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A goal of education is to prepare our students to participate constructively in a democratic, pluralistic society, in which many different 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, media, and other educational materials are valuable for giving students exposure to many differing ideas; but for effective learning, it is also useful to invite appropriate persons, not on the district educational staff, to speak to or to meet with groups of students as part of the educational process.

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:

• The teacher/sponsor and the building principal are expected to exercise judgment and to investigate fully those proposed resource persons about whom questions may arise.

• When appropriate, 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 and balanced understanding of the topic/issue.

   

• The ideas presented and the resource person invited to present them shall have a demonstrable relation to the curricular or co-curricular activity in which the participating students are involved.

• Prior to his or her appearance or participation, the resource person shall be given in writing, and shall agree to abide by, the following Board regulations:

  • Profanity, vulgarity and lewd comments are prohibited;

  • 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 dangerous to the health and safety of students and staff.

NHSBA Code IMC

02/95 revised as follows:

Curriculum and Instruction: 01/24/02

First Reading Coordination: 02/13/02

Second Reading and Adoption BOSC: 03/11/02