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The state Senate must reject a bill that would muzzle teachers and college professors.

The bill introduced by Senate Majority Leader Thayer Verschoor, R-Gilbert, would discipline, fine or fire educators for speaking about elections, legislation, judicial action or "a social, political or culture issue that is a matter of partisan controversy."

This bill is another in a list of proposals put forth by the Arizona Legislature that demonstrates members' penchant for trying to pass laws that are blatantly unconstitutional.

Although dressed up as a move to protect students from teachers' political views, SB1612 would have a chilling effect not only on teachers but on the educational process as a whole.

It must be defeated.

This is another purported fix for a trumped-up problem. The sponsor has produced no evidence that the problem exists.

In a story by Star reporter Daniel Scarpinato, Verschoor said, "We should be teaching students how to think, not what to think." Nobody would disagree with that, but the language of Verschoor's bill goes far beyond any semblance of helping students learn to think critically.

The bill, which would apply to instructors in Arizona public K-12 schools, charter schools, community colleges and universities, prohibits teachers from endorsing, supporting or opposing any candidate or nominee for elected or appointed public office; any local, state or federal official; any proposed or enacted local, state or federal legislation or rule; or any pending or proposed litigation or judicial action.

The bill prohibits instructors from advocating "one side of a social, political or cultural issue that is a matter of partisan controversy," but it doesn't offer any definitions.

Evolution, global warming, foreign policy, voting rights, education policy — the list of verboten topics could be endless. So loosely is the bill written that a teacher who plays devil's advocate to prod a student to think more critically and refine his or her position might be accused of breaking the law.

Verschoor's bill would discourage teachers from offering opinions in class about the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education that desegregated public schools.

Verschoor also said, "You don't need to be in a science class and have someone telling you whether Bill Clinton is or isn't a great president." However, if students are to learn about the real-life effects of environmental policy, then it's perfectly appropriate to mention Clinton or any other president. We do wonder, however, if Verschoor's outrage would reach the same intensity if the president being praised in the classroom had views closer to his own.

Blocking students — or anyone else — from exposure to points of view or subject matter they don't agree with is not the duty of educators. A good teacher helps a student see an issue from another point of view and presents information in a way that sparks critical thinking.

The First Amendment protects the right of free speech. It does not protect people from being offended or from hearing statements they disagree with.

If a student finds a teacher's behavior politically objectionable, that's a matter for the local school administration. Students and parents are not powerless. Verschoor's bill is unenforceable without a cadre of classroom police visiting schools across Arizona.

We must not allow the free discussion of ideas to become a crime, as this bill would make happen.