Comments on: So how long does due process take?

By: RGian

RGian — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:50:38 +0000

Hi, I wrote to the Superintendent through the district website and here’s how he responded, “Thanks for your email. This situation involves the summer reading list, which isn’t specifically referenced in the policy. The book has been pulled back from the list pending review by the committee referenced in policy. This review should begin shortly, after committee members have had the opportunity to read the book. Unfortunately, reports in the media have generally not reflected the information about the review committee being convened. I hope this clarifies what is going on.” Let’s hope for a positive resolution.

By: MzMollyTL

MzMollyTL — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 02:47:17 +0000

It sounds to me like social media had an impact on how this was handled. Bad PR as shared on Facebook or Twitter gets immediate attention – this happens in business, like with the daughter of a fellow teacher who complained that her phone broke the week her contact expired and she wasn’t getting a new one; once her comments hit Twitter, a company rep replied to her right away to offer her a new phone at no cost. However, just because the complaint was made via Facebook does not mean that due process should not be followed. The last comments by the parents are especially chilling – as a member of a selection committee for a student readers choice award during a year that a particular book was challenged, I learned that part of the demands of the person aggrieved was that any teachers on the selection committee have their teaching licence revoked. That’s a serious recommendation that should have educators everyone concerned about the freedom to read and to teach about sensitive issues.

By: Diane Cordell

Diane Cordell — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:31:14 +0000

I find that many school districts are painfully sensitive to parent complaints. If there was a book review policy in place, it should have been followed; if not, one needs to adopted as soon as possible.

I’ve never read the book in question, but have to believe it has literary merit, if it is a South Carolina Association of School Librarians’ Young Adult Book Award Nominee. This was not a required reading, and the student had a number of alternative choices. The entire situation reminds me of the debate centered on the NY Times article, “The Dark Side of Young Adult Fiction.”
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2010/12/26/the-dark-side-of-young-adult-fiction

Perhaps this title was inappropriate for this particular student, but perhaps it might have inspired another student in a different life situation.

No single person should have the power to dictate school policies. That’s why we have administrators, school boards, teacher committees, etc. What a sad precedent to set.

By: Fran Bullington

Fran Bullington — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:25:33 +0000

Although the details of how this complaint was handled have not been made public, I am hoping that the timeline you have been able to piece together (from online records) is incorrect. Otherwise, it very much looks like one individual was able to circumvent the district’s challenge process.

I’m sure the parent is very pleased with the outcome of his complaint, but I hope he is not too busy patting himself on the back to realize that in the future, another parent’s complaint may deprive his child of a choice.