Williamson County Schools: Reports of Inauguration Watch Ban Are 'Fake News'

FRANKLIN, TN — Rumors that Williamson County schools are prohibited from showing Friday's inauguration are "fake news," the district said Thursday. Social media has been hot with chatter about the purported ban on teachers showing Donald Trump's swearing-in, gaining wide circulation after serving as fodder for a post by a popular Fox News contributor.

In a statement posted Thursday morning, the district said there is no directive on watching the inauguration and that, to their knowledge, no principal has issued such a directive at the school level, either. In a tweet, Superintendent Mike Looney urged his followers to share the district's statement in an effort to "correct the fake news."

The rumors have been bubbling around Facebook and Twitter this week, circulating enough that they came to the attention of Fox News contributor Todd Starnes, who wrote about it on his popular blog.

Starnes shared a Facebook post by Independence High School senior Olivia Roberts, who wrote, in part, "Teachers are banned to show it."

Starnes spoke to Olivia's mother, Suzanne, who said she was "lectured" by Independence's principal, Niki Patton, when she called about the alleged ban.

“I asked her if there was a policy regarding inaugurations but instead of answering she asked me, ‘Why is it important for you personally that your child see the inauguration live?’ I was a little thrown off. She told me that Independence High School is going to focus on learning and moving forward and staying on curriculum and they would not be stopping class for the inauguration. She told me that news happens every day in this country and they won’t be stopping class to watch the news,” Suzanne Roberts said, according to Starnes.

But that assertion was directly refuted by the WCS statement, which cited at least one in-class activity related to the inauguration at Independence High.

"Another example taking place at Independence High ... where some English classes may also look at other parts of the inauguration such as the poetry which might be recited and compare and contrast with past inaugurations," the statement reads, in part.

There is misinformation circulating on social media regarding WCS and the 2017 Presidential Inauguration. Here are the facts. We are not handling this inauguration any differently than we have in the past. There has not been any type of district-wide directive regarding watching the inauguration, either live or replayed; and to our knowledge, no principal has banned teachers from watching the event with students as might be appropriate. We have 44 schools, and the inauguration is being shown live in some classrooms while being shown at a later time in others. Since the inauguration will take place during the lunch period for many students and teachers, they will be able to watch during that time or possibly during study hall. Generally, teachers who cover content associated with history/politics/government will show and discuss parts of tomorrow's events. Another example taking place at Independence High is where some English classes may also look at other parts of the inauguration such as the poetry which might be recited and compare and contrast with past inaugurations. However, the content may not all be covered tomorrow in some of these classes. It may be covered later in the semester. To our knowledge, no school is showing the inauguration in a large group setting tomorrow but will instead be class-by-class as instructionally appropriate.
In addition, schools will work with families that keep their children at home to watch the full day of activities, and there will be extensive coverage of tomorrow's events and recordings easily available for all to access.

Parents who want to opt-out their children from watching the inauguration will have that ability and are asked to contact their school's administration.

Image via Patch Staff