The Ridiculous New School Board Oath

By Lee Newcom

Most people don't realize that the Illinois Education Association spends a good deal of resources "educating and training" school board members that they are to be passive and not resist the efforts of teachers and adminstrators.  School board members are not to think independently or think about the taxpayers or parents, but to rubber stamp as they are instructed to. This is called being "constructive." Consequently, the following is incredibly funny as it is so rediculous, but sad in that it is true. 

It is the new oath that state law prescribes for new school board members.   Sadly, this bit of idiocy was passed unanimously in both houses last year. Find it in 105 ILCS 5/10-16.5 (it's the 'I further swear...' part that is ridiculous):

(105 ILCS 5/10‑16.5) Oath of office. Each school board member, before taking his or her seat on the board, shall take an oath of office in substantially the following form:

        I, (name of member or successful candidate), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of member of the Board of Education (or Board of School Directors, as the case may be) of (name of school district), in accordance with the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and the laws of the State of Illinois, to the best of my ability.

        I further swear (or affirm) that:

        I shall respect taxpayer interests by serving as a faithful protector of the school district's assets;

        I shall encourage and respect the free expression of opinion by my fellow board members and others who seek a hearing before the board, while respecting the privacy of students and employees;

        I shall recognize that a board member has no legal authority as an individual and that decisions can be made only by a majority vote at a public board meeting; and

        I shall abide by majority decisions of the board, while retaining the right to seek changes in such decisions through ethical and constructive channels.

(Source: P.A. 94‑881, eff. 6‑20‑06.)

Notice that we are not to protect the taxpayers, but the school district.  And you know, this will really cause those nasty public officials who ran on platforms of not respecting privacy, or majority votes, or free speech, or even wanting to not be constructive or ethical, to stop in thier tracks!  This is just stupid and education association political correctness gone wild. stupid and education association political correctness gone wild.