2331P Procedure
Procedure No. 2331P
Section: 2000 - Instruction
Controversial Issues/Guest Speakers
The following procedures will be in effect when guest speakers are being considered for use in the classroom. When a teacher believes that a guest speaker will contribute to the curriculum by helping to achieve the goals and objectives of the course, the staff member will follow the procedure set out below:
At least two weeks before the date the speaker will visit, the teacher will notify the principal whom he/she wants to invite, how the speaker’s topic will relate to the curriculum, and when the speaker will visit. Any teacher may request a waiver of the two-week notice period and any principal may grant such a waiver in order to accommodate the scheduling of a speaker on short notice. However, such a waiver shall be at the sole discretion of the principal, and the previous granting of such waivers shall not obligate any principal to grant a waiver for any future request.
If the teacher and the principal believe the guest speaker’s topic is controversial, they will develop a plan whereby the issue(s) can be presented in an objective, unbiased manner.
In the event the speaker’s topic is determined to be controversial, the teacher will notify students and parents beforehand that any student who does not wish to attend the presentation may have an alternative assignment.
Unless the principal approves otherwise, the teacher will not allow non-class members to hear the speaker.
If the principal has reason to believe that the appearance of the guest speaker would not contribute to the curriculum or would be harmful to the students, he/she may deny the appearance of the guest speaker. If the teacher disagrees with the denial, he/she may appeal to the superintendent or designee to determine whether the speaker should be allowed.
Updated: 7.2009