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Board approves three electives, debates inclusion of satirical and potentially offensive texts
Summary
The board split and approved three elective course proposals for Patriot Applied Learning Campus: Film and Literature, Colorado Folklore and Culture & Literature. Directors debated inclusion of satirical works such as Jonathan Swift’s "A Modest Proposal" and whether elective status and parental choice mitigate concerns.
The District 49 Board on Oct. 9 approved three elective course proposals for the Patriot Applied Learning Campus after a brief debate over course content.
The board first voted to split a packet of course proposals so each could be considered separately. Members then approved a Film and Literature course that includes classic and contemporary film texts; the vote was 4–1 (Tuvala/Tovala: Aye; Haile/Heil: Aye; LaVere Wright: Aye; Schmidt: No; Thompson: Aye). The board subsequently approved a Colorado Folklore elective and a Culture and Literature elective for the campus; each passed on recorded voice votes.
Discussion focused on whether particular works of satire and satire’s potential to offend should be included in elective syllabi. Director Schmidt highlighted that satire such as Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” is a common instructional text to teach rhetorical devices; several board members and student representatives said elective status allows families and students to choose whether to enroll. Student board members Benjamin Sable and Emma (surname not specified) said the elective nature of the classes and inclusion of a clearly published syllabus at the start of a course give families the option to opt out if they object.
Administrators and proponents said the courses require teacher judgment to choose appropriate materials and that course syllabi and elective enrollment procedures give families transparency and choice. The board approved the three courses and recorded the votes for each item.
Those approvals move the proposed classes into the district’s curriculum and course-offering lists; campus staff will publish syllabi and enrollment information per standard district processes.
