CLEARFIELD – A family member of a Clearfield underclassman is concerned over classroom “debate” topics.
Just before the adjournment of Monday’s school board meeting, Terry Wigfield Sr. asked if he could address the board.
Wigfield believed the meeting was scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and so when he arrived, the public comment period had already expired.
The board permitted Wigfield to speak rather than wait until next month’s meetings.
He initially pressed board members on why they chose to run for office and what their role was in the district.
He was met with no response and told to move on. When he posed the same questions repeatedly, he was advised it wasn’t a “Q&A.”
Wigfield asked board members if they were aware of their responsibility to approve school curriculum. There was no response.
He said he was aware that a teen in his family was exposed to topics like transgender, legalization of marijuana in PA and abortion.
When asked how these topics were being presented in the classroom, Wigfield said it was debate and there were better subjects to debate.
He said students should debate topics like the Constitution and Freedom of Speech, and teachers shouldn’t add their “two cents.”
“As much as this country spends on keeping kids off drugs, we’re still debating if it (marijuana) should be legal in Pennsylvania.
“And, let’s teach our kids not to have sex so they don’t [need] to have an abortion … there’s so many other subjects. This isn’t right.”
Wigfield reminded board members of the students’ low test scores, suggesting the curriculum focus more on the core subject areas.
“Then, maybe the test scores will go up.”
He said they approve the curriculum but when he spoke to a couple board members, they were unaware these topics were part of classes.
“If you voted on it, how do you not know,” Wigfield asked. “This is just wrong and immoral.”
Now, the board was aware, he said they needed to address it. “Gotta step forward—be a bison.”
Following Wigfield’s comments, Board President Greg Clarke explained that the board deliberately sets time aside to hear public comment.
He said any lack of response shouldn’t be seen as avoidance or ignorance. “We’re not here to argue or debate, we’re here to listen.”
In a media interview following the meeting, Superintendent Terry Struble said he will look into Wigfield’s concerns.
Once he determines the context—like topic selection and presentation—he will communicate that to the school board.
While the board does approve a general curriculum, Struble indicated course specifics are within the purview of teachers.
Struble did say students do discuss current events and news in classes like civics, which may include weighing the pros and cons of issues.
“Every generation has its topics that are controversial.”
