Macon Reporter

Dr. Lisa Smith, the Republican candidate for State House District 96, has asserted that her political struggle is not against teachers but against Democrats who are supported by teachers unions. She believes there is a need to refocus on essential subjects in order to revamp the education system.

“I sincerely believe this is how most teachers feel,” Smith said on Facebook.

“My fight is not against teachers. It’s the Democrats funded by the teachers unions and The Illinois Education Association, who does not give the tools to these teachers to educate our children. They focus on social platforms, and not on real education like math science, English and real history.”

“It’s sad that they’ve hijacked our education system making the environment These teachers have to teach in impossible sometimes. Let’s make our education system better give our teachers the tools they need to educate our children to the standard we can be proud of. I love this guy. He really puts it out there, and in a humorous way, shows us the challenges that teacher and principals face every day.”

Smith linked to a video by Lexington, Kentucky-based elementary school principal Gerry Brooks discussing how the divided political society has negatively affected the classroom environment.

“This is what our job is like these days,” Brooks said while holding a tattered present.

“See, our gift is spoiled because the outside world and the constant arguments that you’re seeing all over social media politically, a neighbor with neighbor, people out in society that’s coming into us every single day through angry emails and through screaming and yelling on social media and through people accusing us of teaching this or teaching that. That’s what education has become. It’s still a gift. Education will always be a gift because, again, we get to watch kids grow every single day and we get to watch them learn. But what started out as an amazing gift for all of us has turned into this. Hope that explains that if you’re not an educator.”

Recent allegations have been made against Gov. J.B. Pritzker and U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona accusing them of opposing parental rights and introducing radical gender ideology politics to students.

Shannon Adcock of Awake Illinois urges a shift towards educational priorities like literacy and academic outcomes, rather than engaging in a “war on parental rights.”

Despite facing proficiency challenges, Pritzker defends the state’s commitment to education while U.S. Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) alleges that Pritzker and Cardona are imposing gender ideology issues, including potential Title IX violations. Cardona dismisses such debates as divisive and emphasizes the need to focus on students’ opportunities. The discussion also touches on COVID mask mandates, which Pritzker denies enforcing. Later, Cardona and State Superintendent Tony Sanders visited a school in Peoria, according to Center Square.

State House District 96 includes Springfield, Decatur, Taylorville, Blue Mound, Mount Auburn, Niantic, Edinburg and Rochester in whole or in part. The district is currently represented by State Rep. Sue Scherer (D-Decatur).