Policies » Section I: Instruction » IMC: Speakers and Programs

Policy Date: 06/06/2024

CSD File: IMC
CANDIA SCHOOL DISTRICT
SPEAKERS AND PROGRAMS

A goal of education is to prepare our students to participate constructively in a democratic,
pluralistic society, a society in which many different opinions are held and differing causes are
espoused. It is important that students develop an understanding of ideas and of people who
may seem alien to them. It is also important that they develop judgement, a capacity to discern
the difference between fact and opinion, and to weigh arguments, slogans, and appeals. Books,
files, and other media are valuable for giving students exposure to many differing ideas; but for
effective learning, it is also useful to invite appropriate persons not on the district educational
staff to speak to or to meet with groups of students as part of the educational process.

The Board, in an effort to uphold the students’ freedom to learn while also recognizing
obligations which the exercise of this freedom entails, establishes the following guidelines:

1. The teacher/sponsor and the Principal are expected to exercise judgement and to investigate
fully those proposed resource persons/speaker(s).

2. Teachers/sponsors should encourage the use of resource persons/speaker(s) representing
various approaches or points of view on a given topic in order to afford the students a more
comprehensive and balanced understanding of the topic/issue.

3. The ideas presented and the resource person/speaker invited to present them will have
demonstrable relation to the curricular or co-curricular activity in which the participating
students are involved.

4. The resource person/speaker will abide by the following board regulations:

a. Prior to finalizing an invitation the guest speaker must provide in writing to the
principal a summary of what the visit will entail including: all topics to be discussed, a
description of planned student interaction, a detailed description of planned activities
or exercises, and any other pertinent information.

b. Profanity, vulgarity, and lewd comments are prohibited.

c. The teacher/sponsor responsible for inviting the resource person/speaker or any
member of the school administration, has the right and duty to interrupt or suspend
any proceedings if the conduct of the resource person/speaker is judged to be in
poor taste or endangering to the health and safety of students and staff.

This policy will be given to the resource person prior to the event.

Adopted: January 4, 2001
Reviewed: April 6, 2023
Revised: June 6, 2024