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CONTROVERSIAL
SUBJECTS
Selection and Adoption of Materials
- Refer to Board Policy
EFA(Local)
Teachers should use the following
criteria for determining the appropriateness of certain issues for
consideration as a part of the curriculum.
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A teacher who is in doubt
concerning the advisability of discussing certain issues in the classroom
should confer with the principal as to the appropriateness of doing so.
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In discussing controversial
issues, the teacher should keep in mind that the classroom is a forum and
not a committee for producing resolutions or dogmatic pronouncements.
The class should feel no responsibility for reaching an agreement.
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It is the teacher's
responsibility to bring out the facts concerning controversial questions.
The teacher has the right to express opinions, but in so doing, it is
important that the students understand that it is the teacher's opinion and
is not to be accepted by them as an authoritative answer.
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The issue should be current,
significant, real, and important to the student and teacher. Significant
issues are those which, in general, concern considerable numbers of people,
are related to basic principles or at the moment are under consideration by
the public, press, and radio/television.
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The considerations of the
issue should require only as much time as is needed for satisfactory study
by the class, but sufficient time should be provided to cover the issue
adequately.
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There should be study
materials and other learning aids available from which a reasonable amount
of data pertaining to all aspects of the issues should be obtained.
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The principal bears a major
responsibility for the administration and supervision of the curriculum.
The principal will utilize the curriculum staff in the selection of methods
of instruction and materials used. The principal and support staff must be
continuously aware of what is being taught in his/her school.
Treatment of the above issues should be
within the range, knowledge, and maturity of the students.
Human Sexuality Education
- Refer to Legal Reference Material EMH
and
- Board Resolution 95-96-12
No instructional materials should be used
with students that deal with human sexuality education unless they are on
the district’s approved list. When human sexuality materials will be used,
approval notice to this effect should be sent home to the parent/guardian
prior to the showing. If the parent/guardian objects to the student use of
the materials, the student should not be required to do so and be given an
alternative assignment.
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