Public Comments for: HB333 - Public schools; programs and courses of instruction; instruction on January 6 insurrection.
Last Name: Dawson Locality: Orange

As an educator, I STONGLY OPPOSE this bill. It represents an unprecedented move by lawmakers to dictate historical interpretation in statute, replacing professional judgment with political edict. Under this bill, schools may teach about January 6 only if they adopt state-mandated conclusions written into law. It would set a dangerous precedent for legislating history, remove discretion from teachers and school boards, raises serious First Amendment and academic freedom concerns, invite politicized complaints and enforcement, and turn classrooms into compliance zones rather than places of research, debate, and inquiry. HB 333 is the very definition of politicizing education, locking a single charged political narrative into law and punishing any deviation. It proves those critics of public education who claim "indoctrination, not education" 100% correct. Please do not pass this horrendous legislation into law.

Last Name: Jeffries Locality: Northumberland

House Bill NO.333 attempts to formalize and institutionalize a one-sided narrative for instruction in our public school system. This bill refers to January 6, 2021, but it does not really matter what the topic is. Any law that would dictate only one point of view to be presented as fact in our schools, making alternative viewpoints or discussion forbidden, is promoting propaganda by the state. Per Wikipedia: Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded language to produce an emotional rather than a rational response to the information that is being presented. Propaganda can be found in a wide variety of different contexts. If the sponsors really believe the language of their bill represents established historical facts, what is the need then for the legislation? By censoring any descriptions and portrayals of a contrary point of view, they are attempting to control the narrative, to shamelessly prop up their version of the truth. The old Soviet censorship body Glavlit would be proud of these gentlemen. I urge you to reject this bill.

Last Name: Keller Locality: Richmoond

I support this bill because I want to be sure that our youth are learning the truth about what happened that day rather than harmful lies and conspiracy theories. It was a dark day in our history and provides context to where we are right now and any evidence, video footage, and testimonies confirm that.

Last Name: Obe Locality: Richmond

I oppose any attempt to mislead people in the slightest bit about January 6th. There are still plenty of missing pieces in this matter. All educational institutions must be neutral in their curriculum materials. Same goes with Afghanistan Pullout under the leadership of the Democrats and form President Joe Biden-Obama administration. All opinions, bias social media, leaders, and politics must be omitted. Integrity is a must and the parents must be aware of the lessons.

Last Name: Campbell Locality: Portsmouth

Please bear with me as I am a high school drop out with a GED and dyslexia. As a parent of two children with IEP's I do not believe the SOLIS should be any part of their grade. These test are an added steps, worry and disappointment to most students as it is. NO religion should be posted on school property. NO TEN COMMANDMENTS. And truths from all sides of history should be taught including January 6th. Our children deserve the truth.

Last Name: batista Locality: Chesapeake

I STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BILL. Get the facts ( IT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION) before trying to play psyop games with our children. We know that you are trying to secure future votes, but parents are NOT going to approve this. Schools will loose their state and federal funding. Parents will NOT have them go to public INSTITUTIONS (grooming breading grounds). This is NOT important curriculum. What IS IMPORTANT is the Trade industry. ALL SCHOOLS NEED TO HAVE TRADE INDUSTRY classes into the curriculum. POLICTICS should NEVER be in schools/curriculum. More important than the report’s factual errors are the serious questions never investigated by the Select Committee. Why did Democrat congressional leaders turn down repeated offers of National Guard troops to protect the Capitol that day? Why was security so lax outside the Capitol despite expectations of a large demonstration? How many FBI informants and other undercover federal law enforcement officials were in the crowd? What communication did the FBI or FBI informants have with protest organizers ahead of the event? Why wasn’t then-Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund told there were federal informants in the crowd? Why did the U.S. Capitol Police open the doors and allow demonstrators into the building? Why did federal law enforcement authorities demand cell phone location data for the thousands of people who were outside the Capitol but broke no laws? Why does the FBI still have no idea(NOW PROVEN) who planted the pipe bombs near the headquarters of the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee on the evening of January 5? The disclosure about the 26 informants invites further questions about what other elements of federal law enforcement were present that day and what exactly they were doing. The video released by McCarthy shows that Ray Epps, a man who is suspected of being an FBI informant and who was at the heart of the events of January 6, lied to Congress about his movements. When the Select Committee had him testify in an attempt to clear his name after footage emerged of him urging the crowd to storm the Capitol, Epps told committee members that he never entered the Capitol. He testified that when he texted his nephew at 2:12 p.m. that day, writing that he had “orchestrated the protests at the Capitol,” he was already back at his hotel room. But surveillance footage shows this is not true. Epps remained at the Capitol for half an hour after he sent that text. Members of the committee knew this but never followed up.

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