By Tamsin Hurlbut
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America…” These words are not uncommon to hear at the start of every school day. This year, every class at TPA is taking a moment of silence and saying the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of first period. This observance is mandated by a new Arizona law. But it is not the only piece of new legislation affecting the Tempe Prep student body; there are six new laws on the books that could change students’ day to day.
The first piece of legislation that may impact all Tempe Prep students is H.B. 2025, which states that schools must make it possible for parents to visit classrooms during the school day. Before this law, parents have not been allowed to go into classrooms, unless on a designated tour or visit. Now, parents can sit in a class for as long as they want, whenever they want. Dr. Porter believes this legislation could be harmful to the classroom: “I think it could intimidate teachers and students, and make learning harder.”
H.B. 2707 mandates that K-12 schools set aside 1 minute time uses numerals at the beginning of each school day for students to “engage in a moment of silence.” By state law, a teacher cannot tell their students what to think about during the moment, but they must suggest to their students that they talk with their parents about this new policy.
H.B. 2707 was largely advocated for by the Phoenix Orthodox Jewish Community. According to Democratic Representative Alma Hernandez of Tucson, who sponsored H.B. 2707, the bill was inspired by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who advocated for this moment of silence to be implemented in public schools. The legislation was signed on the anniversary of his 120th birthday.
Three more new Arizona laws enforce mandates on civic education. H.B. 2008 asserts that students, in order to graduate high school, must “have a comparative discussion of political ideologies, such as communism and totalitarianism, that conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy that are essential to the founding principles of the United States.” This bill was sponsored by Republican Representative Quang Nguyen. H.B. 2008 also states that the board of education will work with Arizona State University’s School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership, University of Arizona’s Center for Philosophy and Freedom and the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute to “develop civic education standards that include primary source documents” and “oral history records of victims of other nations” to develop students’ “patriotism.”
The third change to Arizona civics education is H.B. 2325, which mandates that teachers educate students about the 9/11 attacks to commemorate the victims and learn about terrorism. Dr. Porter feels that Tempe Prep meets these standards and exceeds them. “Students read the Communist Manifesto, and Animal Farm, (and) they talk a lot about these governments,” he says. “We have always taught 9/11, so this won’t make a difference.”
The Arizona legislature has made many changes to educational standards and policy. This year, Tempe Prep will have to see how these laws translate into students’ daily school routines.