Kansas lawmakers exploit private school kids as props to gut public education: Opinion

Opinion editor Clay Wirestone’s weekly roundup of legislative flotsam and jetsam. Read the archive.

The Kansas Statehouse overflowed with political props on Tuesday.

Sure, those who visited the building would have seen hundreds of children in yellow scarves, ostensibly on hand to support a pricey school voucher bill. Yet lawmakers and those who brought these students to the building didn’t see them as people. They saw them as political props, raw material for their longtime crusade to destroy public education.

I walked among the kids that day. I heard what they said to one another and saw how they behaved. I noticed the games they played on their phones and watched the smirks they shared with one another. These students didn’t give a flying fig about legislation that would benefit their schools and parents with state dollars siphoned from public schools.

They were along for the ride, being exploited by the adults in their lives.

For the record, state data shows that roughly 26,000 students attend private schools, while about 476,000 attend public schools. But can you imagine the outrage from Republican ideologues if public schools swamped the Statehouse with their students? Can you imagine the cries of liberal indoctrination?

Thanks to my eighth-grader, I know precisely what at least a share of those public school students were doing Tuesday. They attended an orchestra performance at the Topeka Performing Arts Center, just three blocks away. Lawmakers could have strolled over to see actual learning.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s first glimpse at “Rebel Women,” the new art installation of suffragist icons at the Kansas Statehouse. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)

Suffragette Statehouse

The day after students swarmed, a more mature audience turned out for the unveiling of Phyllis Garibay-Coon’s mural memorializing Kanas suffrage activists. Titled “Rebel Women,” the towering artwork has to be seen in person.

I’ve never experienced such a crowd in the rotunda. While I don’t consider myself claustrophobic, the crowd was something to behold.

As a sequence of speakers, including Gov. Laura Kelly, lauded the proud example of women who fought for their right to vote and participate in civic life, I couldn’t help but think about all the ways in which the current Legislature has aimed to tear down their accomplishments.

For example, we’ve already seen hearings on a bill that would limit voting rights. We’ve already seen bills proposed to ban abortion. And we’ve watched as broad majorities in both chambers singled out a minority group for public shame and approbation.

Legislative leaders would no doubt claim there’s no connection between the glorious past and corrupt present. Political blinders can obscure the most obvious truths.

Remembering Robinson

Former Kansas City, Kansas, Rep. Marvin Robinson gained notoriety during his single term in office. A Democrat, he ended up voting with Republicans on many bills. He lost his primary bid in August and died later that month.

His former colleagues on both sides of the aisle have come together, though, proposing House Bill 2029. Sponsored by Wichita Republican Rep. Patrick Penn, the bill is cosponsored by 109 other representatives. It would rename “a portion of K-5 highway as the Representative Marvin S Robinson II memorial highway.”

A hearing was held Wednesday.

Two hearings on Jan. 28, 2025, on identical bills attempting to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youths drew large crowds and more than 400 pieces of written testimony. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)

Gender-affirming care vote

The House and Senate sent Gov. Laura Kelly a ban on gender-affirming care Friday. The final House vote in favor of Senate Bill 63 was 83-35. That’s notably one shy of the 84 votes needed to overcome an expected gubernatorial veto.

But advocates shouldn’t get ahead of themselves. Seven representatives didn’t make the vote, and among them were four Republicans. If all support the ban, that’s more than enough to force it into law.

I’ll have more on this topic later.

Press restrictions remain

At the end of three weeks, reporters still can’t access the press box in the House of Representatives. Despite the news coverage and political pushback, House Speaker Dan Hawkins has stood his ground with the support of his caucus.

That doesn’t make the move acceptable, however. Neither was Senate President Ty Masterson’s move to bar reporting from the Senate floor three years ago. So I’m going to make a point of noting these limits in these roundups for the rest of the session.

Make yourselves comfy, dear readers.

Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.