My roommate during my sophomore and junior years of college once told me that she didn’t believe you could appreciate the rest of the world if you look at what was going on in your own backyard. She was correct, of course. She was definitely the level headed one of us, and often said things like this, that I knew she had been thinking about for a long time before giving them a voice. This is one of those things she said that stuck with me over the years and for good reason.
I’m lucky enough to live in a blue state, and my city also voted blue during the 2024 election. I am fortunate enough to live now in a more open-minded community where the majority believe in equal rights and also listening to other people’s opinions rather than telling them they are wrong and these are the reasons and acting as if their opinion is the law. And I deeply appreciate that. I also appreciate that I received a brilliant education (for the most part), even though I lived in what is technically considered a village and my graduating class had one hundred students in it. However, the drama unfolding on the school board in McLean County is absolutely laughable, as someone from a small town. For context, all but two towns in McLean County are small towns. (Bloomington and Normal are the only two cities in the county and the only two towns with a population above five thousand: Bloomington has a population of 79,232, and Normal has 53,304. The next biggest township is Randolph, with a population of 4,269 as of 2024.) I was technically in a different district, but it’s interesting to see how different things are now that it’s the other sides opinion being challenged.
I grew up in a town that, by most standards, is tiny. It’s technically a village. Fiction novels, at least contemporary fiction novels, and Hallmark like to paint small towns as these adorable, quaint, loving communities where everyone looks out for each other. If you play by their rules, sure, that’s probably accurate. But if you don’t march to the tune of the high school band (even if you are in the band—I can’t march in step to save my life), you’re probably going to be alone and depressed. A lot. And you’re definitely not going to enjoy the class that my high school offered called “Consumer Education.” And while it did teach us how to balance a checkbook and fill out a resume, the rest of it was one big lecture on why Republicans and white men were definitely the best and the rest of the world was wrong. I didn’t put my hand on my heart during the Pledge of Allegiance and rarely said it, which earned me the side eye, but for the girl next to me, who refused to stand for it, she was grilled about her beliefs in front of the class. I wish I had had that confidence in my beliefs that she had back then. Today I wouldn’t hesitate, but eighteen years ago, I just was content to sit in the back of the room and completely tune them out. On a couple of occasions, I did voice my opinion and tell them they were wrong. But to say they shoved their beliefs down our throat was an understatement.
Two male teachers would take turns discussing why Hilary Clinton was a terrible person. Why the left was out to destroy America, and we were all communists. Why Barack Obama should not be president. I even remember them mocking climate change (that and the time they said women were too emotional to be in office were times I remember speaking up, they were just too obnoxious to block out on those days). Participation was part of your grade, so I had a C in the class because I only answered questions that had a factual answer, and they couldn’t twist it into a lecture. My notebook was full of doodles, and after school, I would go home, grab my iPod, and walk for miles listening to Green Day’s American Idiot, or The Clash, or Anti-Flag.
We all complained, those of us who weren’t rednecks. But no one ever did anything. We just needed to learn about other people’s opinions, seemed to be the resounding mantra. If you were on a scholastic team, it was even worse since one of the teachers was the coach, and out of the classroom, he became even more sexist and racist. But again, since the guys on the team agreed with him, there wasn’t much that we could do since no one would back us up. Just deal with it, was what other teachers said, the ones that weren’t dealing with the bullying from the rednecks because they accused the beloved quarterback of plagiarism (god forbid he be held accountable for his actions…the sarcasm ought to be dripping from the screen now). And so we did. We put up with it until we graduated, which, since this was a senior class, was not too long, thank goodness. But I really wish someone had held these teachers accountable for pushing a far-right agenda on us. It did teach me that other people have opinions and how to ignore them if they are being waved in my face…so that’s nice, I guess…
Or it was. Until I saw some headlines and statements that teachers in Normal and members of the county school board are being called on to resign or be fired because the teacher was wearing an Abolish ICE shirt, and the president of the school board referred to MAGA as a cult. If you’ve been paying attention, you can probably imagine that I agree with both of these people, but that’s not my issue here. My issue is that because the views of the people involved are not supportive of the current administration, parents want these people removed from schools or offices. I’ve read quotes that politics has no place in schools and that teachers shouldn’t be telling their students their opinions. And, yes. A resounding yes. I agree with that. But at the same time, it’s only an issue for these people now because it’s not their opinion being supported in the classroom. But…what did the students have to say? Well, guess what! They supported the teacher!
One student said, “By wearing that shirt, he is sending a message to his students that regardless of immigration status, you are a cherished member of our community and our schools, and we all belong here,” she said. “…I’d strongly recommend those who support the proposed firing of Mr. Chapman reconsider the message they’re sending by doing so. There’s a teacher shortage already. Why fire one who clearly cares about supporting his students and our community?” And this isn’t even a student who has his class.
A navy officer weighed in as well, “I know Matt to be a role model, an advocate for every player we coach. Except for the occasional referee, I have observed Matt to be one of the kindest and compassionate people I know. He genuinely cares about every player and student.”
So, what does the other side have to say? Well, at the meeting, a man (I am not making this up) named Chad Berck, represented the McLean County Republican Party…look, we already know this isn’t going to be great, so let’s get his quote out of the way:
“The McLean County Republicans strongly condemn the continuing pattern of political indoctrination, bias, and disrespect for parental values within the Unit 5 school district. Our schools exist to educate, not to propagandize, and yet we continue to see examples of left-wing ideology being encouraged, facilitated, or tolerated at every level of the district’s leadership.”
Let’s be clear. I don’t have a problem with political opinions not being allowed in schools, but these are the same people who want prayer in schools and would have no problem with their own opinions being talked about. And this is all over a t-shirt. So, what about the president of the board? Well, not surprisingly, he mentioned Charlie Kirk in a less-than-flattering light and also called MAGA a cult and ‘deplorable.’ So, what did Chad have to say about this?
“Equally alarming is the conduct of the Unit 5 school board president, who has repeatedly shown disdain for conservative parents and community members. Labeling them MAGA cultists and deplorable. Such language is unbecoming of any elected official, particularly one charged with representing all the families, regardless of their political beliefs.”
Now, yes, calling people names for their political beliefs is abhorrent…especially in an elected position. But until the Mclean County Republicans decide to show that same ire towards their fearless leader, Donald Trump, I would recommend taking a seat. Because you can’t possibly expect others to continue being bullied and not stand up for themselves. Oh…wait…but if we try, you get upset and ask to be removed from the office. Too bad we can’t do that to you. It’d be one thing if no one supported Alex Williams, the school board president. But I’m going to leave the blog with this quote from a parent at the meeting, Jade Lamar, because I think it sums it all up quite nicely:
“My objective today is to provide encouragement and support. Do not flinch at all at what is being stated by those who support all the ‘isms and the hypocrisy that is clear as day. It takes leadership courage to say things that make others uncomfortable, and the time is now to push. Silence is what leads to conformity of oppression.”
Sources
“Election Night Reporting.” Clarityelections.com, 2025, results.enr.clarityelections.com/IL/Bloomington/122759/web.345435/#/summary. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
Howell, Ben. “Students, Community Members Largely Defend Teacher at Unit 5 Meeting over “Abolish ICE” Shirt.” WGLT, 16 Oct. 2025, www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-10-16/students-community-members-largely-defend-teacher-at-unit-5-meeting-over-abolish-ice-shift. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
“McLean County, Illinois Cities (2024).” Worldpopulationreview.com, 2024, worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/illinois/mclean-county.
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