Amy Circosta
Director of Harassment Prevention & Equity Programs
Location & Hours
1 Holladay Hall
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Monday - Friday
Mailing Address
Campus Box 7530
Raleigh, NC
27695-7530
Phone Numbers
Voice: 919-513-1234
Fax: 919-513-1428
TTY: 919-515-9617
Email
amy_circosta
@ncsu.edu |
Suggestions
for How to Handle Controversy within the Classroom
- Include
in your syllabus a statement regarding the need for respectful
and conscientious dialogue in class.
- On
the first day of class, discuss any potential topics that may
cause strong feelings or emotions, and discuss the pedagogical
value of discussing these issues while supporting the need
for
respectful debate.
- Address
inappropriate comments in a way that encourages respect and
thoughtful debate among students. Remember: silence may indicate
that you condone what was said.
- Make
the comment(s) a teachable moment for the class.
- After
class, talk with the students involved in the verbal exchange.
- Keep
in mind issues of free speech and how these relate to discussions
in class. Note: While Federal civil rights laws
are
intended to protect students from discrimination, these
laws are not meant to regulate the content of speech. The Office
for Civil
Rights is sensitive to First Amendment concerns that may
arise in the course of addressing racial harassment complaints
and
takes special care to avoid actions that would impair the
First Amendment
rights of an institution's students and employees.
- Be
aware of your own behavior and language when teaching class;
you are a role model for your students and they learn by
not only what you teach but also the behavior and actions you
exhibit.
Consider the First Amendment and Freedom of Speech
When regulating the conduct of students and teachers to prevent
or address discrimination, a school must formulate, interpret,
and apply its rules so as to protect constitutional rights. In
cases of alleged harassment, the protections of the First Amendment
must be considered if issues of speech or expression are involved.
Federal civil rights laws are intended to protect students from
discrimination, not to regulate the content of speech.
Whether or not speech or expression that is alleged to constitute
harassment is protected by the First Amendment will generally depend
upon the facts and context involved, including the type and timing
of the speech, the nature of the forum in which the speech takes
place, and the educational level and age of the students involved.
Most First Amendment questions do not have stock solutions. Resolving
situations in which First Amendment questions arise requires careful
weighing of all of the factual and legal considerations. OCR's
Sexual Harassment Guidance, in particular, contains an analysis
of the interplay of the protections of the First Amendment and
the federal prohibition of harassment.
Schools should consult legal counsel if First Amendment concerns
arise in the course of implementing the district's policy. To avoid
potential conflicts with the First Amendment, make sure that training
of administrators and staff includes First Amendment issues, that
administrators and teachers know whom to consult about such issues,
and that the district's regular student disciplinary policies are
consistently enforced. Good training programs to sensitize students
and staff to the harmful effects of thoughtless behavior will avoid
many problems. A district's anti-harassment policy may contain
a reminder to administrators and staff to apply the policy in a
manner that complies with the First Amendment.
Source: Protecting
Students from Harassment and Hate Crime: A Guide for Schools; January 1999; Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Compiled
by: Dr. Rhonda Sutton
North Carolina State University |
