Policy 603.9 ACADEMIC FREEDOM
The board believes students should have an opportunity to reach their own decisions and beliefs about conflicting points of view. Academic freedom is the opportunity of licensed employees and students to study, investigate, present, interpret, and discuss facts and ideas relevant to the subject matter of the classroom and appropriate to and in good taste with the maturity and intellectual and emotional capacities of the students.
It is the responsibility of the teacher to refrain from advocating partisan causes, sectarian religious views, or biased positions in the classroom or through teaching methods. Teachers are not discouraged from expressing personal opinions as long as students are aware it is a personal opinion and students are allowed to reach their own conclusions independently.
It is the responsibility of the principal to ensure academic freedom is allowed but not abused in the classroom.
NOTE: This is not a mandatory policy, but it is strongly recommended. The policy and accompanying regulation reflect current law on the subject.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 280.3, .6.
Cross Reference:
502 Student Rights and Responsibilities
603 Instructional Curriculum
903.5 Distribution of Materials
Approved 9/15/97 Reviewed 10-18-17 Revised 2-23-22
