The Westwood School Board is moving a step closer to revising a district policy that could prevent teachers from giving their opinion on controversial issues.

The policy would mandate that teachers present all viewpoints and only teach controversial issues approved by the school board.

Some teachers spoke about the issue at a Board of Education meeting on Thursday.

"Between the amount of work we do and the decisions that are routinely made by people who don't know anything about education or what it's like to be in a classroom, it is no wonder the state has such a teacher shortage,” one teacher stated. “If the Board of Ed continues on this path, all the good teachers will leave Westwood."

The New Jersey Public Education Coalition issued a statement regarding the policy.

"The quality of public education is no longer the foremost concern of this board. Their actions will prevent the free expression and exercise of ideas in the classroom, a foundational element of our public school system. We want students to be exposed to a multitude of ideas and opinions so they learn how to evaluate information and draw their own conclusion,” a spokesperson wrote.

The proposed change comes during a time when Westwood has been facing criticism for a push to ban Pride flags and other signs outside school buildings.