The Little Miami school board will meet Thursday to review a policy on classroom displays that has sparked community debate.
Little Miami: The school board in Ohio is gearing up for a meeting this Thursday evening. They’ll be discussing a policy that’s stirred up quite a bit of chatter in the community. This policy would require teachers to remove most posters, flags, and other displays that aren’t directly tied to their lessons.
Little Miami Local Schools has over 5,200 students. David Wallace, a board member backing the policy, mentioned at a previous meeting that teachers could still show family photos and motivational posters. However, he believes classroom materials should focus on the subject matter and not sway students on social or political issues.
Now, don’t get too excited; they won’t be voting on the policy just yet. Instead, they’ll decide whether to add it to the agenda for their next meeting in January.
There’s been a lot of pushback, too. About 800 folks have signed a petition against this policy, and around 20 people voiced their concerns at the last meeting. Wayne Lyke, the teachers’ union president, argued that this policy could harm students and teachers alike. He feels it would create a bland environment that might make students uncomfortable.
So, what exactly does the policy propose? If it gets the green light, displays across the district would be limited to just a few things. This includes the Little Miami flag, curriculum-related materials, and signs that recognize achievements. They’d also allow military branch signs and flags from foreign exchange students.
The meeting will take place at the district’s central office in Maineville at 6 p.m. If you’re interested, the next regular school board meeting is set for January 28 at 7 p.m.
