Academic freedom is essential to the fulfillment of the purposes of the Shelby County school system. Shelby County teachers will be protected from censorship or restraint which unreasonably interferes with their obligation to expose students to controversial issues and to help students express their own views on such issues.
The teacher's responsibility should be to show objectivity in the study of controversial issues. To carry out this responsibility, a teacher should be well informed in the areas being studied. It is recognized that any teacher has the right to have his or her own point of view and to express that view, but the teacher also has the responsibility to tell students that the statement is his or her view.
A public school must guard its environment from disturbing influences which might tend to inhibit learning. For this reason, individuals not involved in the teacher-learning process within the school must follow established procedures in making school contacts.