This year my son is reading “Johnny Tremain,” a classic tale of a boy coming of age during the Revolutionary War. But will my son have time to read classic books like that next year? Not if Illinois legislators have their way. A state House committee is actively considering adopting legislation mandating that every public elementary, middle and high school student read a skewed list of 42 books on race. Goodbye, “Johnny Tremain.” Hello, “Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race.”

This trend in public education toward government-imposed social activism is cause for alarm among Illinois parents on both sides of the aisle who value intellectual diversity and freedom of thought.

In February, a committee of Illinois state legislators amended statewide teaching regulations. On a party-line vote, they called on colleges and universities to train students who want to be teachers to “work actively” against certain systems in society, essentially requiring them to subscribe to a biased political ideology. Similar statewide proposals have been hotly debated in California, Minnesota and Arizona.

Illinois educators will now be expected to “explore their own intersecting identities,” implement content that “includes counternarratives to dominant culture” and to promote “student advocacy.” The most telling example of the standards was in an early draft: “Embrace and encourage progressive viewpoints and perspectives that leverage asset thinking toward traditionally marginalized populations.” Although this language was softened after alert Illinoisans pushed back, it shows the goal of the legislation. These standards essentially impose a political litmus test on teachers and the programs that prepare them for the classroom.

Just take a look at the list of mandatory reading Illinois children will be assigned. The legislation that would mandate the list, HB 0080, outlines a highly skewed 42-book list of mandatory reading for every public elementary, middle and high school student, and includes titles such as “Hood Feminism,” “How to Be an Antiracist” and “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism.” Not every book on this list reflects the critical race theory-inspired ideologies like those of included authors Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DiAngelo. But 42 books — almost 10,000 pages — on race? The reading list will dominate the curriculum.

Yet how is this landing with citizens? A recent survey of Illinois residents shows that they resoundingly reject politicizing the classroom for partisan activism by a 62% to 23% margin — including almost half of Democrats (49.6%) and nearly 7 in 10 Independents.

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It’s not just citizens who oppose this dramatic shift in scholastic priorities. Bonnie Snyder, a former school counselor and professor of developmental psychology now at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, said she hears regularly from teachers across the country who are uncomfortable with the sudden changes in their schools. Many feel their rights are being trampled, and others feel that the new commitments are not in students’ best interests. Some are even resigning from cherished careers rather than yielding to expectations that violate their core values.

Politicized trends and agendas that used to exist solely on college campuses now have seeped into most aspects of society, including our K-12 educational system. Snyder’s upcoming book, “Undoctrinate,” refers to this problem as “downward drift” that occurs when activist-minded educators exceed the traditional scope of their role in the classroom, while undermining traditional parental prerogatives regarding the education of minors. “Such heavy-handedness short circuits the thinking process and interferes with proper development,” says Snyder. “Without freedom and autonomy in the classroom, students are left to reason backwards from predictable, predetermined conclusions. This is mere memorization, not critical thinking.”

What can you do now to address these trends? Parents and caregivers, check your children’s syllabi and talk to your kids. Question teachers’ politicized content, and even opt your child out of lessons that violate your family’s values, implementing instead a balanced alternative. Connect with other concerned parents. It is easy for administrators and school boards to ignore one person. A group of 10, 20 or more is another matter. Attend school board meetings and, better yet, run for school board. And demand more from your legislators.

The character of Johnny Tremain fought against forces that subjected people to unfair taxes and laws. We must have a similar moment in public education so our children will be prepared to appreciate and defend the founding ideas of this country, as they learn them from books like “Johnny Tremain” — rather than regurgitate slanted perspectives from government-prescribed materials presented in politicized classrooms.

Beth Feeley is a mother, freelance writer and editor and leads a local citizens group, New Trier Neighbors, that educates her community on what’s happening in schools and local government.