LAUREL SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Controversial Issues                                                                                                                                          Policy #6144

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Any discussion of controversial issues in the classroom shall be conducted in an unprejudiced and dispassionate manner designed to foster a spirit of inquiry. Such discussion shall not:

A.            Disrupt the educational process;

B.            Fail to match the maturity level of the pupils;

C.            Be unrelated to the goals of the board and the appropriate curriculum guide;

D.            Present any one opinion as definitive.

If teachers wish to supplement the course guide with material that may be of a controversial nature, i.e., subject to interpretation as obscene, profane, doctrinaire or inappropriate, each in relation to the maturity level of the class, they should review the material with the building principal first. In doubtful cases, the chief school administrator may present the matter for board consideration.

In determining speakers to be invited for a class or schoolwide program, the building principal must consider whether:

A.            The speaker is controversial for any reason;

B.            The topic is controversial, or sensitive, or known to arouse strong community feelings;

C.            The proposed speaker would gain an advantage by having a captive audience.

First Reading:   February 2008

Legal References:               N.J.S.A. 18A:11-1 General mandatory powers and duties

                                                N.J.S.A. 18A:54-20               Powers of board (co. vocational schools)

                                                N.J.A.C. 6:8-2.1(a)4i             State educational goals