Handbook Highlight - Academic Responsibility/Controversial Issue

Academic Responsibility/Controversial Issue  

The exercise of academic responsibility and the effective management of controversial issues are tasks with which all staff members must deal with. In these matters, good judgment and common sense must always be practiced.  In addition, a complete policy on this subject can be found in the district policy book. No staff member is to discuss their personal religious beliefs with students.

The Board of Education recommends there should be no curtailment within the classrooms of controversial topics of local, state, national or international concern providing factual material is presented on both sides.  Following are suggested practices for the classroom teacher when controversial issues are discussed:

1. Teachers shall maintain an attitude of objectivity on controversial topics when discussing them with students. 
2. Teachers shall establish a classroom atmosphere whereby students may search for facts and judge their implications and relationships to the problem being considered.  We must teach students to be willing to take a stand on questions which citizens must decide and yet to maintain an attitude of open-mindedness toward new facts which may lead to new conclusions. 
3. Teachers shall become fully informed themselves about the various viewpoints on the problems considered in the classroom and should make certain that there is a balanced treatment of the pros and cons of a given issue.  It is felt that the trained, skilled teacher can fairly and intelligently present the research. Although resource persons, "guest speakers" may serve a purpose with the objectives of the course, care must be taken that the presentation meets the criteria as outlined here and then an emotionally charged approach does not overemphasize the presentation by the resource speaker.  Resource speaker must have prior approval of the Department Chairperson and Assistant Principal of Curriculum. (In some cases district or board approval is necessary.) The Request for Use of Guest Speakers form is available from the secretary to the assistant principal. 
4. Teachers shall encourage a spirit of mutual respect for honest and informed opinions. 
• There shall be available a variety of suitable learning materials from which students may obtain data on all aspects of the issues being studied. 
• Taking into consideration the degree of maturity of the students and their teacher to conclude a controversial issue by positive emphasis upon the American democracy and way of life. 
• Read the handbook on the Legal Rights and Responsibilities of School Personnel and Students in the Areas of Moral and Civic Education and Teaching about Religion. This is on file in the library.