SE Illinois News

State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) thinks the job of expressing gratitude to teachers everywhere should be never-ending.

“Not just today, but every day we need to be thankful for all of the great teachers who dedicate their lives to the education of our children,” Niemerg, the father of two, reflected while speaking with retired teachers in Wayne County on World Teachers’ Day.

Since 1994, Oct. 5 is the date annually set aside to celebrate all teachers everywhere.

“Many of our retired teachers actually use their experience to serve as some of our best substitute teachers when our schools need them,” he said. “I say 'thank you' to all of our teachers in Wayne County and around the state.”

Niemerg also recently called on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to come to the defense of local teachers in vetoing a bill that that would require schools to teach sex education to students as early as at the kindergarten level.

Senate Bill 818 stipulates that a school district “provide comprehensive personal health and safety education in kindergarten through the 5th grade and comprehensive sexual health education in the 6th through 12th grades in all public schools.”

Niemerg opposes the bill.

“The more I looked into it, the more I researched it, quite frankly the angrier I became because I have a 2-year-old little girl who is getting ready to turn 3 in June and I have a 6-year-old son who just finished up kindergarten and they are my world and to think that our schools could be teaching something like this to my daughter or my son is infuriating,” he said.

With that in mind, Niemerg and other GOP lawmakers recently fired off a letter to Pritzker requesting that he reject legislation that has already passed both the House and Senate.

Niemerg said what could come next causes him great concern.

“The national sex education standards that we’ve pointed out in previous debate are going to be used when it comes to formulating this curriculum,” he said. “And this curriculum will have detrimental impact on our children.”

Niemerg said he has always subscribed to a simple philosophy when it comes to educating young children about such issues.

“I believe it is best left to parents and local school boards to represent the standards of their communities,” he said, adding that he has heard from parents, teachers, and school officials who overwhelmingly oppose the mandate and restriction on their ability to set proper curriculum for their students.

“Let me be clear, I will not co-parent with the government,” he said. “This goes well beyond acceptable health and safety standards.”