Supreme Court Hears Major Case on Public School Curriculum and Parental Rights
Ask students: Why do some parents want to opt their children out of the language arts curriculum? Why did the school district say that opt-outs would not be permitted?
The Supreme Court heard arguments in a major case focused on parental rights and public schools. At the center of the case is a dispute over a curriculum in Maryland that included books featuring LGBTQ+ characters. Some parents asked for their children to be excused, but schools stopped allowing opt-outs the next year.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- Who are the individuals and groups mentioned in this story?
- What issue is the Supreme Court deciding in the case in Montgomery County, Maryland?
- Why do some parents want to opt their children out of the language arts curriculum?
- Why did the school district say that opt-outs would not be permitted?
- How could the Supreme Court's decision lead to opt-outs for other subjects like the teaching of evolution in biology or other topics that parents say offends their religious beliefs, according to Justice Kagan?
Focus Questions
- "Courts have said that exposure of ideas that — some may object to because of their religious beliefs, [does] not violate the free exercise clause in the First Amendment," Marcia Coyle said. Do you think students should be able to opt-out of the curriculum based on religious beliefs?
- If you were a school administrator or teacher being told what you could or could not teach, how would you feel about your role as an educator? In general, what do you know about how your school decides on what it teaches? Who decides? (This can vary from school to school.)
- Media literacy: Who else would you have liked to have heard from in this story?
Extension Activity
What do you know about the First Amendment of the Constitution? Learn more about the First Amendment by reading it here:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Answer the following question in your notebook/computer: What decision do you think the Court will come to and why? How do you think they will interpret the First Amendment when it comes to their decision?
The Supreme Court: Balancing the Branches Lesson Plans
Share My Lesson has free, tailored preK-12 resources to ensure your students leave your classroom equipped with a deeper knowledge of civics and government to think critically about today's toughest issues.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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