Breakout #1

In the late 2000s, the Cobb County (GA) school board voted to put labels on the inside front cover of the science books used in its middle schools and high schools. The labels read:

"This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered."

Background: The labels stem from a petition drive started by a parent that garnered 2,300 signatures. The petition asked the school board to require that the labels be added to the district's science texts. The school board agreed. However, after the labels were put in the books, a different group of parents filed a federal lawsuit asking for the labels to be removed.

Please answer the following questions one at a time:

• What do you personally think about the labels?
• What do you think are the legal issues involved?
• How do you think the court should rule? Should the judge side with the school board and rule that the labels should be left in or should the judge require that the labels be removed? ... Why? On what legal grounds?

Breakout #2

Joan is a fifth grade teacher. As required, she developed a discipline plan at the beginning of the year and gave a copy of it to her principal. She also discussed it with her students and their parents. With her students, Joan emphasized that she would be consistent in implementing the plan. For the third violation of class rules in a day, the plan states that she will make a telephone call during the next class break (e.g., recess, lunch) to notify parents that there is a problem.

Emily, a student in Joan's class, has reached two violations a day for the last three days. Joan has talked with her, but she has shown no improvement in behavior. Joan has told Emily that if she reaches a third violation, she will call her parents.

Before school the next morning, Joan discussed Emily with Emily's previous teacher. The teacher told Joan that she suspected that Emily was a victim of child abuse. Emily's former teacher said that Emily had denied being beaten by her parents, but marks on her body made the teacher suspect otherwise.

• Imagine you are Joan. In your class today, Emily violates three class rules with all of her classmates watching. What do you do? Try to come to agreement as a group.

Breakout #3

After a transgender student sued, the Boonrock County School Board decided to provide "inclusive" restrooms at their schools, but they debated what the door sign should say and look like. They considered the options printed on the back of this page. As a group, decide on the one that you think is best. Why? What are the reasons for your selection?