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| Bylaws & Policies |
2240 - CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
The Board of Education believes that the consideration of controversial issues has a legitimate place in the instructional program of the schools. Properly introduced and conducted, the consideration of such issues can help students and adult learners to learn to identify important issues, explore fully and fairly all sides of an issue, weigh carefully the values and factors involved, and develop techniques for formulating and evaluating positions.
For purposes of this policy, a controversial issue is a topic likely to arouse both support and opposition in the community; one on which opposing points of view have been promulgated by responsible opinion; one which is not expressly enumerated in the curriculum guide as appropriate for the course of study; or one which is subject to interpretation as obscene, profane, doctrinaire, or grossly inappropriate, each in relation to the level of maturity of the students/adults.
The Board will permit the introduction and proper educational use of controversial issues, provided their use in the instructional program:
| A. | is approved in the appropriate course guide; | |
| B. | is related to the instructional goals of the course of study and the level of maturity of the students; | |
| C. | does not tend to indoctrinate or persuade students/adults to a particular point of view; | |
| D. | encourages fair presentation and open-mindedness; | |
| E. | is conducted in a spirit of scholarly inquiry; | |
| F. | draws upon information and insights from the widest feasible range of resources. |
When controversial issues have not been specified in the curriculum guide, the Board will permit the instructional use of only those issues which have been approved by the Superintendent, the director, or a supervisor.
The Board recognizes that some deviation from the assigned curriculum guide is often necessary in the free exchange of the classroom. However, the Board specifies for the guidance of the Superintendent and, through administrative directive, the guidance of the staff, that any discussion of controversial issues in the classroom shall be conducted in an unprejudiced and dispassionate manner and shall not disrupt the educational process, fail to match the maturity level of students, or be unrelated to the goals of the Board and the appropriate curriculum guide.
In the discussion of any issue, a teacher may express a personal opinion, but shall identify it as such, and must not express such an opinion for the purpose of persuading students to his/her point of view.
The Board acknowledges that it may not adopt any policy or rule respecting or promoting an establishment of religion or prohibiting any student from the free, individual, and voluntary exercise or expression of the student’s religious beliefs. However, such exercise or expression may be limited to noninstructional time periods when students are free to associate.
Revised 6/12/03