"Nebraska Education Committee Grapples with Controversial Topics and Parental Control"

A hearing in Nebraska on parent involvement in education devolved into discussions about slavery, critical race theory, pornography, and the influence of Bill Gates on curriculum evaluation. State Senator Dave Murman and his handpicked testifiers expressed concerns about parents' ability to review objectionable materials in schools and push back against certain aspects of the curriculum. However, school leaders testified that Nebraska already has policies in place to address parent involvement, library content, and curriculum. The hearing also touched on social and emotional learning (SEL), with some conservatives viewing it as a gateway to teaching critical race theory. The debate over what should be taught in schools and who gets to decide was a central theme, with tensions between social issues and academic performance. The hearing highlighted the ongoing battles over books, student privacy, and the role of unions in education.