Rep. Larry Lockman is at it again.  After sponsoring an anti-immigration bill during the last legislative session (Sun Journal June 1, 2017), his latest effort to sow division in this state is to target the teachers (Sun Journal, Feb. 20).

The proposed bill to “prevent public school educators from pushing their own political, ideological or religious view onto students” is taking a page out of the Donald Trump playbook. That bill is in lock-step with Trump Jr., who recently gave a speech in El Paso urging the crowd there to “bring it to your schools,” and “you don’t have to be indoctrinated by these loser teachers that are trying to sell you on socialism from birth.”

I have been a teacher for more than 30 years, and every single teacher I know is in the profession because they care  about children. They want to give their best so their students can grow up to be responsible, good people. Suggesting that teachers have another motive is sinister.

History has taught us that one of the first groups an authoritarian regime targets is teachers. Smart, caring, independent thinkers who want to inspire creativity and compassion in others are a threat to those who want to become dictators.

People would be wise to review history as they watch one Maine legislator follow the playbook of authoritarianism.

Mary Hobson, Topsham