Pennsylvania lawmaker wants to ban teachers from talking politics, government in school

Pennsylvania lawmaker Will Tallman is not seeking re-election in November.

But if the Adams County Republican has his way, he will go out with the passage of a monumental bill that would re-write free speech rules in schools by banning discussions centered around modern-day civics, politics and science in classrooms.

On Friday, Tallman sent a memo to the 203-member state House seeking support for a bill he dubbed the “Teacher Code of Ethics,” which legal experts questioned as unconstitutional overreach.

In the memo, Tallman said his bill would forbid public school teachers from endorsing, supporting or opposing candidates or incumbents for local, state and federal offices while in the classroom. On the job, teachers could not discuss enacted or pending legislation, regulations, executive orders or court cases involving any level or branch of government. They could not talk about activities “that hamper or impede” law enforcement actions or military recruiters on campus.