When an issue is so contentious that teachers have parents on both sides of the issue trying to influence curriculum, it can make the topic more “time-consuming” to teach, according to biology and IB Environmental Systems and Studies teacher Barbara Brown.
The biology curriculum dealing with evolution has resulted in response from students and parents both for and against its inclusion, Brown said. When a student in her class argued with her over evolution, she said it became difficult “to have to research the exact experiments, exact data.”
Brown also said a parent once asked her not to allow “a vocal minority” to change the evolution teachings.
“If you’re religious, it’s not like you have to believe in it; it’s just another point of view,” sophomore Emily Buzek said.
As to her global warming curriculum, Brown said she has “not really had complaints.”
Health classes also faced reactions from parents who found the Family Life Education to be inappropriate or too contraception-based, although, because of the class’s opt-out option, parents have chosen to opt out their student rather than challenge the curriculum.
“I’ve never had any problems,” Health and PE teacher Noel Klippenstein said. “I’ve had questions.”
Klippenstein said that around one student a year in her class and around four to five Marshall students overall opt out of the Family Life Education each year. “Parents have been very supportive,” she said.
The Virginia curriculum requires health teachers to emphasize abstinence as the only method of birth control that will always prevent pregnancy. “You might get different emphasis in different states,” Klippenstein said, depending on how the state treats health curriculum.
“I think [having to emphasize abstinence] makes things easier,” Klippenstein said. “It prevents error.”
Klippenstein noted that the accessibility of the sex and reproductive health curriculum made it easier for parents, since they can access the materials by contacting any health teacher, librarian or an online resource.
According to sophomore Georgia Griggs, parents should be able to change school science and health curriculums “to a certain extent, because they fund the school.”