DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
OFFICE OF SCHOOLS
DN/07/00004
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES IN SCHOOLS POLICY
IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES
Guidelines on this issue were forwarded to Secondary Schools in 1977. In
February 1983 the policy statement was revised and forwarded to Principals of
all schools for information and appropriate action. The document was further
revised in 2005 to take account of changed security circumstances.
1. RATIONALE
1.1 In former times there was a fairly clearly defined relationship between the
home and the school. Parents and teachers held clear and generally common
expectations of each other’s task and there was a social consensus that some
topics would be excluded from being taught at school.
1.2 That situation has changed. Parents now hold quite diverse views on the
function of a school. Schools have come to be required to deal not only with
matters of fact but also with a wide range of learning outcomes as well as
attitudes, values and beliefs and, increasingly in recent years, with personal
morality and ethical issues. Teachers and students increasingly face changing,
complex, societal situations which are less clearly defined.
1.3 Schools are required to acknowledge the great range of views held by
parents about what is suitable for study at school, and schools should ensure
that these views are taken into account in designing suitable learning programs.
Some matters will be considered controversial by some parents, and this policy is
designed to assist schools in making professional and considered judgments on
such matters.
1.4 In this context, it is important for schools to protect and foster practices which
have implications for the rights of teachers and students and parents.
Nonetheless, at appropriate levels, the study of controversial issues may be seen
as a valuable and significant part of the educational process.
1.5 Teaching approaches need to be sensitive, objective and balanced where
controversial issues are considered by the school to have curriculum relevance.
2. BASIC PRINCIPLES
2.1 Consideration of controversial issues in schools, whether by the use of
teaching and learning material or by way of views expressed by teachers or
visiting speakers, should be in accord with the following basic principles:
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Controversial Issues in Schools Policy PD20020045
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1. Schools are neutral grounds for rational discourse and objective study.
They are not arenas for opposing political views or ideologies.
2. Schools are places where students are preparing for informed and
reasoned involvement in community life, including its politics, by calm and cooperative study of social issues. Schools are not places for recruiting into
partisan groups.
3. The school’s educational policies and programs are developed within a
statewide framework of values and systemic objectives. They also reflect
local needs and aspirations. They guide the delivery of teaching and learning
experiences within the school. Discussion of controversial issues is
acceptable only when it clearly serves the educative purpose and is
consistent with curriculum objectives. Such discussion is not intended to
advance the interest of any group, political or otherwise.
4. Teachers and visiting resource persons in schools have a privileged
position. They have the opportunity, denied to many other concerned people,
to influence students. They therefore have a special responsibility to maintain
objectivity, to avoid distortion of discussions, and to acknowledge the right of
students and parents to hold a different viewpoint.
5. The school, through the principal, is accountable for that part of the
educative process which it initiates, or which is conducted in school time. The
school cannot transfer its accountability, wholly or in part, to people from
outside the school, including the publishers of teaching and learning material
used in the school or presented to students undertaking school excursions.
6. The diversity of visiting speakers who have cause to visit schools requires
the observance by schools of protocols specific to the occasion and the public
position of the visitor.
3. IMPLEMENTATION
3.1 Expression of teacher opinion in class discussion
3.11 In discussions of controversial issues, the teacher should ensure that
opinions are expressed and evidence is presented impartially. The teacher is not
committed to unnatural neutrality but rather to preserving objectivity and avoiding
special advocacy. The teacher’s personal view should not intrude.
3.12 There will be occasions, however, when a statement of the teacher’s views
may be necessary to help students formulate their own views or to answer a
request from students when such a request is relevant to the discussion. In such
situations, the teacher’s statement should be balanced and restrained and
presented as one opinion to be considered critically along with any others.
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Controversial Issues in Schools Policy PD20020045
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3.2 Student Activities
3.21 Student activities, including public affairs clubs, devoted to consideration of
political or other controversial issues are acceptable within schools but partisan
groups organised on restricted party lines are not acceptable. The proceedings of
such activities must be in harmony with this policy.
3.3 Visiting Speakers*
[Note* ‘visiting speakers’ do not include visiting teachers of Special Religious
Education (SRE) (See DET Policy on Religious Education)]
3.31 The introduction into a school of speakers on controversial issues or the
study of controversial material can itself generate controversy and
misunderstanding. It is therefore essential to maintain communication between
the school and the parents in relation to the school’s educational program and
the principles on which it is based. The school has a responsibility to inform
parents, prior to the occasion, of the specific details of the program, so that the
parents have time to exercise their rights of withdrawing their child from a
particular session or sessions on certain controversial issues. In this regard, a
parent’s wish must be respected.
3.32 Visiting speakers must be made aware of this policy and its implications in
terms of the school’s aims and methods. They may be provided with a copy or
referred to the DET and school websites. They should be prepared to respect the
privilege accorded them and to acknowledge the rights of the school, its students
and their parents. If visiting speakers will not guarantee to respect this policy,
access to the students must be declined.
3.33 The Principal’s approval is required for the engagement of any visitor or
visiting speaker to present to students of the school. It is implicit in the approval
that the Principal will have ascertained the broad scope of content of the
proposed address and that action will be taken to ensure that the speaker does
not transgress the spirit of this policy on the consideration of controversial issues.
Where individuals or organisations breach their agreements with the principal on
the presentation of controversial issues, the Regional Director is to be informed,
via the School Education Director, as a matter of urgency.
3.34 Generally the initiative for the engagement of speakers or the introduction of
controversial material presenting a particular viewpoint must come from the
school in accordance with its education program and not from partisan or
pressure groups seeking to use the school as a forum to advance their causes. If
a scheme, initiated outside the school, is presented to the Principal, the Principal
will exercise discretion within the framework of this policy. Speakers addressing
students on controversial matters in school time should therefore do so only in
circumstances where these matters form part of a program organised by the
school and controlled by a teacher.
Director, School and Regional Policy, DET Office of Schools (02) 9561 8514
Controversial Issues in Schools Policy PD20020045
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3.35 A member of the school’s teaching staff will be present at, and will
supervise, all presentations to students by visiting speakers. Such presentations
should be planned so as to leave ample time for questions and comments by
students.
3.36 The school should ensure a balanced and reasonable consideration of
various viewpoints and to this end it should observe a balanced presentation,
both in relation to views presented by speakers and expressed in material to be
studied. It is the Principal’s responsibility to determine where this balance rests.
3.4 Official Visitors at School Functions
3.41 Visits to schools by politicians, while welcome, can attract controversy.
There are, therefore, protocols that must be observed in schools which are
specific to particular occasions, as well as the role played by the politician in
federal, state and local government.
3.42 Local Members of Parliament (both State and Federal) take an active
interest in schools in their electorates. This interest often results in a small
number of visits to each school throughout the year. These visits may be formal
or informal but should occur with the full knowledge of the Principal and at
mutually agreed times. Local members of Parliament, whether in the Government
or Opposition, should be warmly welcomed by the schools within their
electorates.
3.43 Other Members of State or Federal Parliament (or candidates for political
office) wishing to visit schools should make arrangements to do so through the
Minister’s Office. Principals should ensure their School Education Director is
notified immediately of any proposed visit.
3.44 Speech/Presentation Days are viewed as local celebrations to which
Members of Parliament may be invited without the requirement to inform the
Minister’s Office.
3.45 Federal Members of Parliament traditionally visit schools on behalf of the
Federal Government to present, upon request, an Australian flag. A similar
arrangement exists in respect of State Members distributing the State flag to
schools. These visits are welcome provided they are at the invitation of the
Principal and at a mutually convenient time.
3.46 For more detail on official visits to schools, see the “Your school events”
section of the School Promotions webpage on the DET Intranet.
Director, School and Regional Policy, DET Office of Schools (02) 9561 8514
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3.5 Use of Videos, Literature or other materials
3.51 The presentation of films, videos and DVDs to students, particularly material
classified as age restricted, can be, of itself, controversial.
3.52 Material classified as R 18+ is not to be shown to school students under any
circumstances.
3.53 Material classified as M and M 15+ may be shown to some students in
some circumstances. For details see Audiovisual Material in Schools –
Procedures for Use.
3.6 Previewing of material to be used by visiting speakers
3.61 In the context of visiting speakers, any literature, audio/visual product or
other materials requires the approval of the Principal, prior to presentation, in the
form in which it is to be presented to students. In the case of a film, the Principal
may delegate the task of previewing the product to an appropriate member of the
teaching staff who is then responsible for advising the Principal as to its suitability
and acceptability.
3.7 Distribution of contentious material
3.71 Under no circumstances are contemporary party political publications or
industrial notices containing material of a political nature to be distributed to
students at school.
3.72 The study of formerly published political and industrial material in an
historical context and as part of the curriculum is not prevented by 3.71 above.
3.73 Distribution of material makes the school, in law, a publisher answerable for
the views expressed. Principals should take this into account before approving
the distribution of material to students.
3.8 Security Risks
3.81 Organisations which are proscribed by the Commonwealth Government for
national security purposes as terrorist organisations are not to be given access to
school students or facilities. For a list of such organisations see the Australian
National Security website.
3.82 Where there is some doubt as to the suitability and background of proposed
presenters or special interest groups requesting to present to students inquiries
should not be limited to the person or group alone. In the first instance principals
should conduct some independent research (e.g. an Internet search). The
Director of Safety and Security should be contacted where principals have safety
Director, School and Regional Policy, DET Office of Schools (02) 9561 8514
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concerns. A confidential background check can then be carried out to assist
Principals in their decision making.
3.9 Child Protection
3.91 Consistent with procedures relating to the welfare of students engaged in
activities conducted under the auspices of the school, staff members arranging
for the engagement of visiting speakers or for visitors to work with students
should give consideration to any child protection risks and consult the
Employment Screening Unit if necessary.
3.10 Dissemination of this policy
3.101 It is the responsibility of the Principal of the school to ensure that staff
members are familiar with the substance of this policy; that parents are made
aware of its implications, and, where appropriate, are consulted with regard to
the participation of their children in programs dealing with controversial issues.
Trevor Fletcher
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SCHOOLS
2 December 2009
Director, School and Regional Policy, DET Office of Schools (02) 9561 8514
Controversial Issues in Schools Policy PD20020045
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