Scenario: You are doing a learning walk around your building and decide to spend

some time in a science classroom. You are caught off guard by what the teacher is
teaching and decide to review the science curriculum scope and sequence document
for that course. You discover that this content is not part of any curriculum and does not
address any specific standards required by the state. You have a conversation with the
teacher and explain to the teacher that they are required to teach the prescribed
curriculum for this course. The teacher replies:
“I have been teaching this content for the past 15 years. I can teach anything I want if
the students are learning science.”

Response:
My initial response to the teacher would be to ask for them to correlate what they are
teaching to the standards outlined to be taught in their course. The scenario says I
reviewed the standards, scope and sequence, and curriculum myself, but I would want it
verified by the teacher for a few reasons. If they are able to correlate the lessons to the
standards required, then the scenario can be easily resolved. Hopefully they will agree
to do a more thorough job of aligning the lessons to the standards, and be more helpful
in clarifying this information to administration. Additionally, in asking the teacher for
clarity, I acknowledge that I am not an expert in their field, and still have something to
learn from them, which can help ease any tensions brought on by this conversation.
If the teacher can make a justification to the lessons, they are fine to continue teaching
them. Ohio Revised Code Section 3301.079 says “(3) All school districts, community
schools, and STEM schools may utilize the state standards and the model curriculum
established by the state board, together with other relevant resources, examples, or
models to ensure that students have the opportunity to attain the academic standards.
Upon request, the department shall provide technical assistance to any district,
community school, or STEM school in implementing the model curriculum.
Nothing in this section requires any school district to utilize all or any part of a model
curriculum developed under this section.”

If the teacher was answering a question from the student, I would say they were
protected under Keyishian v. Board of Regents because they were responding to
student inquiry and helping them to study a response. However, that does not fit what
happened in the scenario as explicitly written.

If the teacher refuses to, or is unable to, align their lessons with the standards required
by the state then the whole conversation changes. Yes the teacher might have a point in
that students are still learning something, but there is so much more to the requirements
of teaching than there were fifteen years ago. The curriculum is set by the district, and it
probably says in the teachers contract that they are to follow what the district puts in
place. Specifically, in my teaching contract it says in the first paragraph “The employee
further agrees to abide by and maintain the rules and regulations adopted by said Board
of Education for the government of the schools of said District.” I would think that using
the provided curriculum and abiding by the state standards would fall under maintaining
the rules of the Board of Education.

This could be considered instructional negligence because it is not adequately

preparing students for any end of term assessments and knowingly not following the
district and state set standards for learning. The teacher might believe that the students
might actually be proficient in the set science standards at the end of the term, but they
are still held to the regulations set by the board, even if they do not personally agree
with them. It is clear in the Ohio Revised Code section 3301.07 where it says “(B)(1)
The state board shall exercise leadership in the improvement of public education in this
state, and administer the educational policies of this state relating to public schools, and
relating to instruction and instructional material, building and equipment, transportation
of pupils, administrative responsibilities of school officials and personnel, and finance
and organization of school districts, educational service centers, and territory.” If the
state board of education has standards set in place, it is imperative that teachers and
districts meet those standards in the education of their students.