6:80 Teaching About Controversial Issues

Teaching About Controversial Issues

The Superintendent shall ensure that all school-sponsored presentations and discussions of controversial or sensitive topics in the instructional program, including those made by guest speakers, are:

•    Age-appropriate. Proper decorum, considering the students’ ages, should be followed.
•    Consistent with the curriculum and serve an educational purpose.
•    Informative and present a balanced view.
•    Respectful of the rights and opinions of everyone. Emotional criticisms and hurtful sarcasm should be avoided.
•    Not tolerant of profanity or slander.

The District specifically reserves its right to stop any school-sponsored activity that it determines violates this policy, is harmful to the District or the students, or violates State or federal law.

LEGAL REF.:        Garcetti v. Ceballos, 547 U.S. 410 (2006).

Mayer v. Monroe Cnty. Cmty. Sch. Corp., 474 F.3d 477 (7th Cir. 2007).

CROSS REF.:         6:40 (Curriculum Development), 6:255 (Assemblies and Ceremonies)

Last PRESS Update: May 2022

First Read: October 12, 2022

Adopted: November 9, 2022