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  9:02 pm
Commenter: Cindy Harris

Reject
 

The word "sensitive" is too subjective for this amendment to pass.  In an age where parents receive more information than ever concerning curriculum in classrooms, whether it be My Big Campus, teacher webpages, course outlines, parent/teacher conferences etc., the parents are aware and notified, as are the local administrators, of the content in the classrooms.  Communication should be encouraged between the teacher and parent and discussion should ensue in that arena. Additionally, teachers and administrators should have autonomy, based on their emursion in the educational system to determine what will engage and educate the students. Common Core is already ruining "teaching opportunities" in the classroom and therefore, the last thing we need is more structured and dictated components to the classroom.  We need to teach children to think, not to fit like a square pegs in round circles.  The socioeconomic variances across the state are too broad and diverse for the state to decide what is and isn't  too "sensitive" state-wide.  What works in one place, may not be the least bit effective in another locality.   Let teachers discover their students personalities, their reading and interest levels, coupled with the academic needs, and prepare the students for that which they will need to find success in "real life;" college, work force and the like. 

CommentID: 30861