1.  The Board of Education recognizes each student's right to study controversial issues and concerns that have political, economic, or social significance for which they should  begin to form opinions.

2.  The Board of Education defines high quality textbooks as those which: present the subject matter in the most effective manner consistent with the Board's philosophy of education; promote pride, confidence, and trust in democratic principles; refrain from partisan presentation of controversial issues; are neither sexist nor racist in content or implications; are interesting, appropriately illustrated; are current and appropriate for grade level of student.

3.  The Board of Education recognizes the right that parents or guardians have in the selection of reading materials and they can request that their child not be given certain material.

4.  The Board of Education denies the right of any parent or group of parents to determine what materials may be used for students other than their own. (The Board retains the right to make final determination of the most appropriate materials to be acquired for school use.)

5.  The Board of Education assumes that "The right to read, like all other rights guaranteed or implied within our constitutional tradition, can be used wisely or foolishly. In many ways education is an effort to improve the quality of choices open to people. But to deny the freedom of choice in fear that it may be unwisely used is to destroy that freedom itself . . . The right of any individual not just to read but to read whatever he or she wants to read is basic to a democratic society. This right is based on an assumption that the educated and reading person possesses judgment and understanding and can be trusted with the determination of his or her own actions . . . In selecting books for your people (professional personnel) consider the contribution which each work may make to the education of the reader, its aesthetic value, its honesty, its readability for a particular group of students, and its appeal. . ." (Based on "Students' Right to Read" by National Council of Teachers of English.)  See the form “Treatment of Controversial Material” in the appendix of this manual.

4513 - Library Materials Selection