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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1/14/14  9:50 am
Commenter: Katherine O'Rourke

VOTE NO -LET TEACHERS TEACH
 

Please read before voting for this -not doing so could do much harm. This policy would only prevent teachers from doing what they do best -educate. If our job was to expose students to something they already knew about or to repeat what has been done by our predecessors thousands of times then we wouldn't be living up to the high standard with which we are held to. No, our job is to give students the best education possible and sometimes that involves exposing them to things they have never heard of, controversial or not. How do we expect to prepare our children for their futures if we shelter them from the truths in this world? What good would we be doing them by limiting their teachers and their ability to make good judgment and know whether something is appropriate or not. Why limit a teacher's ability to make a lesson impactful and lasting? If you trust us enough to send your child every day to our classrooms, to place the shaping and influencing of their young minds in our hands, then why must you consider this policy? Be fair; be reasonable; be smart; this policy will only prevent good teachers from following through with engaging lessons and activities because they won't have the time to jump through hoop a, b, and c just to make it happen. Stop letting politicians come between teachers and your children. At the end of the day, we are the ones in the classrooms with them -not city hall.

CommentID: 30385