science. Illinois Report Card states: “These skills are necessary in order for students to be successful in the real world.”
From 2006 to 2016 the overall average SAT scores fell a total of 34 points, falling in each of the three sections tested. There was a sharp increase in scores in 2017 partly due to the massive redesign of the testing, not an increased proficiency. (2) Overall, Illinois is neither the highest nor the lowest among the states in SAT scores.
Illinois Family Institute notes that rather than focus time and resources on helping students master the basics, “social justice warriors in Springfield, the Illinois State Board of Education, and in government schools are spending increasing amounts of time and resources indoctrinating students with leftist dogma on race, homosexuality, and ‘trans’-cultism.” (3) Our children are truly at risk.
The Illinois Family Institute explains that a small committee approved of the revision of teaching standards, which will require all teachers to become well versed in Critical Race Theory, LGBTQ ideology, and BLM Marxist brainwashing. (4) On May 20, the Illinois Senate passed SB 818, the highly controversial “comprehensive sex education” bill. On May 28, the House likewise passed the bill, which as of this writing awaits the signature of Governor Pritzker to become law. Since he has expressed a plan to "trans" all public schools, he is expected to sign the bill into law. The Illinois Legislature and Governor Pritzker have crossed the boundary lines of parental authority and are claiming authority to direct the education process with sweeping mandates.
SB 818 is named the “Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act.” According to the Illinois ACLU, the bill:
“Creates personal health and safety standards for grades K-5 and updates and expands comprehensive sexual health education standards in grades 6-12 to give young people the information and tools they need to be safe and support responsible and informed decision making about their health and well-being throughout their lives. These topics include but are not limited to: anatomy and physiology; healthy relationships; identity; personal safety; pregnancy and reproduction; puberty, growth and adolescent development; and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.”
“It also expands the current requirement that instruction be medically accurate, developmentally and age appropriate to include instruction that is also culturally appropriate, inclusive, and trauma informed. The bill also ensures that comprehensive personal health and safety and sexual health education in Illinois is affirming of identities including those who historically have been stigmatized or excluded including LGBTQIA and pregnant or parenting youth.” (5)
What is it about this legislation that is so offensive and distressing to parents and Bible believing people? In their booklet “Comprehensive Sexuality Education,” the Illinois Family Institute writes that if a school teaches any form of “personal health and safety,” it MUST teach Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE). (6) Note that in 2013, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law mandating that any public school that teaches sex ed must teach comprehensive sex ed (CSE), so that part is not new. SB 818 expands the curriculum already in place in Illinois to ensure Illinois schools align with national standards. (7) Note specifically in one of the above paragraphs, SB 818 “creates personal health and safety standards for grades K-5 and updates and expands comprehensive sexual health education standards in grades 6-12.”
CSE proponents claimed that CSE curricula are “age-appropriate” and “evidence-based.” Opponents argue the criteria for determining age-appropriateness and the source for the criteria are not identified, and no conclusive evidence has been provided proving that CSE curricula are more effective than abstinence-based curricula at solving the problems of STDs and unplanned pregnancies.
Opponents further argue that CSE is designed to change the sexual and gender norms of society. CSE promotes high-risk sexual behaviors and encourages even the youngest of children to experiment sexually. CSE is promoted globally through the United Nations and Planned Parenthood. Smaller countries have been threatened with federal aid cuts if they don’t comply.
Proponents define “culturally appropriate” as “affirming culturally diverse individuals, families, and communities in an inclusive, respectful, and effective manner, including materials and instruction that are inclusive of race, ethnicity, language, cultural background, immigration status, religion, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and sexual behavior.” (8)
The legislation does make provision that “No student shall be required to take or participate in any class or course in comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education. A student’s parent or guardian may opt the student out of comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education by submitting the request in writing. Refusal to take or participate in such a course or program may not be a reason for disciplinary action, academic penalty, suspension, or expulsion or any other sanction of a student.” (9)
While that sounds like an opt out, what student will want to be singled out and embarrassed in front of their peers. And consider that their peers will most certainly share the information with which they are being indoctrinated. This article has not touched on the disregard, even rebellion, against biblical standards of parental rights and responsibilities regarding education and sexuality and the boundary violation of civil government incursion into the family sphere. The Illinois Family Institute has scheduled eight events around the state in which they will lay out a plan that includes several options for individuals, families and churches. That information will be reported on in follow-up articles along with pertinent history on how education arrived this lamentable place. (10)
Endnotes:
https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/
https://blog.prepscholar.com/average-sat-scores-over-time
IFI-PSE-Reasons-to-Exit-Illinois-Government-Schools-web.pdf
https://illinoisfamily.org/education/alliance-seeks-to-rescue-illinois-children-from-indoctrination/
https://www.aclu-il.org/en/legislation/sex-ed
IFI_PSE_Comp-Sex-Ed-booklet-web.pdf
https://wgem.com/2021/05/28/illinois-lawmakers-pass-sex-education-bill-for-k-12-students/
https://illinoisfamily.org/homosexuality/cultural-collision-comprehensive-sex-ed-passed-in-illinois-senate/
https://illinoisfamily.org/education/sex-education-opt-out-for-students/
https://illinoisfamily.org/education/christian-education-is-vital-we-have-a-plan/
Tap Root of Iniquity By Joyce Geiler
The Coalition of Apostolic Alliances (CAA) gathered March 8 in Collinsville for their bimonthly meeting. This group meets as an ekklesia to spiritually deal with issues concerning Illinois. This gathering focused on the taproot of iniquity in Illinois. Just what does that mean?
The story begins in 2010 when nationally known prophet, Chuck Pierce, visited Southern Illinois and identified seven Freedom Outpost cities in Illinois. Freedom Outposts should be regions where the righteousness of the Kingdom of God is seen in all spheres of culture. They were identified as East. St. Louis/Granite city, Champaign, Springfield, Peoria, Rockford, Marion and Chicago.
In 2017, when this prophet returned to Illinois, he noted that these same cities were ruled spiritually by Thrones of Iniquity that were strong enough that the Freedom Outposts were not rising up to their God-ordained potential to bring Kingdom liberty to their respective regions. According to Pierce, thrones of iniquity are places where Satan has gained legal access and established his legal right to control an area, blocking heavens’ will on earth. Satan gains access into an area the same way he gains access into an individual’s life or into a family line—through sin. Individual or family sin can be escalated and exploited by Satan into corporate sin or influence over an entire area or territory directly opposing God’s plan for that territory.
Revelation 2:13 refers to this when the Lord says “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is.” Remember, Satan wanted to exalt himself to become like God so that he would be worshiped. In exalting himself, Satan is attempting to draw all people to his counterfeit “light.” Thrones of iniquity occur with corporate acceptance and worship of sin. They are Satan’s counterfeit kingdom where Satan attempts to take God’s glory for himself.
Although the Ekklesia in Illinois has been aware of and prayed concerning the Freedom Outposts and Thrones of Iniquity since those prophecies were known, not enough progress has been made to topple Satan’s thrones. Illinois is still in distress. Those participating in the CAA felt directed of the Lord has brought His ekklesia into a kairos or opportune time, in which the Ekklesia is not only gaining revelation regarding the thrones but also strategies to defeat Satan’s throne and magnify God’s ever-increasing Kingdom in Illinois.
A few months ago, during a time of prayer for Illinois, an intercessor from Collinsville envisioned Illinois being lifted by God’s hand like a potted plant being lifted out of its pot. The dirt and roots were exposed. As God lifted up Illinois, the roots became visible and, in particular, a thick tap root that reached down into the ground (the other roots were like hairs in comparison). The intercessor knew that it was the major root to the evil in the state but had no idea what it was or what it was called. Then she saw the tap root being cut.
At the January meeting of the CAA in Sycamore, the Ekklesia prayed about the vision of the taproot but did not get further clarification. The CAA gathered again for their bimonthly meeting on March 8, this time in Collinsville. At this meeting, it became clear that the taproot was in the area at the Cahokia Mounds.
As stated earlier in this article, a throne of iniquity is built on a culture of sin. Cahokia was the largest and earliest civilization in North America with its influence permeating much of the central area of what is now the United States. It was a culture of territorial control, enslavement, human sacrifice, and corrupted commerce, in short, a culture of sin. There have been many prayer initiatives and events at Monk’s Mound, the center of worship for Cahokia. Little by little the layers of prayers have worked their work, exposing more and more revelation. The CAA felt that now, in this God-appointed time, the taproot has been exposed.
Through worship, prayer and decree, the ekklesia dealt spiritually with that taproot of iniquity. Before the Ekklesia made their decrees, Pastor Stan Pratt of Taylorville, explained the nature of the roots of the aspen tree.
Aspens have many unique characteristics that enable them to flourish, but one characteristic in particular relates to the roots. Aspens are aided by the rhizomatic nature of their root systems. Most aspens grow in large clonal colonies, derived from a single seedling, and spread by means of root suckers; new stems in the colony may appear at up to 100–130 ft from the parent tree. Each individual tree can live for 40–150 years above ground, but the root system of the colony is long-lived. In some cases, this is for thousands of years, sending up new trunks as the older trunks die off above ground. For this reason, it is considered to be an indicator of ancient woodlands. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspen
It became apparent that not only must the tap root be severed but also the spreading roots that feed other regions of Illinois.
Following are some of the spiritual decrees made by the Ekklesia gathered on March 8:
• We announce the root of the Kingdom and this land belong to Christ. The earth is the Lord’s. •
• We denounce false root structures, false worship.
• We denounce 1400 years or longer of false worship (since the time of the Cahokia settlement). • This day it is uprooted. From the womb area of Illinois, we call forth new life. We do not market or traffic.
• The root of the Kingdom stands planted.
• Roots of this territory go into the Kingdom.
• Job 14 says a dead stump will sprout at the scent of water. We say this taproot will receive no scent of water and will not receive water. We guard our hearts and lips and give no space for growth for these roots. We speak words of life, not compromise. Together we will see the victory. This is an apostolic state. The life of Christ taking root
Pastor Stan Pratt added this prayer and the local Collinsville ekklesia affirmed agreement.
“Lord, as we have spoken death to this tap-root, we now ask for persons to rise up and bring business to the Metro East area that will fill the void of the loss of certain tourist income, to bring something that will replace the loss of revenue from Planned Parenthood, to transform the area into a prospering area by replacing gambling places and casinos with fruitful tax-paying businesses, to make up the void of lost revenue among the citizens that comes from alcoholism, drugs, human trafficking, and more. Deliver those in “slave style camps" - illegal aliens supported by our tax dollars through Social Justice / unrighteous programs of the Catholic Church. Lord, we cannot leave the citizens of the Metro-East area with no means of financial support to replace the income that was derived from sin and unrighteousness. Bring entrepreneurs into the Metro-East area to finance and build up the community. Our intent Lord was (and we did) pull that old root producing unrighteous fruit of every kind, but not to leave the citizens high and dry with no proper means of supporting themselves or their area. We receive Christ as Your Wisdom and will act on what we discern by your Spirit. May we and others be laborers in that field which is becoming white unto harvest.”
Over the next few years, the CAA will plan to hold meetings in the other Freedom Outposts being hindered by Thrones of Iniquity and seek wisdom to effectively pray “on earth as it is in heaven.”
The Coalition of Apostolic Alliances (CAA) gathered March 8 in Collinsville for their bimonthly meeting. This group meets as an ekklesia to spiritually deal with issues concerning Illinois. This gathering focused on the taproot of iniquity in Illinois. Just what does that mean?
The story begins in 2010 when nationally known prophet, Chuck Pierce, visited Southern Illinois and identified seven Freedom Outpost cities in Illinois. Freedom Outposts should be regions where the righteousness of the Kingdom of God is seen in all spheres of culture. They were identified as East. St. Louis/Granite city, Champaign, Springfield, Peoria, Rockford, Marion and Chicago.
In 2017, when this prophet returned to Illinois, he noted that these same cities were ruled spiritually by Thrones of Iniquity that were strong enough that the Freedom Outposts were not rising up to their God-ordained potential to bring Kingdom liberty to their respective regions. According to Pierce, thrones of iniquity are places where Satan has gained legal access and established his legal right to control an area, blocking heavens’ will on earth. Satan gains access into an area the same way he gains access into an individual’s life or into a family line—through sin. Individual or family sin can be escalated and exploited by Satan into corporate sin or influence over an entire area or territory directly opposing God’s plan for that territory.
Revelation 2:13 refers to this when the Lord says “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is.” Remember, Satan wanted to exalt himself to become like God so that he would be worshiped. In exalting himself, Satan is attempting to draw all people to his counterfeit “light.” Thrones of iniquity occur with corporate acceptance and worship of sin. They are Satan’s counterfeit kingdom where Satan attempts to take God’s glory for himself.
Although the Ekklesia in Illinois has been aware of and prayed concerning the Freedom Outposts and Thrones of Iniquity since those prophecies were known, not enough progress has been made to topple Satan’s thrones. Illinois is still in distress. Those participating in the CAA felt directed of the Lord has brought His ekklesia into a kairos or opportune time, in which the Ekklesia is not only gaining revelation regarding the thrones but also strategies to defeat Satan’s throne and magnify God’s ever-increasing Kingdom in Illinois.
A few months ago, during a time of prayer for Illinois, an intercessor from Collinsville envisioned Illinois being lifted by God’s hand like a potted plant being lifted out of its pot. The dirt and roots were exposed. As God lifted up Illinois, the roots became visible and, in particular, a thick tap root that reached down into the ground (the other roots were like hairs in comparison). The intercessor knew that it was the major root to the evil in the state but had no idea what it was or what it was called. Then she saw the tap root being cut.
At the January meeting of the CAA in Sycamore, the Ekklesia prayed about the vision of the taproot but did not get further clarification. The CAA gathered again for their bimonthly meeting on March 8, this time in Collinsville. At this meeting, it became clear that the taproot was in the area at the Cahokia Mounds.
As stated earlier in this article, a throne of iniquity is built on a culture of sin. Cahokia was the largest and earliest civilization in North America with its influence permeating much of the central area of what is now the United States. It was a culture of territorial control, enslavement, human sacrifice, and corrupted commerce, in short, a culture of sin. There have been many prayer initiatives and events at Monk’s Mound, the center of worship for Cahokia. Little by little the layers of prayers have worked their work, exposing more and more revelation. The CAA felt that now, in this God-appointed time, the taproot has been exposed.
Through worship, prayer and decree, the ekklesia dealt spiritually with that taproot of iniquity. Before the Ekklesia made their decrees, Pastor Stan Pratt of Taylorville, explained the nature of the roots of the aspen tree.
Aspens have many unique characteristics that enable them to flourish, but one characteristic in particular relates to the roots. Aspens are aided by the rhizomatic nature of their root systems. Most aspens grow in large clonal colonies, derived from a single seedling, and spread by means of root suckers; new stems in the colony may appear at up to 100–130 ft from the parent tree. Each individual tree can live for 40–150 years above ground, but the root system of the colony is long-lived. In some cases, this is for thousands of years, sending up new trunks as the older trunks die off above ground. For this reason, it is considered to be an indicator of ancient woodlands. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspen
It became apparent that not only must the tap root be severed but also the spreading roots that feed other regions of Illinois.
Following are some of the spiritual decrees made by the Ekklesia gathered on March 8:
• We announce the root of the Kingdom and this land belong to Christ. The earth is the Lord’s. •
• We denounce false root structures, false worship.
• We denounce 1400 years or longer of false worship (since the time of the Cahokia settlement). • This day it is uprooted. From the womb area of Illinois, we call forth new life. We do not market or traffic.
• The root of the Kingdom stands planted.
• Roots of this territory go into the Kingdom.
• Job 14 says a dead stump will sprout at the scent of water. We say this taproot will receive no scent of water and will not receive water. We guard our hearts and lips and give no space for growth for these roots. We speak words of life, not compromise. Together we will see the victory. This is an apostolic state. The life of Christ taking root
Pastor Stan Pratt added this prayer and the local Collinsville ekklesia affirmed agreement.
“Lord, as we have spoken death to this tap-root, we now ask for persons to rise up and bring business to the Metro East area that will fill the void of the loss of certain tourist income, to bring something that will replace the loss of revenue from Planned Parenthood, to transform the area into a prospering area by replacing gambling places and casinos with fruitful tax-paying businesses, to make up the void of lost revenue among the citizens that comes from alcoholism, drugs, human trafficking, and more. Deliver those in “slave style camps" - illegal aliens supported by our tax dollars through Social Justice / unrighteous programs of the Catholic Church. Lord, we cannot leave the citizens of the Metro-East area with no means of financial support to replace the income that was derived from sin and unrighteousness. Bring entrepreneurs into the Metro-East area to finance and build up the community. Our intent Lord was (and we did) pull that old root producing unrighteous fruit of every kind, but not to leave the citizens high and dry with no proper means of supporting themselves or their area. We receive Christ as Your Wisdom and will act on what we discern by your Spirit. May we and others be laborers in that field which is becoming white unto harvest.”
Over the next few years, the CAA will plan to hold meetings in the other Freedom Outposts being hindered by Thrones of Iniquity and seek wisdom to effectively pray “on earth as it is in heaven.”
Illinois Police Reform that Undermines Law Enforcement
By Joyce Geiler
On February 22, 2021, Governor Pritzker signed into law HB 3553 Police Reform. News headlines run the gamut from accusations of anti-law enforcement to praise by reform advocates. Most news headlines focus on one or two parts of the new law. It may be a challenge to determine the details contained in the 764 pages of the new law, some of which do not go into effect until 2023. This article reports some of the more commonly headlined aspects of the law and then lists more specific details.
State Senator Kimberly Lightford pointed to the death of George Floyd last summer as a key reason the American culture "awakened" to inequalities in the state's justice system. However, retired Judge Pat O'Brien warns about dangers within the bill and calls the new law “a measure that will expose citizens to criminal behavior and defend the rights of the accused over the rights of victims.” Some of his specific concerns are inserted later in this article. The Illinois Review labels the law “the nations most anti-law enforcement policy.” (1)
The Fraternal Order of Police writes that the law “eliminates all protections from law enforcement officers. It eliminates officer’s ability to pursue their job without civil liability, it eliminates the ability of officers to pursue collective bargaining agreements, it invalidates the constitutionally protected due process of officers and it substantially increases the costs for employers of law enforcement officers.” (2) Executive Director for the Illinois Sheriff's Association Jim Kaitschuk believes the law will have a significant impact on law enforcement and will create a threat to the community. (3)
The website reason.com, a libertarian news site, has a very extensive coverage of the bill. It is worth reviewing the detail to see more of what is actually in the bill. (4) The lengthy bill touches many areas of policing some of which are listed below and contains explanatory comments from other sources will be included in parentheses:
The police reform bill:
1) Creates a process for the state's attorney general to take a law enforcement officer to civil court if that officer has violated a person's civil rights and to seek financial damages, with a cap of $50,000. An earlier version of the bill would have stripped police officers of qualified immunity when they had been found to violate a person's rights, thus allowing individuals to sue officers in civil court; but that was removed from the final version of the bill.
2) Mandates body cameras for all police officers in the state, with compliance deadlines staggered across the next four years. (Note that no funding is provided.)
3) Establishes that after January 2023, monetary bail will be abolished within the state. Instead, people arrested for crimes will be evaluated with a goal of releasing them with only enough pretrial conditions to ensure they make it to subsequent court appearances and don't commit crimes while on release. Full detention will be ordered only "when it is determined that the defendant poses a specific, real and present threat to a person and has a high likelihood of willful flight." The court may use a risk assessment tool to evaluate the defendant, but the score cannot be the only reason why a defendant is denied pretrial release—and the defendant must be provided the information, so that he or she may challenge it. There are many exceptions to the orders for pretrial release, including defendants accused of stalking and domestic violence, many firearm-related crimes, human trafficking crimes, or any forcible felony that comes with a mandatory minimum prison sentence. Even in these cases, however, a court must determine that the defendant is too dangerous to be released. (This is the same as the law in New Jersey which establishes a presumption of release and forces the court to document why somebody is too risky to be released. America has about half a million people stuck in pretrial detention, many of whom are not dangerous to the public but simply cannot afford the cost of bail. People who are unable to earn pretrial freedom typically end up accepting worse plea deals and get harsher sentences than somebody able to address the charges outside of jail.) (5)
4) Establishes a new class 3 felony of law enforcement misconduct, with a possible sentence of two to five years in jail. This will cover officers who misrepresent facts during an investigation, withhold knowledge of misrepresentation by other officers, or fail to comply with state laws or department policies on body-worn cameras.
5) Allows cities with populations greater than 100,000 to require that police live within city limits. Current law only permits this for cities with population greater than 1 million.
6) Allows other first responders besides police to direct people they encounter with substance abuse problems toward treatment programs, without requiring an arrest.
7) Allows funds for police and first responders to carry naloxone and similar supplies that can reverse opioid overdoses.
8) Prohibits law enforcement agencies from requesting or receiving excess military equipment, such as armored vehicles, large-caliber guns, or grenade launchers. (Retired Judge Pat O’Brien feels this prevents departments from taking advantage of cost saving federal surplus programs.)
9) Prohibits retaliation against whistleblowers, a problem that has come up repeatedly when people try to expose misconduct in the Chicago Police Department.
10) Demands that all records connected to complaints against police officers and investigations of police officers be retained permanently. (Retired Judge O’Brien Mandates speaks against those unsubstantiated and unverified complaints being kept, to be used against officers, forever, with no destruction and no limits on how they can be utilized to inflict harm on officers.)
11) Adds crisis intervention and de-escalation training to the curriculum for new police officers and to mandatory training every three years. (Retired Judge O’Brien notes this substantially increases both initial and ongoing education requirements with no money to pay for the increased costs and no assurances that the courses will even be offered.)
12) Requires the state police to participate in and provide data to the FBI's National Use of Force database.
13) Amends the police disciplinary process system so that officers under investigation are not provided the names of those filing the complaint, and so that it is no longer a requirement for people to provide their names in order to file a complaint about police misconduct. The Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board is authorized to perform the preliminary review to see if there is evidence that supports the anonymous complaint. (Retired Judge O’Brien says this allows officers to be punished or fired based on anonymous and unsubstantiated or unverifiable complaints and it allows for unrestricted and ungoverned disciplinary policies of law enforcement officers.)
14) Halts the practice of suspending driver's licenses for failure to pay traffic citations or abandoned vehicle fees.
15) Amends the definition of resisting or obstructing a police officer. People cannot be charged simply with resisting arrest; there must first be an underlying offense for which the person was already subject to arrest.
16) Forbids the use of deadly force against people who are a danger only to themselves, and it forbids the use of deadly force against those suspected of committing only property offenses (except in cases of terrorism). The new rules require that deadly force be used only "when reasonably necessary in defense of human life." It also explains that "merely a fear of future harm" is not enough to reach this threshold. That's an important distinction, because many defenses of police shootings of unarmed suspects revolve around the officers claiming that they feared the suspect was armed.
16) Forbids chokeholds and neck restraints and forbids the use of force as punishment or retaliation. It forbids the use of non-lethal weapons in a manner that targets the head, pelvis, or back, and it forbids firing non-lethal weapons indiscriminately into crowds. It also forbids using irritants like tear gas against crowds unless police have both ordered the crowd to disperse and given it enough time to do so.
17) Establishes a duty to render aid to anybody police encounter who is injured (or anybody they injure) and an affirmative duty to intervene when they witness another police officer using unauthorized force. Retaliation against an officer who intervenes in this fashion is forbidden.
18) Calls for the citation and release rather than the arrest of anybody accused of traffic offenses, petty offenses, or low-level misdemeanors, unless they pose an obvious threat to others or themselves.
19) Establishes that all police officers must be certified to perform as law enforcement by the state's Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board. It gives the board the authority to suspend an officer's certification immediately if the officer has been arrested or indicted on felony charges. A panel will hear the officer's case and can decide whether to maintain or reverse the officer's suspension of certification.
20) Orders the creation of a searchable database of law enforcement officers, available to the public, showing each officer's certification status and any sustained complaints of misconduct.
As the nation has seen, especially since last summer, emotions and opinions are strong regarding these issues creating opportunities for misinformation and disinformation and for fear and mistrust. It remains to be seen how Illinois’ new police reforms are implemented and what the results will be. Although reforms are most certainly needed, it is disconcerting to see restrictions that could hamper law enforcement in an era of lawlessness and lack of self-governance.
End Notes:
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2021/02/pritzker-signs-into-law-nations-most-anti-law-enforcement-policy.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2FbYHz+%28Illinois+Review%29
http://www.chicagofop.org/news/urgent-and-important-police-reform-update-hb-163
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/police-reform-bill-introduced-to-illinois-general-assembly/ar-BB1cz6fK
https://reason.com/2021/01/14/massive-illinois-police-reform-bill-ends-cash-bail-limits-deadly-force-mandates-body-cameras-and-makes-it-easier-to-dump-crooked-cops/
https://reason.com/2021/01/14/massive-illinois-police-reform-bill-ends-cash-bail-limits-deadly-force-mandates-body-cameras-and-makes-it-easier-to-dump-crooked-cops/
By Joyce Geiler
On February 22, 2021, Governor Pritzker signed into law HB 3553 Police Reform. News headlines run the gamut from accusations of anti-law enforcement to praise by reform advocates. Most news headlines focus on one or two parts of the new law. It may be a challenge to determine the details contained in the 764 pages of the new law, some of which do not go into effect until 2023. This article reports some of the more commonly headlined aspects of the law and then lists more specific details.
State Senator Kimberly Lightford pointed to the death of George Floyd last summer as a key reason the American culture "awakened" to inequalities in the state's justice system. However, retired Judge Pat O'Brien warns about dangers within the bill and calls the new law “a measure that will expose citizens to criminal behavior and defend the rights of the accused over the rights of victims.” Some of his specific concerns are inserted later in this article. The Illinois Review labels the law “the nations most anti-law enforcement policy.” (1)
The Fraternal Order of Police writes that the law “eliminates all protections from law enforcement officers. It eliminates officer’s ability to pursue their job without civil liability, it eliminates the ability of officers to pursue collective bargaining agreements, it invalidates the constitutionally protected due process of officers and it substantially increases the costs for employers of law enforcement officers.” (2) Executive Director for the Illinois Sheriff's Association Jim Kaitschuk believes the law will have a significant impact on law enforcement and will create a threat to the community. (3)
The website reason.com, a libertarian news site, has a very extensive coverage of the bill. It is worth reviewing the detail to see more of what is actually in the bill. (4) The lengthy bill touches many areas of policing some of which are listed below and contains explanatory comments from other sources will be included in parentheses:
The police reform bill:
1) Creates a process for the state's attorney general to take a law enforcement officer to civil court if that officer has violated a person's civil rights and to seek financial damages, with a cap of $50,000. An earlier version of the bill would have stripped police officers of qualified immunity when they had been found to violate a person's rights, thus allowing individuals to sue officers in civil court; but that was removed from the final version of the bill.
2) Mandates body cameras for all police officers in the state, with compliance deadlines staggered across the next four years. (Note that no funding is provided.)
3) Establishes that after January 2023, monetary bail will be abolished within the state. Instead, people arrested for crimes will be evaluated with a goal of releasing them with only enough pretrial conditions to ensure they make it to subsequent court appearances and don't commit crimes while on release. Full detention will be ordered only "when it is determined that the defendant poses a specific, real and present threat to a person and has a high likelihood of willful flight." The court may use a risk assessment tool to evaluate the defendant, but the score cannot be the only reason why a defendant is denied pretrial release—and the defendant must be provided the information, so that he or she may challenge it. There are many exceptions to the orders for pretrial release, including defendants accused of stalking and domestic violence, many firearm-related crimes, human trafficking crimes, or any forcible felony that comes with a mandatory minimum prison sentence. Even in these cases, however, a court must determine that the defendant is too dangerous to be released. (This is the same as the law in New Jersey which establishes a presumption of release and forces the court to document why somebody is too risky to be released. America has about half a million people stuck in pretrial detention, many of whom are not dangerous to the public but simply cannot afford the cost of bail. People who are unable to earn pretrial freedom typically end up accepting worse plea deals and get harsher sentences than somebody able to address the charges outside of jail.) (5)
4) Establishes a new class 3 felony of law enforcement misconduct, with a possible sentence of two to five years in jail. This will cover officers who misrepresent facts during an investigation, withhold knowledge of misrepresentation by other officers, or fail to comply with state laws or department policies on body-worn cameras.
5) Allows cities with populations greater than 100,000 to require that police live within city limits. Current law only permits this for cities with population greater than 1 million.
6) Allows other first responders besides police to direct people they encounter with substance abuse problems toward treatment programs, without requiring an arrest.
7) Allows funds for police and first responders to carry naloxone and similar supplies that can reverse opioid overdoses.
8) Prohibits law enforcement agencies from requesting or receiving excess military equipment, such as armored vehicles, large-caliber guns, or grenade launchers. (Retired Judge Pat O’Brien feels this prevents departments from taking advantage of cost saving federal surplus programs.)
9) Prohibits retaliation against whistleblowers, a problem that has come up repeatedly when people try to expose misconduct in the Chicago Police Department.
10) Demands that all records connected to complaints against police officers and investigations of police officers be retained permanently. (Retired Judge O’Brien Mandates speaks against those unsubstantiated and unverified complaints being kept, to be used against officers, forever, with no destruction and no limits on how they can be utilized to inflict harm on officers.)
11) Adds crisis intervention and de-escalation training to the curriculum for new police officers and to mandatory training every three years. (Retired Judge O’Brien notes this substantially increases both initial and ongoing education requirements with no money to pay for the increased costs and no assurances that the courses will even be offered.)
12) Requires the state police to participate in and provide data to the FBI's National Use of Force database.
13) Amends the police disciplinary process system so that officers under investigation are not provided the names of those filing the complaint, and so that it is no longer a requirement for people to provide their names in order to file a complaint about police misconduct. The Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board is authorized to perform the preliminary review to see if there is evidence that supports the anonymous complaint. (Retired Judge O’Brien says this allows officers to be punished or fired based on anonymous and unsubstantiated or unverifiable complaints and it allows for unrestricted and ungoverned disciplinary policies of law enforcement officers.)
14) Halts the practice of suspending driver's licenses for failure to pay traffic citations or abandoned vehicle fees.
15) Amends the definition of resisting or obstructing a police officer. People cannot be charged simply with resisting arrest; there must first be an underlying offense for which the person was already subject to arrest.
16) Forbids the use of deadly force against people who are a danger only to themselves, and it forbids the use of deadly force against those suspected of committing only property offenses (except in cases of terrorism). The new rules require that deadly force be used only "when reasonably necessary in defense of human life." It also explains that "merely a fear of future harm" is not enough to reach this threshold. That's an important distinction, because many defenses of police shootings of unarmed suspects revolve around the officers claiming that they feared the suspect was armed.
16) Forbids chokeholds and neck restraints and forbids the use of force as punishment or retaliation. It forbids the use of non-lethal weapons in a manner that targets the head, pelvis, or back, and it forbids firing non-lethal weapons indiscriminately into crowds. It also forbids using irritants like tear gas against crowds unless police have both ordered the crowd to disperse and given it enough time to do so.
17) Establishes a duty to render aid to anybody police encounter who is injured (or anybody they injure) and an affirmative duty to intervene when they witness another police officer using unauthorized force. Retaliation against an officer who intervenes in this fashion is forbidden.
18) Calls for the citation and release rather than the arrest of anybody accused of traffic offenses, petty offenses, or low-level misdemeanors, unless they pose an obvious threat to others or themselves.
19) Establishes that all police officers must be certified to perform as law enforcement by the state's Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board. It gives the board the authority to suspend an officer's certification immediately if the officer has been arrested or indicted on felony charges. A panel will hear the officer's case and can decide whether to maintain or reverse the officer's suspension of certification.
20) Orders the creation of a searchable database of law enforcement officers, available to the public, showing each officer's certification status and any sustained complaints of misconduct.
As the nation has seen, especially since last summer, emotions and opinions are strong regarding these issues creating opportunities for misinformation and disinformation and for fear and mistrust. It remains to be seen how Illinois’ new police reforms are implemented and what the results will be. Although reforms are most certainly needed, it is disconcerting to see restrictions that could hamper law enforcement in an era of lawlessness and lack of self-governance.
End Notes:
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2021/02/pritzker-signs-into-law-nations-most-anti-law-enforcement-policy.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2FbYHz+%28Illinois+Review%29
http://www.chicagofop.org/news/urgent-and-important-police-reform-update-hb-163
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/police-reform-bill-introduced-to-illinois-general-assembly/ar-BB1cz6fK
https://reason.com/2021/01/14/massive-illinois-police-reform-bill-ends-cash-bail-limits-deadly-force-mandates-body-cameras-and-makes-it-easier-to-dump-crooked-cops/
https://reason.com/2021/01/14/massive-illinois-police-reform-bill-ends-cash-bail-limits-deadly-force-mandates-body-cameras-and-makes-it-easier-to-dump-crooked-cops/
The Power of Illinois JCAR
By Joyce Geiler
JCAR will be making a big decision February 16 regarding education in Illinois. The committee has previously made big decisions regarding Covid restrictions in Illinois. JCAR, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, is possibly the most powerful committee in Illinois government and until recently very few Illinois citizens actually knew anything about it. This article will explain what JACAR is and how its members are appointed and the impact that has.
A Joint Committee is a committee constituted of members of both houses of government that has jurisdiction over matters of common interest. Most joint committees are standing committees. Joint committees usually are established with limited jurisdictions and these committees do not have legislative powers. (1) The joint committee in Illinois known as JCAR is an obscure but powerful committee that has great input into Illinois government. The bipartisan 12-person committee, formed in 1977, consists of lawmakers appointed by the Governor from both the House and Senate. This Committee basically makes the rules for carrying out the Governor’s executive orders and makes the rules for carrying out decisions made by other government agencies. (2) (3)
Currently, there are a total of 77 committees in Illinois state government: three joint standing committees, 27 standing committees in the Illinois Senate and 47 standing committees in the Illinois House. (4) JCAR, also referred to as the Administrative Rules Committee, is one of the three joint committees. It was created in 1977 pursuant to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act during the governorship of Republican Governor James R Thompson (Republican) and the presidency of George HW Bush. Other states also have Administrative Rules Committees. Illinois government agencies must adopt their entire rules in accordance with the rule-making procedures under this Act. (5) The Administrative Procedure Act can be found at link (6).
JCAR is an “oversight committee of the Illinois State Legislature authorized to conduct systematic reviews of administrative rules promulgated by State agencies. JCAR conducts several integrated review programs, including a review program for proposed, emergency and peremptory rulemaking, a review of new Public Acts and a complaint review program.” (7)
Illinois agencies must adopt their entire rules in accordance with the rule-making procedures under Administrative Procedure Act; JCAR then oversees compliance. “The joint committee undertakes studies and investigations concerning rule-making. It will conduct a systematic and continuing study of the rules and rulemaking process of all state agencies and will review the statutory authority on which an administrative rule is based. It will also evaluate the rules of every agency at least once in every five years.” (8)
Stated more simply, when any state agency makes a policy, the rules for implementing that policy must be in accordance with and approved by JCAR. Also, every executive order of the governor has to be quickly implemented by agencies. The executive order establishes the basic policy, but then an agency has to implement that policy through rules. JCAR drafts the rules.
Recent JCAR Activity
An example of JCAR’s role relates to the flurry of executive orders signed by Governor Pritzker since the COVID-19 pandemic began. For example, JCAR helped the Department of Public Health write rules to implement the governor’s executive order requiring individuals to wear face coverings indoors at any “business, service, facility or organization.” The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) re-filed a new COVID-19 Emergency Rule 690.50 on Tuesday, January 5th, extending its statewide restrictions and rules for another 150 days. At its meeting on January 12, JCAR had the authority to accept or reject/suspend the emergency rule. We are living with those accepted rules. Twelve members comprising JCAR rather than 174 members of Illinois legislative body ruled on the continuation of Covid restrictions.
A February 16th decision is to be made by JCAR that involves the “Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards.” In December, the Illinois State Board of Education, or ISBE, passed a new rule that would require “culturally responsive teaching and leading standards” to be incorporated in all Illinois teacher preparation programs. Critics of the proposed “Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards” have said they require educators to embrace left-leaning ideology and prioritize political and social activism in classrooms at a time when Illinois students are underperforming on basic skills tests. You can read the 52-page standards at link (9) These standards are even more egregious than those of California and Minnesota!
Unless JCAR votes to suspend the rule at its meeting February 16, these standards will apply to all Illinois professional educator licenses endorsed in teaching, school support personnel and administrative fields. The agency, the Illinois State Board of Education, formulated the rules; JCAR decides whether to approve or suspend the rules. As of this writing, it is believed only three of the twelve JCAR members have indicated they oppose the ISBE approved standards.
How Are Committee Members Chosen?
A review of how members of JCAR and members of the ISBE are appointed will illustrate the importance of understanding how the committee (JCAR) and agency (ISBE) function. Members of JCAR are chosen by the Governor. Current JCAR members are all from Cook County and surrounding counties except for LaSalle County, which, although it is not adjacent to Cook county, is included in the Chicago statistical area. JCAR is the only one of the three joint committees whose members are appointed by the governor. Members of the other two joint committees are chosen by the leadership of the House and Senate.
The 47 committees of the Illinois House of Representatives are assigned by the Speaker of the House and Minority Leader. The Speaker appoints the Chair, Vice-chair and remaining majority members while the Minority Leader appoints the minority members. Committees are assigned at the start of each term. (10) (Virtually no other state grants the types of powers to its legislative heads that Illinois grants to its Speaker. But that is for another article.)
The 27 committees of the Illinois State Senate are assigned by the President of the Senate and the Minority Leader. The President appoints the Chair, Vice-chair and remaining majority members, while the Minority Leader appoints the minority members. Committees are assigned at the start of each term. (11)
Illinois voters elect legislators who are to represent and to speak for their constituents. They are placed on committees where they consider the business of their assigned committee for the entire state. Either way, they are to be the voice of the citizens.
On the other hand, the Illinois State Board of Education consists of nine members who are appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate. Board members serve four-year terms, with membership limited to two consecutive terms. The Board appoints the State Superintendent of Education, who may be recommended by the Governor. The official site of the Board delineates their goals. (12)
Sifting through all this information reveals that the “Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards” formulated and approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and awaiting the approval of the rules for these standards by JCAR, are both in the hands of Governor Pritzker appointed agencies and committees. The Illinois legislature and the citizens of Illinois had little to no say in the matter at all. Now that it’s down to the wire, parents and citizens are making a concerted effort to convince JCAR to oppose the rules. Surely there is a better way to decide the educational standards for the children of Illinois than the process that has led to this immanent decision.
End Notes:
https://definitions.uslegal.com/j/Joint-Committee-Constitution/#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20a%20joint%20committee%20is,which%20are%20created%20to%20deal%20with%20specific%20issues
https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/
news.wttw.com/sites/default/files/article/file (pdf download)
https://ballotpedia.org/List_of_committees_in_Illinois_state_government
https://administrativelaw.uslegal.com/administrative-procedure-acts/illinois/
https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=83
https://ballotpedia.org/Administrative_Rules_Committee,_Illinois_General_Assembly
https://administrativelaw.uslegal.com/administrative-procedure-acts/illinois/
https://thenewamerican.com/illinois-teachers-told-to-adopt-progressive-ideology-or-be-fired/
https://ballotpedia.org/Mental_Health_Committee,_Illinois_House_of_Representatives
https://ballotpedia.org/Agriculture_Committee,_Illinois_State_Senate
www.isbe.net/Documents/ISBE-Strategic -Plan.pdf
By Joyce Geiler
JCAR will be making a big decision February 16 regarding education in Illinois. The committee has previously made big decisions regarding Covid restrictions in Illinois. JCAR, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, is possibly the most powerful committee in Illinois government and until recently very few Illinois citizens actually knew anything about it. This article will explain what JACAR is and how its members are appointed and the impact that has.
A Joint Committee is a committee constituted of members of both houses of government that has jurisdiction over matters of common interest. Most joint committees are standing committees. Joint committees usually are established with limited jurisdictions and these committees do not have legislative powers. (1) The joint committee in Illinois known as JCAR is an obscure but powerful committee that has great input into Illinois government. The bipartisan 12-person committee, formed in 1977, consists of lawmakers appointed by the Governor from both the House and Senate. This Committee basically makes the rules for carrying out the Governor’s executive orders and makes the rules for carrying out decisions made by other government agencies. (2) (3)
Currently, there are a total of 77 committees in Illinois state government: three joint standing committees, 27 standing committees in the Illinois Senate and 47 standing committees in the Illinois House. (4) JCAR, also referred to as the Administrative Rules Committee, is one of the three joint committees. It was created in 1977 pursuant to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act during the governorship of Republican Governor James R Thompson (Republican) and the presidency of George HW Bush. Other states also have Administrative Rules Committees. Illinois government agencies must adopt their entire rules in accordance with the rule-making procedures under this Act. (5) The Administrative Procedure Act can be found at link (6).
JCAR is an “oversight committee of the Illinois State Legislature authorized to conduct systematic reviews of administrative rules promulgated by State agencies. JCAR conducts several integrated review programs, including a review program for proposed, emergency and peremptory rulemaking, a review of new Public Acts and a complaint review program.” (7)
Illinois agencies must adopt their entire rules in accordance with the rule-making procedures under Administrative Procedure Act; JCAR then oversees compliance. “The joint committee undertakes studies and investigations concerning rule-making. It will conduct a systematic and continuing study of the rules and rulemaking process of all state agencies and will review the statutory authority on which an administrative rule is based. It will also evaluate the rules of every agency at least once in every five years.” (8)
Stated more simply, when any state agency makes a policy, the rules for implementing that policy must be in accordance with and approved by JCAR. Also, every executive order of the governor has to be quickly implemented by agencies. The executive order establishes the basic policy, but then an agency has to implement that policy through rules. JCAR drafts the rules.
Recent JCAR Activity
An example of JCAR’s role relates to the flurry of executive orders signed by Governor Pritzker since the COVID-19 pandemic began. For example, JCAR helped the Department of Public Health write rules to implement the governor’s executive order requiring individuals to wear face coverings indoors at any “business, service, facility or organization.” The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) re-filed a new COVID-19 Emergency Rule 690.50 on Tuesday, January 5th, extending its statewide restrictions and rules for another 150 days. At its meeting on January 12, JCAR had the authority to accept or reject/suspend the emergency rule. We are living with those accepted rules. Twelve members comprising JCAR rather than 174 members of Illinois legislative body ruled on the continuation of Covid restrictions.
A February 16th decision is to be made by JCAR that involves the “Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards.” In December, the Illinois State Board of Education, or ISBE, passed a new rule that would require “culturally responsive teaching and leading standards” to be incorporated in all Illinois teacher preparation programs. Critics of the proposed “Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards” have said they require educators to embrace left-leaning ideology and prioritize political and social activism in classrooms at a time when Illinois students are underperforming on basic skills tests. You can read the 52-page standards at link (9) These standards are even more egregious than those of California and Minnesota!
Unless JCAR votes to suspend the rule at its meeting February 16, these standards will apply to all Illinois professional educator licenses endorsed in teaching, school support personnel and administrative fields. The agency, the Illinois State Board of Education, formulated the rules; JCAR decides whether to approve or suspend the rules. As of this writing, it is believed only three of the twelve JCAR members have indicated they oppose the ISBE approved standards.
How Are Committee Members Chosen?
A review of how members of JCAR and members of the ISBE are appointed will illustrate the importance of understanding how the committee (JCAR) and agency (ISBE) function. Members of JCAR are chosen by the Governor. Current JCAR members are all from Cook County and surrounding counties except for LaSalle County, which, although it is not adjacent to Cook county, is included in the Chicago statistical area. JCAR is the only one of the three joint committees whose members are appointed by the governor. Members of the other two joint committees are chosen by the leadership of the House and Senate.
The 47 committees of the Illinois House of Representatives are assigned by the Speaker of the House and Minority Leader. The Speaker appoints the Chair, Vice-chair and remaining majority members while the Minority Leader appoints the minority members. Committees are assigned at the start of each term. (10) (Virtually no other state grants the types of powers to its legislative heads that Illinois grants to its Speaker. But that is for another article.)
The 27 committees of the Illinois State Senate are assigned by the President of the Senate and the Minority Leader. The President appoints the Chair, Vice-chair and remaining majority members, while the Minority Leader appoints the minority members. Committees are assigned at the start of each term. (11)
Illinois voters elect legislators who are to represent and to speak for their constituents. They are placed on committees where they consider the business of their assigned committee for the entire state. Either way, they are to be the voice of the citizens.
On the other hand, the Illinois State Board of Education consists of nine members who are appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate. Board members serve four-year terms, with membership limited to two consecutive terms. The Board appoints the State Superintendent of Education, who may be recommended by the Governor. The official site of the Board delineates their goals. (12)
Sifting through all this information reveals that the “Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards” formulated and approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and awaiting the approval of the rules for these standards by JCAR, are both in the hands of Governor Pritzker appointed agencies and committees. The Illinois legislature and the citizens of Illinois had little to no say in the matter at all. Now that it’s down to the wire, parents and citizens are making a concerted effort to convince JCAR to oppose the rules. Surely there is a better way to decide the educational standards for the children of Illinois than the process that has led to this immanent decision.
End Notes:
https://definitions.uslegal.com/j/Joint-Committee-Constitution/#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20a%20joint%20committee%20is,which%20are%20created%20to%20deal%20with%20specific%20issues
https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/
news.wttw.com/sites/default/files/article/file (pdf download)
https://ballotpedia.org/List_of_committees_in_Illinois_state_government
https://administrativelaw.uslegal.com/administrative-procedure-acts/illinois/
https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=83
https://ballotpedia.org/Administrative_Rules_Committee,_Illinois_General_Assembly
https://administrativelaw.uslegal.com/administrative-procedure-acts/illinois/
https://thenewamerican.com/illinois-teachers-told-to-adopt-progressive-ideology-or-be-fired/
https://ballotpedia.org/Mental_Health_Committee,_Illinois_House_of_Representatives
https://ballotpedia.org/Agriculture_Committee,_Illinois_State_Senate
www.isbe.net/Documents/ISBE-Strategic -Plan.pdf
District Map-Making in Illinois
by Joyce Geiler
The district map making in Illinois keeps changing to ensure current people stay in power. Every ten years, after the Federal census, Illinois district maps are redrawn to reflect the changing population. The process used by Illinois, however, has promoted the status quo and made it nearly impossible to change the political climate in Illinois even when the voters try.
Michael Madigan has been in the General Assembly for 44 years and has been Speaker of the House for all but two of those years since 1983. Some people propose term limits as a way to stop what almost seems like tyranny. A downstate Senator, Kyle McCarter, even limited his senatorial service to two terms in accordance with his promise. A Paul Simon Public Policy Institute survey showed respondents overwhelmingly favor term limits for members of the Illinois General Assembly. Nearly 80 percent favor some form of term limits for senators and representatives with 82 percent in favor of limiting the time lawmakers can serve in leadership positions.
However, a term limits effort backed by Bruce Rauner when he was campaigning for governor, contains a lot more than just limiting senators and representatives to eight years in office. It also would reduce the Illinois Senate from 59 to 43 members and increase House membership from 118 to 123. Also, the proposed amendment sought to raise the threshold for overriding a governor’s veto from the current three-fifths vote to two-thirds. Perhaps giving voters legislative districts that are not manipulated to the maximum benefit of the party that draws the map is a much more effective way to encourage better government.
Most people have no idea how the legislative district in which they live was created; who drew the boundaries for the Illinois House and Senate districts in which they reside? Legislative districts for the 177 members of the Illinois General Assembly are redrawn every 10 years after the U.S. census. Democrats controlled the map-drawing process in 1981, 2001, and 2011. Republicans drew the map in 1991. The only 2 years since 1983 that Rep. Michael Madigan was not Speaker of the House were January 1995 to January 1997, during the decade of the Republican-drawn map.
The creative redrawing of district maps has been called "gerrymandering". It's not a new concept. The term came into use in 1812, named after E. Gerry (Governor of Massachusetts whose party redistricted the state in 1812) + (sala)mander, from the fancied resemblance of Essex County, Massachusetts to this animal, after the redistricting.
Personality, individual ambition, and policy issues have often affected reapportionment (redistricting) debates. The final redistricting outcome in Illinois has usually been the result of three conflicting historic themes: territory vs. population, geography vs. party, and incumbent vs. challenger.
Territory vs. Population
The dramatic surge in Chicago and Cook County's population, which tripled its growth from 1870 to 1910, resulted in downstaters blocking any redistricting from 1901 to 1955 in spite of the fact that the 1870 constitution provided for it. Downstate legislators had successfully been in control even with their rural population. During that time an attempt to use population to determine House districts and territory to determine Senate districts was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. These days Chicago faces a similar conundrum as its population moves to the suburbs. In 1955, all sides worked toward successful reapportionment, successful in that it brought about no profound political changes in the state.
Geography vs. Party
From 1870 to 1980, cumulative voting was used to elect members of the state House of Representatives. In 1980, political activist, later Governor, Pat Quinn, advocated a campaign to reduce the number of representatives in the state house through the "Cutback Amendment" which reduced the size of the house by one-third and proposed the single member district system - previously districts could have more than one Representative. One result of the cutback in House members from 177 to 118 members was that it allowed political party leaders to consolidate power and influence who may run for the state assembly. The complicated, detailed history of the redistricting issue in Illinois can be found in the pdf Legislative Redistricting in Illinois: A Historical Analysis.
http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lru/Green.pdf
Incumbent vs. Challenger
Self-preservation is a strong human characteristic, especially among Illinois legislators. Creative cartography has no doubt preserved many an incumbent. The incumbent can chop up the opposing party’s geographic strongholds and stick them onto districts where voter affiliation favors his party. Even better, one can use his map-drawing power to exact vengeance on a troublesome lawmaker, whose home can be conveniently placed outside the district he or she represents.
How is Map-making Currently Determined?
Section 3 of the Illinois Constitutional Amendment adopted at general election Nov. 4, 1980, provides that Legislative Districts shall be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population. In the year following the Federal census, the General Assembly by law shall redistrict the Legislative Districts and the Representative Districts. If no redistricting plan becomes effective by June 30 of that year, a Legislative Redistricting Commission shall be constituted consisting of eight members, no more than four of whom can be of the same political party. Specifics are given for how the members are chosen. (No longer is the governor the one to choose members.) If the Commission fails to file a redistricting plan by August 10, the Supreme Court shall submit two names, not of the same party and by September 5, the Secretary of State shall publicly conduct a random draw from those two names for the name of the ninth person on the Commission, who effectively becomes the tie-breaker so that a redistricting plan can be submitted.
Of the five legislative maps drawn since the 1970 constitution went into effect, only two have not ended in a random name being drawn from a hat. The draw has been used in every opportunity except 1971- the first year the new state constitution was in effect - and in 2011, the only post-census year since 1970 that Democrats controlled the governorship, the Illinois House, and the Illinois Senate. In 1981, Republicans controlled the governor's office, the Illinois House, and were just one vote shy of controlling the Illinois Senate, they lost the map-drawing privilege by the luck of the draw. In 1991, the draw went to the Republicans.
The 1971 map was a true compromise between a Republican governor, a Republican House and a Democratic Senate. The 2011 map was drawn and approved by Democrats, who controlled both chambers and the governor’s office. In the three remaps in between, the parties went all-or-nothing, choosing luck of the draw over compromise. Lost in the process is the interest of the voters who live in the districts that result from this game.
"Yes for Independent Maps" has a proposal: an Illinois constitutional amendment that will change the way redistricting is done. The movement says it will make the process transparent, independent and nonpartisan. It will be a citizen-led commission, with no politicians, no bureaucrats and no people that get state contracts.
A few years ago, when California voted on a similar independent redistricting amendment, some voiced concerns that the commission would not reflect the diversity of the state. Those worries turned out to be unfounded. Eleven of the fourteen members of the California commission belonged to minority groups (four Asian Americans, three Latinos, two African Americans, one Pacific Islander, one American Indian). Yes for Independent Maps has included diversity provisions. To find out more about the Independent Map Amendment or to download a petition, go to
http://www.mapamendment.org/index.html Notarized petitions must be mailed by April 21, 2016.
Unless otherwise noted all material in this article can be located at rebootillinois.com
by Joyce Geiler
The district map making in Illinois keeps changing to ensure current people stay in power. Every ten years, after the Federal census, Illinois district maps are redrawn to reflect the changing population. The process used by Illinois, however, has promoted the status quo and made it nearly impossible to change the political climate in Illinois even when the voters try.
Michael Madigan has been in the General Assembly for 44 years and has been Speaker of the House for all but two of those years since 1983. Some people propose term limits as a way to stop what almost seems like tyranny. A downstate Senator, Kyle McCarter, even limited his senatorial service to two terms in accordance with his promise. A Paul Simon Public Policy Institute survey showed respondents overwhelmingly favor term limits for members of the Illinois General Assembly. Nearly 80 percent favor some form of term limits for senators and representatives with 82 percent in favor of limiting the time lawmakers can serve in leadership positions.
However, a term limits effort backed by Bruce Rauner when he was campaigning for governor, contains a lot more than just limiting senators and representatives to eight years in office. It also would reduce the Illinois Senate from 59 to 43 members and increase House membership from 118 to 123. Also, the proposed amendment sought to raise the threshold for overriding a governor’s veto from the current three-fifths vote to two-thirds. Perhaps giving voters legislative districts that are not manipulated to the maximum benefit of the party that draws the map is a much more effective way to encourage better government.
Most people have no idea how the legislative district in which they live was created; who drew the boundaries for the Illinois House and Senate districts in which they reside? Legislative districts for the 177 members of the Illinois General Assembly are redrawn every 10 years after the U.S. census. Democrats controlled the map-drawing process in 1981, 2001, and 2011. Republicans drew the map in 1991. The only 2 years since 1983 that Rep. Michael Madigan was not Speaker of the House were January 1995 to January 1997, during the decade of the Republican-drawn map.
The creative redrawing of district maps has been called "gerrymandering". It's not a new concept. The term came into use in 1812, named after E. Gerry (Governor of Massachusetts whose party redistricted the state in 1812) + (sala)mander, from the fancied resemblance of Essex County, Massachusetts to this animal, after the redistricting.
Personality, individual ambition, and policy issues have often affected reapportionment (redistricting) debates. The final redistricting outcome in Illinois has usually been the result of three conflicting historic themes: territory vs. population, geography vs. party, and incumbent vs. challenger.
Territory vs. Population
The dramatic surge in Chicago and Cook County's population, which tripled its growth from 1870 to 1910, resulted in downstaters blocking any redistricting from 1901 to 1955 in spite of the fact that the 1870 constitution provided for it. Downstate legislators had successfully been in control even with their rural population. During that time an attempt to use population to determine House districts and territory to determine Senate districts was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. These days Chicago faces a similar conundrum as its population moves to the suburbs. In 1955, all sides worked toward successful reapportionment, successful in that it brought about no profound political changes in the state.
Geography vs. Party
From 1870 to 1980, cumulative voting was used to elect members of the state House of Representatives. In 1980, political activist, later Governor, Pat Quinn, advocated a campaign to reduce the number of representatives in the state house through the "Cutback Amendment" which reduced the size of the house by one-third and proposed the single member district system - previously districts could have more than one Representative. One result of the cutback in House members from 177 to 118 members was that it allowed political party leaders to consolidate power and influence who may run for the state assembly. The complicated, detailed history of the redistricting issue in Illinois can be found in the pdf Legislative Redistricting in Illinois: A Historical Analysis.
http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lru/Green.pdf
Incumbent vs. Challenger
Self-preservation is a strong human characteristic, especially among Illinois legislators. Creative cartography has no doubt preserved many an incumbent. The incumbent can chop up the opposing party’s geographic strongholds and stick them onto districts where voter affiliation favors his party. Even better, one can use his map-drawing power to exact vengeance on a troublesome lawmaker, whose home can be conveniently placed outside the district he or she represents.
How is Map-making Currently Determined?
Section 3 of the Illinois Constitutional Amendment adopted at general election Nov. 4, 1980, provides that Legislative Districts shall be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population. In the year following the Federal census, the General Assembly by law shall redistrict the Legislative Districts and the Representative Districts. If no redistricting plan becomes effective by June 30 of that year, a Legislative Redistricting Commission shall be constituted consisting of eight members, no more than four of whom can be of the same political party. Specifics are given for how the members are chosen. (No longer is the governor the one to choose members.) If the Commission fails to file a redistricting plan by August 10, the Supreme Court shall submit two names, not of the same party and by September 5, the Secretary of State shall publicly conduct a random draw from those two names for the name of the ninth person on the Commission, who effectively becomes the tie-breaker so that a redistricting plan can be submitted.
Of the five legislative maps drawn since the 1970 constitution went into effect, only two have not ended in a random name being drawn from a hat. The draw has been used in every opportunity except 1971- the first year the new state constitution was in effect - and in 2011, the only post-census year since 1970 that Democrats controlled the governorship, the Illinois House, and the Illinois Senate. In 1981, Republicans controlled the governor's office, the Illinois House, and were just one vote shy of controlling the Illinois Senate, they lost the map-drawing privilege by the luck of the draw. In 1991, the draw went to the Republicans.
The 1971 map was a true compromise between a Republican governor, a Republican House and a Democratic Senate. The 2011 map was drawn and approved by Democrats, who controlled both chambers and the governor’s office. In the three remaps in between, the parties went all-or-nothing, choosing luck of the draw over compromise. Lost in the process is the interest of the voters who live in the districts that result from this game.
"Yes for Independent Maps" has a proposal: an Illinois constitutional amendment that will change the way redistricting is done. The movement says it will make the process transparent, independent and nonpartisan. It will be a citizen-led commission, with no politicians, no bureaucrats and no people that get state contracts.
A few years ago, when California voted on a similar independent redistricting amendment, some voiced concerns that the commission would not reflect the diversity of the state. Those worries turned out to be unfounded. Eleven of the fourteen members of the California commission belonged to minority groups (four Asian Americans, three Latinos, two African Americans, one Pacific Islander, one American Indian). Yes for Independent Maps has included diversity provisions. To find out more about the Independent Map Amendment or to download a petition, go to
http://www.mapamendment.org/index.html Notarized petitions must be mailed by April 21, 2016.
Unless otherwise noted all material in this article can be located at rebootillinois.com
