POLARIZING PROPOSALS

News Briefs: Missouri Legislators Push Hot Button Issues

The Missouri House of Representatives has been in the spotlight recently with decisions that some consider problematic. One of the most notable bills, “The Right to Bare Arms,” more officially known as House Amendment Number II, imposed a dress code for women on the House floor. There were also nine anti-LGBTQ+ bills in review, a record number, according to the Kansas City Star. Numerous other bills are currently under review in the House.

Dress Code

The House of Representatives passed a bill on Jan. 13 that was criticized by members as sexist because it explicitly called out women, stating that “Proper attire for women shall be business attire,” while mens’ clothing options weren’t explicitly brought up. This amendment banned womens’ arms from being shown, requiring them to wear a second layer “blazer or knit blazer.” This law was reversed citing that it is uncomfortable for pregnant women to wear blazers.

Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills

Missouri’s legislature is attempting to ban transgender athletes from competing in high school sports, according to the Kansas City Star. Another bill currently under review is a restriction on gender affirmative care for people under 18, according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

There have been 27 anti-LGBTQ+ bills filed by Republicans in the Missouri House and Senate, according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, making Missouri the state with the highest number of anti-LGBTQ bills. Senate Bill 134, similar to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, would ban conversation of sexual identity and preferred pronouns in schools, as well as require teachers to publish their lesson plans for parents to view. The version of this bill proposed in Missouri would occur all throughout public K-12 education.

State Constitution

On Jan. 24, the legislature voted to amend the Missouri constitution. U.S. News and World Report reported that the change would take 51% of the votes to amend the state constitution. This was passed in lieu of Missouri voters passed a Medicaid expansion in 2021.

Written by Brianne Tremper Photos courtesy of MO.House.Gov

In Person German Classes End

TZobrist brings an end to the German program with it. After this school year, German I and II will be solely available online, and upper-level German classes III, IV and V will no longer be offered, in person or online.

Zobrist said she understood the demand for German classes was lower than other languages but wished that a new teacher would have been found.

“In middle-America, the propensity to be able to speak another language is Spanish more than it would be German,” Zobrist said.

Zobrist’s years of language learning and experience abroad helped her become fluent in the language. Zobrist studied abroad three times for a year each in Bavaria, Düsseldorf and Mainz.

Zobrist said she valued the way teaching the language kept her connected not only to students but also to Germany.

“What I love about teaching any foreign language is the carry over that we have year after year,” Zobrist said. “If they keep going, you really get to know the students. I get to keep them for four years. One of my best friends in Germany is a former student.”

Zobrist isn’t the only one with ties to the country. For sophomore Matteo Neuburger the language mattered to him as it was connected to his roots.

“There’s relatives in Germany, and that’s where I grew up,” Neuburger said. “I moved here when I was 7. I did German because I have family and ties to it.”

The continuity of the program was something that would be lost. Students that hoped to advance in the program wouldn't have the same opportunities as students in other language programs at the school. German I students will have an online learning option for their second year but no in-person classes.

Freshman Raegan Proudfit, a current German I student, planned to take the class virtually next year. Proudfit said she believed that would negatively impact her proficiency.

“It’s definitely going to be harder to learn through a computer,” Proudfit said. “Mrs. Zobrist said we could call her if we needed her, so that should be helpful.”

Zobrist said German is a difficult language, but she saw noticeable effort from her students.

“I’ve been very fortunate,” Zobrist said. “They’re so smart, the kids that take German; it's kind of a higher echelon.”

Students hoping to pursue upper-level German will not have access to the college credit classes, though that will not deter some from continuing to learn the language. Freshman Eli Robinson was in German IV and would be unable to continue German at the school.

Robinson said that though the school wouldn’t offer further German education, that wouldn’t stop him from pursuing fluency in it. Robinson was in a program online through a college.

“I’m going to continue to learn it outside of school,” Robinson said. “With the program, and my sister speaks German fluently, so I’m going to practice with her.”

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