I'm a graduate of FCPS, and I am studying to be a teacher. This amendment should be rejected. It is vague, and quite frankly, the vagueness makes it all that more dangerous. What content is "controversial?" How will that label be applied?

It is the job of the parents to instill values into their children, and it is the job of the teacher to teach things. Some of those things may be uncomfortable. That's a fact of life: uncomfortable stuff happens. Then those values have to be applied to these subjects. But it is not the job of just a few to decide that something uncomfortable to be removed for everyone.

And where will the line be drawn on keeping these "controversial"... i.e. uncomfortable... subjects out of the school? When one parent complains? Two? Three?

And by banning "controversial" topics, are we telling our kids that we shouldn't discuss these things, ever? How long until one of these controversial, now banned items becomes something that a student needs to discuss? Do we tell them there is no place to turn, or something they feel needs to be banned?

I ask that we reject this. I ask that we pay close attention to the messages we are sending their kids. I am asking that those that have not studied to be teachers do not make these important decisions based on what makes them feel "icky".