NORTH SANPETE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Creating Conditions for Learning So All Students Can Succeed

NORTH SANPETE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Creating Conditions for Learning So All Students Can Succeed

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VI-23: Controversial Speakers


North Sanpete School District
Statement of ............. 

Board Policy with Guidelines

Policy Number: VI-23
Effective Date: 12/16/1982
Revised Date:


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Subject:  Controversial Speakers


DISTRICT POLICY


The Board holds that freedom to learn is no less a desirable freedom than freedom of speech, press, and assembly. One goal of education is to prepare our students to participate constructively in a democratic, pluralistic society, a society in which many differing opinions are held and differing causes are espoused. It is important that students develop an understanding of ideas and of people who may seem alien to them. It is also important that they develop judgment, a capacity to discern the difference between fact and opinion, and to weigh arguments, slogans, and appeals. Books, films, and other media are valuable for giving students exposure to many differing ideas; but for effective learning it is also useful to invite appropriate persons to speak to or to meet with groups of students as part of the educational process.


GUIDELINES


No overall standard can be established which will automatically separate and exclude as a resource the person whose views or manner of presenting them may actually obstruct the educational process or endanger the health and safety of students or staff. However, the Board, in an effort to uphold the students' freedom to learn while also recognizing obligations which the exercise of this freedom entails, establishes the following guidelines:

  1. The teacher/sponsor and school building administrator are expected to exercise judgment and to investigate fully those proposed resource persons to whom questions may arise.
  2. Teachers/sponsors should encourage the use of resource persons representing various approaches or points of view on a given topic in order to afford the students a more comprehensive understanding of it.
  3. An appropriate record shall be made of each resource person utilized and of his or her presentation.
  4. The ideas presented and the resource person invited to present them shall have a demonstrable relation to the curriculum or co curricular activity in which the participating students are involved.
  5. Prior to his/her appearance or participation, the resource person shall be given, in writing, and shall agree to abide by the following Board regulations:
  6. Profanity, vulgarity, and lewd comments are prohibited;
  7. Smoking is not permitted while speaking or consulting with students;
  8. The teacher/sponsor' responsible for inviting the resource person, or any member of the school administration, has the right and duty to interrupt or suspend any proceedings if the conduct of the resource person is judged to be in poor taste or endangering to the health and safety of students and staff.


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