Most people agree that teachers should not be allowed to turn their classrooms into forums for their personal and political beliefs. But where is the line? Legislators in Arizona are working on a proposed law that would prohibit instructors in public schools and colleges from expressing opinions on politically contentious issues. “In any class, any issue could be discussed as long as the instructor is neutral on the issue and not telling you what your conclusion should be,” said the bill’s author. But some worry the law would discourage classroom discussions on controversial subjects, or require educators to bend over backwards to stay on politically neutral ground—for example, by presenting the argument that global warming is not real.
A version of this news article first appeared in the Web Watch blog.
