Madison Metropolitan School District
Board of Education Policies and Procedures

Philosophy of Education

1. The BOARD and professional staff of the Madison Metropolitan School District are dedicated completely to the principles which contribute to American democracy. We believe in the dignity and worth of the individual and in the existence of moral law. We have confidence and optimism in the future because humanity can learn, store knowledge, and reason.
2. We know that democratic self-government demands citizens who are literate, who can think creatively, and who understand well the great heritage which is theirs. We believe that the public school is the bulwark of democracy and is essential to its existence and dynamic forward thrust.
3. We believe in a comprehensive educational program that has as its foundation a common core of educational experience for all. This common core is supplemented by a wide variety of elective experiences which permit the individual to develop her/his own unique interests, abilities, and goals.
4. We believe it is a responsibility of the Madison Metropolitan School District to prepare students for participation in a heterogeneous community of people where individual differences are understood, accepted, and valued. Toward this end, we believe that each school community should be a heterogeneous community of students and staff.
5. We believe that students, parents, school personnel, members of the BOARD, and the general public share the responsibility for the total educational program of the School District. We believe that this responsibility requires cooperation, effort, and dedication if the youth of the school community are to receive the learning opportunities necessary for them to become effective citizens in a free society.
6. The Madison Metropolitan School District shall not discriminate in its education programs, related activities including School-Community Recreation, and employment practices based on a person's protected status which includes but is not limited to sex, race, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, color, creed, student status, arrest/conviction record, marital status, age, ancestry, source of income, political beliefs, financial status, student status, less than honorable discharge, physical appearance, and membership in the national guard, state defense force or any reserve component of the military forces of the United States or the State of Wisconsin.

   [NOTE: The City of Madison defines gender expression in Madison City Ordinance Sec. 3.23 (2)(t) as follows:

   Gender Identity is the actual or perceived condition, status or acts of 1) identifying emotionally or psychologically with the sex other than one's biological or legal sex at birth, whether or not there has been a physical change of the organs of sex; 2) presenting and/or holding oneself out to the public as a member of the biological sex that was not one's biological or legal sex at birth;

   This means that gender identity refers to an individual's fundamental sense of themselves as being male or female, masculine or feminine. Gender identity does not always correspond to biological sex.

   The City of Madison's Ordinance Sec. 3.23 (2)(t) continues its definition of gender identity with an explanation of what is referred to as gender expression.

   3) lawfully displaying physical characteristics and/or behavioral characteristics and/or expressions which are widely perceived as being more appropriate to the biological or legal sex that was not one's biological or legal sex at birth, as when a male is perceived as feminine or a female is perceived as masculine; and/or4) being physically and/or behaviorally androgynous.

   This means that gender expression refers to the things like clothing and behavior that manifest a person's fundamental sense of themselves as masculine or feminine, and male or female. This can include but not be limited to dress, posture, hairstyle, jewelry, and vocal inflection.]

7. It is on these beliefs that the educational objectives, goals, and policies of the Madison Metropolitan School District are based.
   1. The Madison Metropolitan School District provides education for all persons in the community who are legally entitled to it.
   2. Each individual should be assisted to work out her/his own intellectual, vocational, social, and ethical values. This must be done within the framework of our democracy and the individual's competence.
   3. Since a function of education is to enable a pupil to realize her/his potential, the curriculum should consider the talents and abilities of pupils.
   4. The scope and sequence of learning experiences of what is to be taught and how it is to be taught should take into account the present knowledge, skills, and interests of pupils.
8. The instructional program of the Madison Metropolitan School District provides for each pupil an opportunity:
   1. To learn the tool subjects--
      1. To communicate adequately through the development of skills in reading, spelling, writing, and speaking the English language;
      2. To develop skills in mathematics and science;
      3. To provide for realistic study of social problems, such as conservation, labor and management, racial tolerance, and world peace.
   2. To cultivate the fine arts (music, art, drama, and dance);
   3. To learn foreign languages in order to acquire usable skills and gain a greater understanding of other cultural backgrounds;
   4. To acquire through instruction the understanding of health and wellness concepts and to practice in concert with all school employees such patterns of behavior as will lead to personal health and wellness.
   5. To understand the importance of developing leisure appreciations and skills throughout one's lifetime by providing opportunities to participate in a wide variety of school-related recreational activities, to explore broad community recreation resources, and to participate in related classroom discussion, activities, or projects.
   6. To obtain specialized assistance should s/he experience problems of an educational, emotional, social or vocational nature which, unless corrected, may lead to unsatisfactory adjustment.
   7. To develop appropriate understandings and skills in such areas as business education and the practical arts needed for everyday life and entry into post high school employment or education;
   8. To develop the power of independent and constructive thinking by improving skills in securing information and by learning to evaluate and organize these facts in the solution of problems.
   9. To cultivate desirable attitudes, appreciations, and habits while developing skills and assimilating information.
   10. To develop creative abilities so that each child realizes her/his own possibilities and makes her/his contribution to society.
   11. To develop faith in our future by understanding and appreciating the history and geography of our nation and our world and their social and political systems.
9. To the greatest extent possible, the Madison Metropolitan School District will seek the participation and ideas of citizens, students, parents, staff members, and administrators. The BOARD, administrators, and building principals are encouraged to seek broad participation and advice from those who will be affected by policy or administrative decisions.
10. The BOARD's educational goals and expectations are consistent with such goals and expectations as set forth in 118.01 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
11. The BOARD supports an Integrated Instructional program that offers a variety of options to meet the learning needs of all students, including students with a disability, regardless of the student's race, sex, national origin, creed, religion, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, pregnancy, or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability.

    [NOTE: The City of Madison defines gender expression in Madison City Ordinance Sec. 3.23 (2)(t) as follows:

    Gender Identity is the actual or perceived condition, status or acts of 1) identifying emotionally or psychologically with the sex other than one's biological or legal sex at birth, whether or not there has been a physical change of the organs of sex; 2) presenting and/or holding oneself out to the public as a member of the biological sex that was not one's biological or legal sex at birth;

    This means that gender identity refers to an individual's fundamental sense of themselves as being male or female, masculine or feminine. Gender identity does not always correspond to biological sex.

    The City of Madison's Ordinance Sec. 3.23 (2)(t) continues its definition of gender identity with an explanation of what is referred to as gender expression.

    3) lawfully displaying physical characteristics and/or behavioral characteristics and/or expressions which are widely perceived as being more appropriate to the biological or legal sex that was not one's biological or legal sex at birth, as when a male is perceived as feminine or a female is perceived as masculine; and/or4) being physically and/or behaviorally androgynous.

    This means that gender expression refers to the things like clothing and behavior that manifest a person's fundamental sense of themselves as masculine or feminine, and male or female. This can include but not be limited to dress, posture, hairstyle, jewelry, and vocal inflection.]

12. Teachers and administrators in the Madison Metropolitan School District have an important and unique responsibility in setting appropriate educational standards for students and the community. One of the most critical areas in which this responsibility must be exercised is in the quality of written material produced by this District. We believe that all documents, memos, reports, etc. prepared for internal or external distribution should be written in clear and concise English and should avoid the unnecessary use of educational jargon or slang.

Last Updated: Tue Oct 4 08:25:34 2005
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