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Board declines to ban CNN 10 in CTE classes after months-long debate; motion fails
Summary
After public complaints and administrative guidance on previewing news segments, the Dickson County Board voted down a motion to prohibit use of CNN 10 and similar news stories in CTE classes for writing prompts.
The Dickson County Board of Education rejected a motion to prohibit teachers from using CNN 10 and similar news segments in career and technical education (CTE) classes for writing prompts.
Board member Chadwick introduced the motion, citing parent complaints that some CNN 10 segments contained topics he considered unrelated to CTE and inappropriate for class use. Chadwick said parents reported a student being moved out of class during the segment and confusion over why the content was shown.
District secondary administrator Dr. Marvin told the board that administrators had emailed CTE teachers on April 15 with parameters: any news segment or media used in CTE classes should be previewed by the teacher and should directly relate to career or postsecondary opportunities if used as a writing prompt. Marvin said principals reported the segments had not been used in that classroom since those parameters were set.
Board members debated whether the restriction should be carried as a board policy, left as an administrative procedure, or handled by principals. Suggestions included a teacher-submitted preview form to create a record of materials shown in class.
At roll call, the motion to ban use of CNN 10 for CTE writing prompts failed. The vote recorded in the minutes was: Miss Brogdon — no; Mr. Chadwick — yes; Mr. Haley — no; Miss Lampley — no; Mr. Parker — yes; Miss Thiele — no. The minutes summarize the result as “4 nos.” Board members who opposed the ban said administrators had already set preview parameters and that principals should handle individual infractions, while supporters argued for clearer board direction.
School administration said principals are monitoring classrooms and that the April guidance requires teachers to preview materials and use only segments that relate directly to career standards or postsecondary opportunities. The board did not adopt a districtwide prohibition.
