GUIDELINES FOR SELECTION
A.
In selecting instructional materials, the staff will rely on educational research, reason, and professional judgment. Instructional
materials selected will include, but are not limited to those which:
1.
Enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the various
instructional needs, abilities, and maturity levels of the students served.
2.
Stimulate growth in conceptual thinking, factual knowledge, physical fitness
and the development of ethical and literary standards.
3.
Provide for the elimination of gender and protected class bias in all textbooks
and instructional materials.
4.
Contribute to the development of an understanding of the ethnic, cultural,
and occupational diversity of American life.
5.
Provide sufficient variety as well as opposing views of controversial issues
in order that young citizens may develop the sills of critical analysis and
informed decision-making.
6.
Present objectively the concerns of racial, ethnic, religious and cultural
groups, those that are historic, current and without gender bias, with
the understanding that under certain conditions, prejudiced materials may
represent appropriate resources in presenting contrasting and differing
points of view.
7.
Provide models which may be uses as a vehicle for the development of self-respect,
ethnic pride and appreciation of cultural differences, based on respect
for worth, dignity, and the personal values of every individual.
B.
Although extreme care is taken in the selection of materials, there may be,
on occasion, some objection to certain selections that have been made.
If this happens, the following procedures will be followed:
1.
Those individuals who wish to make a complaint about material in a school
library media center and/or classroom can arrange a conference with the
building principal and appropriate school staff.
2.
If the concerns are not resolved at the first conference the individual can
register his/her specific concerns in writing on the form provided by the Somerset
County Public Schools (Citizen's Request for Reconsideration of Material) and
submit it to the school principal.
3.
Appropriate staff personnel, parents, representatives from the review
committee and the principal will arrange a second conference with the individual
and attempt to resolve the complaint. Each committee member will
read, view, or listen to the material in question in its entirety, and
read professional evaluations pertaining to the material. The principal
will arrange a second conference with the individual and attempt to
resolve the complaint.
4.
If the complaint cannot be resolved at this level, a copy of the review,
along with the actions taken at this level, will be sent to the Superintendent
of Schools.
5.
At this point, the material in question will be removed from circulation
until a ruling can be made on its appropriateness.
6.
Upon receipt of the review, the Superintendent will refer the matter to
the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction. The Assistant Superintendent
of Instruction will then appoint an Investigating Committee composed of
the Supervisor of Instruction for the grade level involved, the Supervisor
of Media Services, and a teacher representing the level of the material
in question. The committee will then study the item in question and
the action taken by the school. The supervisor of Media Services
will compile professional evaluations of the material gathered by the committee.
7.
The committee will send a report of its recommendations to the Superintendent
of Schools for approval. When approved, the Superintendent of Schools
will send a copy of the approved recommendations to the school principals
involved.
8.
The principal of the school involved will inform the individual of the
decision of the committee and implement the recommendations in the school.
If the material in question is an integral part of the county curriculum,
principals of schools serving the same grade level will be informed of
the decision.
