Parent claims teacher wouldn't allow use of Fox News as source; school steps in

RARITAN TWP. - After a parent claimed a Hunterdon Central Regional High School teacher told students not to use Fox News as a source in an assignment, the school took immediate action, Superintendent Jeffrey Moore said.

The parent, who asked not to be identified, spoke to Michele Blood, a freelance writer for MomZette, stating a global studies teacher told students the network was biased and could not be used for classwork or homework. Instead, students were told to only use CNN, according to the article.

Moore said the school learned about the incident on Sept. 7, one day after the start of school.

"We learned about a decision in a classroom to limit students to certain media sources in an assignment," Moore said in a statement. "Without any delay, we partnered with parents to understand the needs of our students. We moved swiftly to address their concerns."

The teacher was not named in the article or by the regional high school district.

"The Hunterdon Central Regional High School District is committed to affording students the freedom and respect they need to develop their own opinions," Moore wrote. "In fact, we have policy that requires us to present all sides of any controversial issue.

"We recognize the potential for a teacher, as a trusted authority figure, to sway student opinion about such issues without even setting out to do so."

Blood, in her article, said the parent took her complaint to the head of the social studies department, stating she remained skeptical and felt her son, an 11th grade honors student, may have misunderstood the teacher.

Blood, on Wednesday, told NJ.com the mother of the student will be meeting with the teacher this week and has meet with Moore, Principal Suzanne Cooley and 11th Grade Vice Principal Andrew Estrada. Blood said the parent was "satisfied" with the outcome of those meetings.

Moore said "shifts in technology and other recent factors have made it even more difficult for students to glean truth from media," adding the school, like others, has "pledged to equip our students with tools that will help them navigate, grow, and come into their own.

"Like so many other schools, we reevaluate our efforts to fulfill this pledge as often as we face change - daily, and even more often than that."

He said the district will continue to work with staff and the administration to "ensure that we have consistent approaches to controversial issues in our classrooms. Now, as always, we remain focused on this and all of the other work of educating the children of our community."

Craig Turpin may be reached at cturpin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @NJeditor.

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