Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Education
 
Board
State Board of Education
 
chapter
Regulations Governing Local School Boards and School Divisions [8 VAC 20 ‑ 720]
Action Amendments Regarding Use of Controversial or Sensitive Instructional Materials
Stage NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 1/15/2014
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1/15/14  3:15 pm
Commenter: Mother of 3

Being an informed parent
 

I am not a teacher in the school system, I am not a scholar in literature.  I like good books.  I am a parent of 3 young children.  I support public school education.  I support freedom of speech.  I go to church.  I trust my children's teachers know how best to encourage learning.  While I don't object to them teaching using literature that contains potentially sensitive and explicit (and I agree the definition of what is sensitive and explicit is subjective) material, I do feel that as parents we should be informed (preferably ahead of time, so we can read the material on our own and come up with our own conclusions) of what our children are learning in class, reading in books, discussing with their classmates and teachers in the classroom, as should happen in all subjects and classes they are taking.  I am undecided still as to whether there should be offered alternate materials, and alternate discussion groups, if as parents we feel the subjects are too mature for our children.  I think if we know which books they will be reading, then we read them as well, and we have our own discussions with our children at home.

CommentID: 30747