An odd and controversial book that our daughter has to read for 11th grade English...

[Ms. Toad]

75. Really?

So if I want my child's learning to exclude evolution (and include "intelligent design&quot it is my right to demand the school accommodate my determination as to the appropriate content of the science curriculum?

While it may be true in some states that you can have your child opt out of certain content (it is most common in sex education or controversial literature) it is not true in all states or all school districts even for controversial content. And certainly not as a general rule.

In California, for example, you do not have a right to opt your child out of this particular assignment. The curriculum areas in which you are permitted to opt a child out are certain parts of sex-ed, and surveys regarding health behaviors related to sex ed. Aside from that, "parents do not have a right to prior written notice and opportunity to opt out of any part of public school curricula under California law." http://www.casafeschools.org/OptOutQA.pdf

So - regardless of what the Teachers of English suggests, in California, would be out of luck with any teacher who chose not to accommodate the request. (And California was just an easy state to find - it is not the only one where the parent would not have hte opt out right for this book.)