Editor’s note: Today’s letters to the editor are from Southwest Junior High students learning about persuasive writing.

To the editor:

There have been many circumstances where teachers have been getting complaints from concerned parents. One of the reasons a parent would be alarmed is one of the same reasons that changes the beliefs of children’s political or environmental views. Teachers sometimes state their opinions in class discussions. Not only does teaching opinions give children a different perspective of things, it’s also against the rules.

According to the Lawrence Education Board Policy Manual (LEBPM) under section GBU, “Teachers are required to be responsible for presenting all subject matter in a fair and accurate way.” Even though this regulation is clearly stated in the Policy Manual, it is quite often that you find teachers giving their opinions. This needs to be stopped.

However teachers are allowed to teach about both sides of a controversial topic. So says the (LEBPM) under section IKB. Still, teachers shouldn’t do such things unless they clearly tell the students that what they are being told is not fact, but an opinion.

Teaching opinions confuses students, and when there are homework assignments or quizzes students have been known to do bad or worse than they usually do because they get mixed up between fact and opinion. All this confusion can affect students’ grades and therefore wreck their future. As you can see, teaching opinions is a problem, so do everything you can to help us stop it.

Mason Davis,

Southwest Junior High