Fighting Words
Drafted: The New Missoula Academic Freedom Policy
A look at the new academic freedom policy for Missoula schools, which aims to give teachers the freedom to "promote the growth of knowledge."By Amy Linn, 5-18-09
Below is the working draft of the proposed academic freedom policy for Missoula County public schools, otherwise known as instruction policy 2330. (To read about how these types of codes are being used in surprising anti-evolution battles across the country, click here.) The policy will be posted to the Missoula County Public Schools website after final approval, which is expected in the coming weeks.
The Board recognizes and supports Academic Freedom as necessary for an environment conducive to the free exchange of ideas and learning.
Academic Freedom is the view that if teachers are to promote the growth of knowledge, they require the freedom to teach and conduct inquiry without fear of sanction or reprisals should they present an unpopular or controversial idea.
Teachers shall help students learn to objectively and respectfully examine differences of opinion, analyze and evaluate facts and their sources, and form their own reasoned judgments about the relative value of competing perspectives.
The Board expects the teaching staff to:
1. Refrain from using one’s classroom position to promote one’s own ideology or any partisan point of view.
2. Ensure that issues presented pertain to course objectives.
3. Provide students opportunities to develop critical thinking: that is the ability to detect propaganda and to distinguish between fact, opinion and misinformation.
4. Respect one’s right to form, choose, hold, change and or express his/her opinion or belief.
5. Create an environment in which students are free to form judgments independently.
Like this story? Get more! Sign up for our free newsletters.
Comments
Add your comment below
Today's public schools address all said issues: abortion, gay rights, affirmative action and global warming. However, I'm wondering why you've lumped all of them together? If you want your children to be protected from the truth, then simply remove them from public schools; they can learn whatever you want from that at home. (Hope you don't mind giving up 12 hours a day to preparing, teaching, and then grading their work ;).)
That being said, what's the big fear here? Teachers have every responsibility to create SPACE for students to THINK. I certainly hope our students are wallowing in ignorance. It's not bliss.
So, should I shred my communist agenda lesson plans? They were so good!