Speaker policy is a touchy subject
Teacher advocacy would be barred
A new policy for dealing with sensitive political issues and controversial speakers in the schools has drawn praise and criticism from people who were involved in the recent, furious debate over the visit of the group Wheels of Justice to Andover High School.
The policy, approved by the School Committee in draft form last month, requires subjects and speakers to be related to the curriculum, be objective in educational value, and presented in a fair and balanced manner. It further holds that teachers should not advocate for their personal views in the classroom.
Schools Superintendent Claudia Bach said the committee is still studying the policy and modifications are expected. For example, the policy could be changed to consider issues and speakers as separate subjects.
Rabbi Robert S. Goldstein of Temple Emanuel in Andover applauded the new policy. He said he opposed the Wheels of Justice visit because he feels the group unfairly criticizes Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
"It was a genuine, earnest, and honest attempt by the School Committee to come up with a good policy," he said. Though political issues often involve gray areas, the rabbi said that education must come first and that issues must be presented without one-sided advocacy.
But Sarah Wunsch, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, criticized the policy as a bad approach that borders on viewpoint discrimination. The matter of what is and is not controversial can be open to a high degree of subjectivity, she said.
"Do the opposing views always have to be offered at the same time?" said Wunsch, whose group threatened to sue the school system if Wheels of Justice were not allowed into the schools. She said such policies could have a chilling effect on teachers' academic freedom.
The new policy initially was part of a larger package of policies, but the Wheels of Justice presentation and controversy accelerated its acceptance, said Peter Anderson, Andover High School principal.
The Wheels of Justice visit on Jan. 5 quickly stirred public debate. Anderson cancel ed the original visit last year after some in the Jewish community objected to the group's description of Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
Under the threat of an ACLU lawsuit, the school district's attorney advised Anderson to allow Wheels of Justice to speak to social studies classes last month, at the invitation of the class teachers, before giving a public presentation at the school.
The school also invited Jewish leaders to speak to the social studies classes the next week. The school coordinated a separate discussion on the First Amendment.
The new draft policy on controversial issues and speakers was developed with support from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, which offers assistance in preparing policies on everything from student travel regulations to bullying.
In addition to complying with the policy, teachers are required to seek permission from school principals for classroom speakers.
Anderson said his administration would work with Bach and the School Committee to further review and update the policy.
He said it is important to balance secondary education with the sometimes controversial subjects that arise each school year. 