Except where a legitimate educational purpose will otherwise be served, each local or regional board of education shall, in selecting textbooks and other general instructional materials select those which accurately present the achievements and accomplishments of individuals and groups from all ethnic and racial backgrounds and of both sexes. Nothing herein shall preclude the use of instructional material and teaching which emphasizes the traditional family structure.
(1967, P.A. 571, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 241; P.A. 78-218, S. 19; P.A. 80-405, S. 2, 4.)
History: 1969 act required use of textbooks which present achievements of all ethnic and racial groups, a stronger statement than the previous requirement that boards of education “give due consideration to the use” of such books; P.A. 78-218 substituted “local” for “town” board of education; P.A. 80-405 allowed use of books which may be biased for or against ethnic groups only “where a legitimate educational purpose will otherwise be served”, added reference to other instructional materials and required presentation of achievements of both sexes but did not “preclude the use of instructional material and teaching which emphasizes the traditional family structure”.