Public Officials Criticize NC Schools' Requirement For Speakers

The Wake County, North Carolina schools have irritated a number of public officials by instituting a new policy requiring all guest speakers at schools to sign a form promising they will not denigrating any culture, race, gender, national origin or religion, that they will provide accurate information, and acknowledging that appropriate attire, language and behavior are required. The new policy was implemented after problems with an invited speaker last year at Raleigh's Enloe High School who called Islam a religion of violence. Today's Raleigh News Observer and Myrtle Beach Sun News report that Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison and Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly say it is insulting to ask public officials to sign this kind of statement before they are permitted to speak.