Dupage Policy Journal

Community High School District 99 in Downers Grove is wondering whether or not it should notify parents if their children are going to be asked highly sensitive questions in school.

A survey sent to the district's administrators and teachers asked if they feel parents should be notified in advance if students are asked to fill out surveys on political affiliations of the student and the student's parents, mental or psychological problems of the student and student's family, behavior and attitudes toward sex, family relationships, privileged relationships such as those with lawyers, physicians and ministers, religious practices and beliefs, and family income. 

The survey asked if parents should be informed, allowed to examine the questions before they are delivered to students, offered a permission form to sign and offered the opportunity to opt out of their child answering personal questions. 

According to the survey, if the questions are being administered as part of a program that is overseen by the U.S. Department of Education, the district would seek parental consent. 

Some see Illinois teachers as having overstepped their bounds before. Last year, a Chicago Public Schools second grade teacher boasted of her participation in a protest to her seven- and eight-year old students, telling the children that riots, including glass being smashed and cars being set on fire, were sometimes part of protests. 

CPS teacher Katy Heavener said that it's a part of acting out when someone isn't being listened to, saying that "it's hard for you to control your emotions and your reactions."

Earlier this year, the Loyola Academy High School introduced a "Privilege / Race and Racism" course to students that gave Caucasian children a test that asked them how they benefit from white privilege and how the children have held onto that privilege "despite the harm it does."

Loyola later apologized for and revoked the test.