Speakers in the Classroom and at School Functions
The Board encourages the use of outside speakers when the speaker’s program is educationally sound, consistent with the curriculum, and follows Charter School policies and procedures.
Speakers may only be invited with an Executive Director or designee’s approval. If the subject is controversial the Executive Director or designee may also decide to engage speakers for both sides of the issue(s). In no instance shall a speaker who is known to advocate unconstitutional or illegal acts or procedures be permitted to address the students. Parents will be given the option to remove their student from certain discussions, and an alternative assignment will be given if the speaker is to address a classroom.
Controversial Speakers
The Board recognizes that visiting speakers may address controversial topics. If they are prohibited from speaking because of their points of view, academic freedom is endangered. Students need to examine issues upon which there is disagreement and to practice analyzing problems, gathering and organizing facts, discriminating between facts and opinions, discussing differing viewpoints and drawing tentative conclusions. The Board also recognizes that many topics are not suitable for younger or less mature students. When correctly handled, the use of controversial speakers becomes an invaluable component in accomplishing the goals of citizenship education. However, this places a serious responsibility on the professional staff members to correctly structure the learning situation involving a speaker.
Policy History:
Adopted on: June 14, 2021
Revised on:
Reviewed on: