Code No. 605.1R1
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SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
I. Responsibility
for Selection of Instructional Materials
A. The board is responsible for
matters relating to the operation of the Atlantic Community School District.
B. The responsibility for the
selection of instructional materials is delegated to the professionally trained
and licensed employees of the school system. For the purpose of this rule the term "instructional
materials" includes printed and multimedia materials (not equipment),
whether considered text materials or library materials. The board retains the final authority
for the approval of textbooks.
C. While selection of materials
may involve many people including principals, teacher-librarian, students,
parents and community members, the responsibility for coordinating the
selection of most instructional materials and making the recommendation for the
purchase rests with licensed employees.
D. Responsibility for coordinating the
selection of text materials for distribution to classes will rest with the
licensed employees, principal and superintendent. For the purpose of this rule the term 'text materials'
includes textbooks and other printed and nonprinted material provided in
multiple copies for use of a total class or major segment of a class.
E. If the board appoints an ad
hoc committee to make recommendations on the selection of instructional
materials, the ad hoc committee is formed and appointed in compliance with the
board policy on Ad Hoc Committees.
1. The superintendent will inform the
committee as to their role and responsibility in the process.
2. The following statement is given to
the ad hoc committee members:
Bear in mind the principles of the freedom
to learn and to read and base your decision on these broad principles rather
than on defense of individual materials.
Freedom of inquiry is vital to education in a democracy.
Study thoroughly all materials
referred to you and read available reviews. The general acceptance of the materials should be checked by
consulting standard evaluation aids and local holdings in other schools.
Passages
or parts should not be pulled out of context. The values and faults should be weighed against each other
and the opinions based on the material as a whole.
Your report, presenting both
majority and minority opinions, will be presented by the principal to the
complainant at the conclusion of our discussion of the questioned material.
Code No. 605.1R1
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SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
II. Material
selected for use in libraries and classrooms will meet the following
guidelines:
A. Religion - Material will represent
the major religions in a factual, unbiased manner. The primary source material of the major religions is
considered appropriate, but material which advocates rather than informs, or is
designed to sway reader judgment regarding religion, will not be included in
the school libraries or classrooms.
B. Racism - Material will
present a diversity of race, custom, culture, and belief as a positive aspect
of the nation's heritage and give candid treatment to unresolved intercultural
problems, including those which involve prejudice, discrimination, and the
undesirable consequences of withholding rights, freedom, or respect of an individual.
C. Sexism - Material will
reflect sensitivity to the needs, rights, traits and aspirations of men and
women without preference or bias.
D. Age - Material will recognize the
diverse contributions of various age groups and portray the continuing
contributions of maturing members of society.
E. Ideology - Material will
present basic primary and factual information on an ideology or philosophy of
government which exerts or has exerted a strong force, either favorably or
unfavorably, over civilization or society, past or present. This material will not be selected with
the intention to sway reader judgment and is related to the maturity level of
the intended audience.
F. Profanity and Sex - Material
is subjected to a test of literary merit and reality by the teacher-librarians
and licensed staff who will take into consideration their reading of public and
community standards of morality.
G. Controversial issues
materials will be directed toward maintaining a balanced collection
representing various views.
The
selection decision should be made on the basis of whether the material presents
an accurate representation of society and culture, whether the circumstances
depicted are realistically portrayed, or whether the material has literary or social
value when the material is viewed as a whole.
These
guidelines will not be construed in such a manner as to preclude materials
which accurately represent the customs, morals, manners, culture, or society of
a different time or a different place.
III. Procedure
for Selection
A. Material
purchased for libraries and classrooms is recommended for purchase by licensed
employees, in consultation with administrative staff, school library staff,
students or an ad hoc committee as appointed by the board. The material recommended for purchase is
approved by the appropriate building administrator.
Code No. 605.1R1
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SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
1. The
materials selected will support stated objectives and goals of the school
district. Specifically, the goals
are:
a. To acquire materials
and provide service consistent with the demands of the curriculum;
b. To develop students'
skills and resourcefulness in the use of libraries and learning resources;
c. To effectively guide and
counsel students in the selection and use of materials and libraries;
d. To foster in students a
wide range of significant interests;
e. To provide
opportunities for aesthetic experiences and development of an appreciation of
the fine arts;
f. To provide
materials to motivate students to examine their own attitudes and behaviors and
to comprehend their own duties and responsibilities as citizens in a
pluralistic democracy;
g. To encourage life-long
education through the use of the library; and,
h. To work cooperatively
and constructively with the instructional and administrative staff in the
school.
2. Materials
selected is consistent with stated principles of selection. These principles are:
a. To select material,
within established standards, which will meet the goals and objectives of the
school district;
b. To consider the
educational characteristics of the community in the selection of materials
within a given category;
c. To present the sexual,
racial, religious and ethnic groups in the community by:
1. Portraying people, both men and
women, adults and children, whatever their ethnic, religious or social class
identity, as human and recognizable, displaying a familiar range of emotions,
both negative and positive.
2. Placing no constraints on
individual aspirations and opportunity.
3. Giving comprehensive, accurate, and
balanced representation to minority groups and women - in art and science,
history and literature, and in all other fields of life and culture.
4. Providing abundant recognition of
minority groups and women by showing them frequently in positions of leadership
and authority.
d. To intelligently,
quickly, and effectively anticipate and meet needs through awareness of
subjects of local, national and international interest and significance; and,
e. To strive for
impartiality in the selection process.
3. The
materials selected will meet stated selection criteria. These criteria are:
a. Authority-Author's
qualifications - education, experience, and previously published works;
b. Reliability:
1. Accuracy-meaningful
organization and emphasis on content, meets the material's goals and
objectives, and presents authoritative and realistic factual material.
Code No. 605.1R1
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SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
2. Current-presentation of
content which is consistent with the finding of recent and authoritative
research.
c. Treatment of
subject-shows an objective reflection for the multi-ethnic character and cultural
diversity of society.
d. Language:
1. Vocabulary:
a. Does not indicate bias by the use
of words which may result in negative value judgments about groups of people;
b. Does not use "man" or
similar limiting word usage in generalization or ambiguities which may cause
women to feel excluded or dehumanized.
2. Compatible to the reading level of
the student for whom it is intended.
e. Format:
1. Book
a. Adequate and accurate index;
b. Paper of good quality and color;
c. Print adequate and well spaced;
d. Adequate margins;
e. Firmly bound; and,
f.
Cost.
2. Nonbook
a. Flexibility, adaptability;
b. Curricular orientation of
significant interest to students;
c. Appropriate for audience;
d. Accurate authoritative
presentation;
e. Good production qualities
(fidelity, aesthetically adequate);
f. Durability; and,
g. Cost.
3. Illustrations of book and nonbook
materials should:
a. Depict instances of fully
integrated grouping and settings to indicate equal status and nonsegregated
social relationships.
b. Make clearly apparent the identity
of minorities;
c. Contain pertinent and effective
illustrations;
4. Flexible to enable the teacher to
use parts at a time and not follow a comprehensive instructional program on a
rigid frame of reference.
f. Special
Features:
1. Bibliographies.
2. Glossary.
3. Current charts, maps, etc.
4. Visual aids.
5. Index.
6. Special activities to stimulate and
challenge students.
7. Provide a variety of learning
skills.
g. Potential
use:
1. Will it meet the requirement of
reference work?
2. Will it help students with personal
problems and adjustments?
3. Will it serve as a source of information
for teachers and librarians?
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SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
4. Does it offer an
understanding of cultures other than the student's own and is it free of
racial, religious, age, disability, ethnic, and sexual stereotypes?
5. Will
it expand students' sphere of understanding and help them to understand the
ideas and beliefs of others?
6. Will
it help students and teachers keep abreast of and understand current events?
7. Will it foster and
develop hobbies and special interest?
8.
Will it help develop aesthetic tastes
and appreciation?
9. Will it serve the needs
of students with special needs?
10. Does it inspire learning?
11. Is it relevant to the subject?
12. Will it stimulate a student's
interest?
4. Gifts of
library or instructional materials may be accepted if the gift meets existing
criteria for library and instructional materials. The acceptance and placement of such gifts is within the
discretion of the board.
5. In order to
provide a current, highly usable collection of materials, teacher-librarians
will ensure constant and continuing renewal of the collection, not only the
addition of up-to-date materials, but by the judicious elimination of materials
which no longer meet school district needs or find use. The process of weeding instructional
materials will be done according to established and accepted standards for
determining the relevance and value of materials in a given context.