Meaningful education requires that teachers and students enjoy academic freedom and exercise academic responsibility. Academic freedom allows qualified teachers to present information and encourage discussion of controversial issues. The goal of academic freedom is to foster critical thinking and the free exchange of ideas in an atmosphere of mutual respect. With that freedom is a corresponding responsibility to discuss controversial issues only after giving consideration to the relevance of the subject matter to classroom or curriculum objectives, the maturity of the students, and the diversity of community values. Public concerns about particular subject matter may be addressed through the challenged material procedure, Policy number 6078.00. (7-31-01)