Should controversial topics be discussed in school?
That is one of the topics of discussion being mulled over by the Manitowoc Public School District’s Board of Education now that students are back in classrooms.
In order to have that discussion, the Board had to define what a controversial topic is.
They define it as a “topic on which opposing points of view have been promulgated.”
These can range from political topics to social, economic, and religious discussions.
The current policy, which was adopted in 2008 states that teachers can express their own personal opinions and beliefs, but they must make it abundantly clear to the students that it is just that, an opinion.
They also cannot try to persuade students to adopt their point of view.
The discussion surrounding the proposed disallowing of these kinds of conversations has been focused on the appropriateness of classroom settings being where they are discussed.
Under the proposed new policy, students would still be able to discuss these topics with guidance counselors or other staff, just not in a classroom setting.
The Board typically meets on the second Tuesday of each month, but it is not known if the policy will be up for a vote at the next meeting.
