West Orange Schools Can Show Trump Inauguration: Superintendent

WEST ORANGE, NJ — According to school administrators, West Orange teachers will be allowed to watch and discuss Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration on Friday… and that was always the plan.

After receiving multiple messages from local residents concerned about a possible “ban” on teaching about and watching Friday’s presidential inauguration ceremony, Patch reached out to Superintendent Jeffrey Rutzky and the West Orange Board of Education for comment.

On Tuesday, Rutzky replied that despite rumors to the contrary, there is “no ban on the inauguration ceremony” in the West Orange Public School District.

He provided Patch with a letter sent to local parents and guardians explaining the district’s policy on Tuesday:

“After consultation with members of the Board of Education, the following will be the protocol for Friday’s presidential inauguration ceremony:

• High school teachers have the option to watch the inauguration with students, which was always the case.
• Middle and elementary school teachers will have the option of showing the Oath of Office and swearing-in portion of the ceremony to their students.

“It is also important to note that the district is taping the entire inauguration ceremony so teachers will have the ability to use segments of the ceremony for future lessons. Keeping the inauguration ceremony in the context of subject curriculum will provide a much more meaningful and relevant learning opportunity. We will also utilize versions of the inauguration ceremony that are specifically designed for the teaching of students, such as Time for Kids, Newsela, CNN Kids and others, as appropriate.

“I also want to be very clear that in last week’s principal meeting, some principals raised concerns about the inauguration, including addressing the very basic logistical problem that the Inauguration is scheduled for noon when many of our elementary students are either at recess or lunch. After various concerns were shared, all principals welcomed and endorsed the idea of having the inauguration ceremony taped and for teachers having the option to access the information whenever needed. They agreed that watching the entire ceremony was not an effective use of time.

“I recognize the importance of the inauguration ceremony and that is why the Oath of Office and swearing-in can be viewed by our K-8 students. Other segments of the ceremony, that are educationally appropriate, can be viewed at a later time, as has been mentioned above. With teacher supervision, the high school students can watch the entire ceremony.”

• See related article: Donald Trump Most Unpopular Incoming President In Decades, Polls Show

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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