DeKalb Times

Dixon's Republican mayor is among the conservatives who oppose the proposed "Culturally Responsive" education standards before the state Legislature.

"It's another state-level intrusion where the government is trying to mold young minds and take total control of them," Mayor Liandro "Li" Arellano told the DeKalb Times. "These are political and social values we know the left would like to see advanced, and they're looking to enact them with hopes that they will allow them to build power into the future."

Supported by the State Board of Education, the Cultural Responsive plan would require teachers to take such steps as "creating a risk-taking space that promotes student activism and advocacy," The Center Square reported. Proponents of the plan continue to insist their motivation is to create a welcoming environment for all students.

Count Arellano among those not totally convinced about what he's hearing.

"It's hard to think politics aren't at work here," he said. "Democrats definitely seem to be pushing standards that are in their best interests."

Arellano said he hoped that GOP lawmakers were staying busy between now and Feb. 16 when the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules was slated to meet to debate the issue by spreading the word about what's happening.

"Republicans need to [be] highlighting it all, especially the way all these young minds stand be manipulated," he said. "Democrats seem willing to do whatever they believe it takes to get what they want."

At least eight JCAR members would have to support a motion to block the proposal at this month's meeting to prevent it from taking effect later this year in October.