46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

REQUESTING THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND EACH LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD ENSURE THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES WHILE ON DUTY REFRAIN FROM EXPRESSING PERSONAL OPINIONS REGARDING WORLD EVENTS AND THE ACTIONS OF POLITICAL LEADERS.

WHEREAS, New Mexico's public school teachers, athletic coaches, instructors, instructional assistants, administrators and other employees are entrusted with a substantial portion of the education and training provided to our children; and

WHEREAS, the overwhelming majority of those teachers and other employees hold that trust to be sacred and perform their duties to the highest of standards; and

WHEREAS, age- and course-appropriate classroom instruction necessarily includes varying levels of informed, disinterested and dispassionate discussion of current and past world events and actions by political leaders; and

WHEREAS, students should be encouraged to participate in those age- and course-appropriate discussions and should feel free to express their own views as appropriate; and

WHEREAS, public school teachers and other school employees, while on duty, should focus on the performance of their jobs, which, depending on the course and grade level taught, may necessarily include informed instruction on and disinterested and dispassionate discussions of world events and the actions of political leaders; and

WHEREAS, in no case is it appropriate for public school teachers or other public school employees while on duty to express their personal opinions on world events or the actions of political leaders;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state board of education and each local school board be requested to ensure that public school teachers and other public school employees while on duty refrain from expressing their personal opinions on world events and the actions of political leaders regardless of whether such expressions are in the form of verbal or written statements; the wearing of personal attire, lapel pins, buttons or similar items; and the display in classrooms or other school property where students gather of posters, bumper stickers or similar material; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of the state board of education and the president of each local school board in New Mexico.