Teaching Controversial Issues: IMB-R

The teaching of controversial issues requires the recognition of responsibilities by the teacher to his students, by the principal to his school and by the school to the community.

Teachers shall adhere to the following guidelines.

1. The issue should be within the framework of the district's philosophy and program of the subject area.
2. The issue should be within the level of the students' maturity.
3. The discussion should contribute significantly to developing the skills of critical thinking and problem solving.
4. The presentation should be impartial and objective.
5. Suitable materials including facts and concepts of all aspects of the issue should be available.

Processing of Controversial Issues at Building Level

The identification of controversial issues will be done in the following manner:

1. The teacher will alert the principal to any content/material/resources that might be deemed to be controversial for this community. Identification will be based upon the policy definition and the procedure guidelines.
2. The principal will make the decision as to whether content/material resources is controversial, based upon the policy definition and the procedure guidelines.

The processing of controversial issues will be done in the following manner:

1. The teacher will make written request to the principal to include controversial matter in the course of study. The request will outline clearly:
   • objective
   • Content
   • Materials
   • Resources
2. The principal will make written response to the request, indicating approval, disapproval or request for modification.
3. If the request is approved, the teacher will draft a letter of information to parents which offers them the opportunity to request that the student not participate. The letter must be approved by the principal before it is sent to the parents.

Approved October 14, 1975 

Revised 1978 

Revised February 10, 2014 

Revised September 15, 2023