The Wilkes County Board of Education encourages all students to develop an understanding of citizenship, including the importance of a citizen’s rights and responsibilities. At a minimum, the citizenship curriculum will incorporate the civic literacy requirements of the Student Citizenship Act of 2001.
The curriculum committee established in policy 3100, Curriculum Development, will develop curriculum regarding citizenship. In addition to meeting any state requirements, the citizenship curriculum also should be designed to reinforce the student behavior management plan. The curriculum may include addressing character traits as provided in the Student Citizenship Act of 2001. The character traits may include but are not limited to, courage, good judgment, integrity, civility, kindness, perseverance, responsibility, tolerance, and self-discipline.
The citizenship curriculum also may include appropriate instruction on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, guidelines for the use and display of the North Carolina and United States flags, and opportunities for the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Any curriculum providing for the display of flags must provide that students will not be compelled to stand or salute the flag. Any curriculum providing for the opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance must ensure that no student will be compelled to recite the Pledge of Allegiance or otherwise feel coerced to participate. In addition, the citizenship curriculum may encourage teachers to use the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance as an opportunity to teach students about the history concerning coercion and the importance of the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights. If made available, a North Carolina and United States flag must be displayed in the classroom.
Furthermore, the citizenship curriculum may include for middle school and high school students a community volunteer service requirement in order to demonstrate the value and effectiveness of volunteer contributions to the community. To be approved by the Board of Education, the curriculum must provide students with (1) sufficient notice of the service requirement; (2) enough options to meet the interests and transportation needs of the students; and (3) it must not infringe on the constitutional rights of students by compelling or coercing a student to hold a particular viewpoint on volunteerism.
Legal References: G.S. 115C-47(29a), -81(g) and (h)
Cross References: Goals and Objectives of the Educational Program (policy 3000), Curriculum Development (policy 3100)
Adopted: May 17, 2004
Revised: April 4, 2011