11.3 Political Indoctrination
Teachers may not seek to politically indoctrinate students either in class or in any situation, inside or outside school, where the teacher/student relationship could be exploited. Not only would a Board be expected to forbid political indoctrination, but would be expected to act decisively and promptly if it were discovered.
Parents have a right to expect that schools are free from any promotion of partisan politics. Teachers and students should be forbidden from engaging in the promotion of political parties or partisan views within the school. Teachers have an implicit, but clear, duty to distinguish between facts and opinions. They should promote the notion of objective evaluation and reflection.
When social issues, with a moral dimension, are under consideration, teachers must be mindful that one’s own conviction does not confer any right to promote partisan views.
Facts and opinions may be considered and discussed, but interpretations should be balanced and tempered by acknowledgement and explanation of the views of others.
While respecting the democratic right to freedom of political thinking, it is natural that schools should follow a code of fairness at election times. A school may decide to bar all political candidates from meeting students or even refuse them entry to the school while obviously campaigning. Alternatively, a school may choose to cultivate political debate and reflection by asking candidates to present their policies and manifestos for consideration and questioning. If this latter course is taken, it is necessary to treat all candidates similarly, giving all, irrespective of policy, equal opportunity to present their policies and manifestos.