House bill requires Native American curriculum in Illinois public schools

Posted on March 28, 2023
State Rep. Maurice West II (D-Rockford). (Facebook/State Representative Maurice West)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – You probably can’t write the history of Illinois without including Native Americans, but a bill which has passed the state House wants to make sure.

“This bill highlights the true DNA of our state,” said sponsoring State Rep. Maurice West II (D-Rockford). “The word Illinois is derived from the Native American word illiniwok, which literally means ‘best people.’ It was used to refer to the ten to twelve tribes around the river.

“The entire state is named ‘best people’!”

West wants a Native American curriculum. Opponents say the bill’s an unfunded mandate which would give lawmakers no control over the curriculum.

HB 1633 has passed the House, 75-32-1.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…