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Purpose
The Board believes
that the consideration of current events has a legitimate place in the
instructional program of the schools.
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Properly introduced and conducted, the consideration
of such events can help students 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.
Definition
For purposes
of this policy, a current event is a topic:
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on which opposing points of view have been promulgated
by responsible opinion.
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likely to arouse both support and opposition in the
community.
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not expressly enumerated in the course guide as
appropriate for the course of study.
Authority
The Board will
permit the introduction and proper educational use of current events
provided that their use in the instructional program:
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is related to the instructional goals of the course
of study and level of maturity of the students.
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does not tend to indoctrinate or persuade students
to a particular point of view.
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encourages fair presentation and open-mindedness.
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is conducted in a spirit of scholarly inquiry.
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is instigated by curricular design or by the students
themselves but not by a source outside the schools.
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is not related to the employment status of the teacher
and/or other employees of the district.
When
current events have not been specified in the course guide, the Board
will permit the instructional use of only those issues which:
- have been approved
by the Superintendent and have been approved by the principal.
The
Board recognizes that some deviation from the assigned course guide
is 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, which any discussion
of current events 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.be unrelated to the goals of the district and the
appropriate course guide.
- in the discussion
of any event, 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.
Delegation
of Responsibility
The Superintendent
shall assist teaching staff members in:
- developing an
alertness to the occurrence of current events in the context of the
curriculum
- developing techniques
for the management of current events which do not stifle a spirit
of free inquiry
- obtaining prior
written approval for material liable to be considered controversial.
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