Republicans desire anti-intellectual agenda

I could see it on the horizon with the push by Gov. Kim Reynolds and her Republican assenters for a “school vouchers” law. Here comes the control of how and what teachers can say or teach to avoid so-called “indoctrination.” The only indoctrination I see is that of a conservative white-only, anti-intellectual agenda that the Republicans desire.

Now the governor is floating a book ban that says that if one school bans a book, all schools in the state must ban it. That idea certainly ignores the fact that Iowans are not homogeneous and that different areas of the state — city and rural, for example — are not the same in outlook or needs. Though the Republicans rule, nearly half the state did not vote for them, so these proposals make a large portion of the state outsiders. Certainly, the universities and libraries are next I fear.

Robert Naujoks

Marion

Opinion content represents the viewpoint of the author or The Gazette editorial board. You can join the conversation by submitting a letter to the editor or guest column or by suggesting a topic for an editorial to editorial@thegazette.com