PENNSYLVANIA — The Senate Education Committee of Pennsylvania voted on Wednesday on a controversial bill, Senate Bill 7, that seeks to provide parental control over instructional materials and books containing sexually explicit content in schools. The bill passed along party lines, sparking serious concerns from Senator Lindsey M. Williams, the Minority Chair of the Senate Education Committee.
Senator Williams has been actively participating in the Basic Education Funding Commission hearings since early September. Initially optimistic about the hearings, she believed they could address the cost and funding issues plaguing public education in the state. However, the introduction of Senate Bill 7 has dimmed her optimism, as she views it as a step towards dismantling public education.
In a statement released after the vote, Senator Williams shared a story about a school librarian in Pittsburgh Public Schools who had significantly impacted the lives of several students. She used this anecdote to highlight the importance of librarians and libraries in schools, which are currently dwindling in number. During the 2021-2022 school year, 10% of school districts across Pennsylvania did not have a school librarian assigned to a library, according to the PA School Library Association. Senator Williams pointed out that Senate Bill 7 could exacerbate this issue.
Furthermore, Senator Williams noted the vast disparity in resources between different school districts. For instance, a student in one of her district’s well-resourced schools has access to a new library and a full-time librarian, while the entire School District of Philadelphia, with 217 schools and 114,000 students, has less than one full-time certified librarian.
Senator Williams firmly opposes Senate Bill 7, seeing it not just as a violation of the First Amendment but also a part of a plan to undermine public education, which she believes is in direct violation of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
Senate Bill 7 will now move forward for further consideration within the Pennsylvania Senate.
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