SPRINGBORO--Springboro Community Schools will not teach constitution courses this summer.
The school board decided to cancel the summer community education courses on the constitution after receiving complaints.
âWe felt that having the community participate with evaluating these courses would be an excellent opportunity for schools and community to work together. Instead, the courses have received some criticism from the community, which we take very seriously,â said Jim Rigano, Board of Education Vice President. âWe wanted to allow time for additional review to fully investigate community concerns.â
Anyone currently registered for the 12- week course by the Institute on the Constitution should call 322-3149 for a refund or more information. Those who registered for the seminar with the National Center for Constitutional Studies through Springboro Schools will receive a refund.
Earlier coverage:
SPRINGBORO -- More controversy coming out of the Springboro school board over a couple of classes being offered to the public on the Constitution. Many believe the groups teaching the classes have a religious and political agenda that they want to permanently insert into the high school curriculum.
The National Center for Constitutional Studies is teaching a one day seminar.
Institute on the Constitution is the group teaching a 12-week course, that meets one day a week. Both claim to be non-partisan and non-religious, however their websites talk about prayer, God, and the Bible.
Most parents at Thursday night's board meeting believe those groups are Tea Party based. They believe the majority of the school board is biased. In fact the school board president is also president of the Warren County Tea Party. One parent called for her resignation at the meeting.
"I request you resign your position as school board president immediately because of the conflict of interest and religious convictions," said a concerned parent, Garlene Hamilton.
A select few parents do support the district hosting two Constitution classes, being offered to the public is summer. Those opposed believe the groups running the courses have right wing, religious motives.
"The phrase separation of church and state isn't in the Constitution," said another parent John Brooks.
"That's where our problem is, members of the board. This is a right wing, Tea Party organization you're bringing in," said another parent.
The material may be integrated into high school curriculum next year, which the board says is a necessity to comply with new state law.
"They complained because the courses weren't evaluated and now they're complaining because we're opening them up for evaluation. Some people you can't make happy, " board Vice Pres. Jim Rigano.
Anyone can take the courses, you just have to pay a fee for materials. For more information call the district office at 937-748-3960, ext. 2001.
The school board decided to cancel the summer community education courses on the constitution after receiving complaints.
âWe felt that having the community participate with evaluating these courses would be an excellent opportunity for schools and community to work together. Instead, the courses have received some criticism from the community, which we take very seriously,â said Jim Rigano, Board of Education Vice President. âWe wanted to allow time for additional review to fully investigate community concerns.â
Anyone currently registered for the 12- week course by the Institute on the Constitution should call 322-3149 for a refund or more information. Those who registered for the seminar with the National Center for Constitutional Studies through Springboro Schools will receive a refund.
Earlier coverage:
SPRINGBORO -- More controversy coming out of the Springboro school board over a couple of classes being offered to the public on the Constitution. Many believe the groups teaching the classes have a religious and political agenda that they want to permanently insert into the high school curriculum.
The National Center for Constitutional Studies is teaching a one day seminar.
Institute on the Constitution is the group teaching a 12-week course, that meets one day a week. Both claim to be non-partisan and non-religious, however their websites talk about prayer, God, and the Bible.
Most parents at Thursday night's board meeting believe those groups are Tea Party based. They believe the majority of the school board is biased. In fact the school board president is also president of the Warren County Tea Party. One parent called for her resignation at the meeting.
"I request you resign your position as school board president immediately because of the conflict of interest and religious convictions," said a concerned parent, Garlene Hamilton.
A select few parents do support the district hosting two Constitution classes, being offered to the public is summer. Those opposed believe the groups running the courses have right wing, religious motives.
"The phrase separation of church and state isn't in the Constitution," said another parent John Brooks.
"That's where our problem is, members of the board. This is a right wing, Tea Party organization you're bringing in," said another parent.
The material may be integrated into high school curriculum next year, which the board says is a necessity to comply with new state law.
"They complained because the courses weren't evaluated and now they're complaining because we're opening them up for evaluation. Some people you can't make happy, " board Vice Pres. Jim Rigano.
Anyone can take the courses, you just have to pay a fee for materials. For more information call the district office at 937-748-3960, ext. 2001.