From battleground to common ground

1
From battleground to common ground

• A civic framework for addressing controversial
  issues in public schools

2
Shared Principles

• Religious liberty is an inalienable right of
  every person.
• Public schools must model the democratic process
  and constitutional principles in the development
  of policies and curricula.
• Public schools may not inculcate nor inhibit
  religion. They must be places where religion and
  religious conviction are treated with fairness
  and respect.
• Parents are recognized as having the primary
  responsibility for the upbringing of their
  children, including education.
• Civil debate, the cornerstone of a true
  democracy, is vital to the success of any effort
  to improve and reform Americas public schools.

3
Safe harbor?

• Religion in the curriculum
• Religious holidays
• Religious liberty rights of students
• Public schools and Religious communities
• The Bible and public schools
• Sexual orientation and public schools

4
How to move from battleground to common ground

• Modesto, California
• Safe schools policy

5
Where do we agree?

• Rights. Religious liberty and freedom of
  expression are inalienable rights for all.
• Responsibilities. As Americans, we have a civic
  responsibility to respect these rights for
  others, including those with whom we deeply
  disagree.
• Respect. How we debate, not only what we debate,
  is critical.

6
Strategies for addressing controversial issues
and, where possible, finding common ground

• Be pro-active
• The time to buy the fire truck is before the
  fire.
• Mustang, OK

7
Common ground task force

• Richardson, Texas
• By building relationships among people with
  opposing views, the task force builds trust and
  mutual respect

8
Civic framework

• Agree on civic ground rules and understand
  current law
• Rights, responsibilities, and respect
  principles that flow from the First Amendment

9

• Include representatives from all of the
  stakeholders
• When Americans disagree about religious or
  political questions, public schools should try
  hard to avoid taking sides. School officials
  should address the controversy openly by
  including all of the stakeholders in the effort
  to develop policies that promote fairness for all
  and practices that can be widely supported.

10
Develop comprehensive policies

• Start where there is most agreement

11
Follow through

• Keep the community informed
• Provide in-service to administrators and teachers
• Reach the classroom

12
Articles of Peace

• The rights and responsibilities of the First
  Amendment provide the civic framework within
  which we are able to debate our differences, to
  understand one another, and to forge public
  policies that serve the common good in public
  education.