Republican Rep. Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin pressed Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser on students’ falling test scores during a hearing Tuesday.
The House Oversight Committee is holding a hearing on the state of the local government in Washington, D.C., amid a crime spike in the city. President Joe Biden in March signed a measure to block a DC bill which would lower penalties for robberies, carjackings and other violent criminal offenses. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden was “putting the safety of the people of D.C. first,” by blocking the crime law.
Grothman addressed the city’s educational system in his questioning to Bowser, drawing a stark contrast between student performance in DC and the liberal education initiatives in its schools. Only 31% of students are proficient in reading in DC schools, and fewer students were proficient in 2022 than in 2019. Students in the DC, Maryland and Virginia areas have suffered the largest declines in academic achievement during the pandemic. (RELATED: Teacher Who Showed LGBT-Themed Disney Film In Classroom Accuses Concerned Parents Of Not Loving Their Children)
“Mayor bowser, do you believe that D.C. public schools are properly focused on ensuring kids reach grade level achievement?” Grothman asked.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the progress that we’ve made in D.C. public schools,” Bowser said.
“Are you really satisfied with that?” Grothman responded.
“Nevertheless under new standards, we see your second graders will analyze the history of same sex relationships and gender fluidity in civilizations,” he continued. “In third grade students are getting taught the importance of affirming spaces. In sixth grade they’re going to be dealing with racism.”
“Mayor Bowser, does having third grade students learn about the importance of affirming spaces improve the ability to read at grade level?”
“What I know as a DC public school parent is that I want my child to grow up as an informed world citizen,” Bowser responded. “Of course, knowing how to read and write, knowing how to enjoy all the people in the world and the cultures of the world, and being able to actively participate in our government.”