Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Proposed Policy Revision: Challenges to Materials

Author:
Tonight I provided to my colleagues a proposed revision to policy 5-7D, Procedure for Review of Challenged Materials. These policy changes do not directly address the question of the book And Tango Makes Three. They do ensure that in the future the Superintendent cannot act unilaterally or outside of proscribed policy, and that no book will be removed without an opportunity for the public to provide input to its elected representatives.

These revisions implement three major improvements. First, they make binding the decision of the review committees designated by the school principal or the Division Superintendent. Second, they provide for School Board review of any decision to remove instructional material from libraries or the curriculum and require public input prior to removal of materials. Finally, they provide clarity on the status of materials after they have been removed.

The removal of a book without an opportunity for public comment and against the recommendation of instructional professionals and members of the community by the Superintendent who appointed them is made possible by a policy created by an earlier, unelected School Board. The addition of previously restricted materials to a library or the curriculum without review is made possible by a policy created by that School Board. It is the responsibility of this School Board to address these problems.

I make this recommendation after reviewing the policies of school districts around the region and around the country and after consulting with the Virginia School Boards Association and the American Library Association. I hope that my colleagues will approve this policy change and that Dr. Hatrick will submit his recommendation to restrict access to And Tango Makes Three in Sugarland Elementary School to the School Board for review.

The Legislative Policy Committee will review this proposal on Tuesday March 4th at 6pm.

Information on how other Districts approach their challenge policy can be found using the attached links:
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13 comments:

  1. I am a Countryside resident with three children currently enrolled at Countryside Elementary School. I firmly support Superintendent Hatrick's decision regarding limiting general access to the book "And Tango Makes Three" in Loudoun Elementary School Libraries. The decision of when and how to expose and explain the sensitive issue of homosexuality to children is the parent's responsibility, not the schools. His approach concerning access to this book is fair and reasonable. It allows Elementary school children to be protected from accidental exposure and still makes the book available for those parents who are inclined to use it.

    Obviously, I strongly disagree with Vice Chairman Stevens' position as quoted in the Loudoun Times-Mirror and the Loudoun Easterner this week. The book was not banned, access to it was restricted. It is perfectly appropriate for school libraries to screen or censor material that should not be exposed to children. We expect and require them to do this with respect to pornography, materials expressing hate speech, violent images, etc. Censorship was appropriately applied in this case and leaves the decision of if, when and how to expose children to this material with the parents where it belongs.
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  2. The book doesn't address the topic of homosexuality with children. It addresses adoption and non-traditional families.

    What the author cleverly does is layer a political message about homosexuality directed at adults on top of a childrens story. So those who want to remove the book are not protecting children so much as protecting other adults from being exposed to a political viewpoint that they oppose.

    We want to be completely open when we discuss political messages amoung adults. However, parents should have complete autonomy for deciding how we introduce topics to children that are steeped in morality.

    I proposed at the school board meeting that we use the technology that is already present in the schools to add transparency to what is in the curriculum and also to let parents decide independently what is best for their children.

    For example, use DVDs and online courses and assign family life topics as homework. That way parents can preview the material and subtract and add as desired. And when we don't have to make the courses satisfy everyone, parents who want a frank discussion of sexuality with their children will have the tools to do it professionally without abusing parents who take a different approach.

    Alas I think I must have put them all to sleep since not one school board member commented on this proposal. Is democratizing the public school curriculum too radical an idea to be considered?
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  3. I agree with ed this book is nothing about homosexuality. Mark perhaps you need to send your children to a private school that is more to your liking. The public school system should not be controlled by the few that may have an very narrow scope on what is an alternative life style or not. I have two kids and do not see any problems with this book whatsoever. Religious beliefs and religious life styles should not influence the school system either. Tolerance for all beliefs should be taught not hidden or censored. Public school is exactly what is says for all the public.

    I support our Mr Stevens on his latest ideas for book review and change to how policy decisions are made etc.

    Now that is the kind of leadership the residents of Loudoun expect of our administrators and board members. Hopefully is does not take an outrage from the entire country in the future ;-)

    Thank You Mr Stevens.

    Now show some leadership on the school budget that is fair to all tax payers not just the wealthier ones instead of passing the buck to the BOS every time ;-)
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  4. lee j. Thank you for your helpful suggestion regarding sending my children to private school. I think that I will stick with sending my children to the school system that my taxes support.

    I also have to respectfully disagree with your assertion that "The public school system should not be controlled by the few that may have an very narrow scope on what is an alternative life style or not." I would argue that any book that tops the list of the American Library Association's Most Challenged Books of 2006 means that many people across the country object to exposing their school children to this content. This doesn't seem like a "few" to me.

    I am not requesting that the book be removed from the school. I just believe that it should be the parent's decision (and not the schools) as to whether my elementary age children have free and open access to it.

    I would not support modifying the current book challenge process.
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  5. Ed,
    In response to your suggestion of use of technology I can tell you that there is a private school, Ed Anywhere, that does high school curriculum online. As a parent, you can log in, get real time grades and check on your child's progress. LCPS and the School Board is aware of this school as they send students there.
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  6. David WeintraubFeb 28, 2008 09:13 AM
    Mark,

    There are many kinds of families with different beliefs about all sorts of things who are served by our schools. There is no right to treat one idea about families differently simply because you don't agree with it.

    I'm kind of getting tired of saying this, but you can't choose when to "expose" a child to the fact that some other children have two moms or two dads when that child attends public school. Our children attend our schools alongside yours. You don't have to like or approve of it, but that's the way it is.

    Bottom line: Our families will be treated the same as your family by the schools that we all pay taxes to support. What you choose to tell your children about that, or about a book in the library, is your business.
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  7. Another option for Mark's children would be home schooling. That way they would never be exposed to an idea other than those of their father.

    If you just substituted "inter-racial couple" for "penguins", the remarks of Dr. Hatrick, Mr. Geurin, and Mr. Reed would have sounded like 1958 instead of 2008.
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  8. Anon,
    Double check the video tape. I didn't think Reed defended removal of the book based on content. Isn't he the one who made a joke that the book should be Ok because no penguins kissed (a reference to the student play a few years ago that was deemed inappropriate because two boys playing a gay couple appeared about to kiss as the curtain dropped.)

    Guzman supports removal of the book because of content. (Did you get the two mixed up since they sit next to each other on the dias?)

    (I'm lazy, I really should be making a link to the webcast and doing my research instead of speculating...Sorry!)
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  9. I teach children in the Countryside area and also have younger siblings and family within the Loudoun County school system. I have seen and read "And Tango Makes Three" and I firmly support Mr. Stevens' opinion. Children have intuitive minds and removing one book from a library shelf will not censor what is going on in the world around them. A parent's job is to guide their children to be open minded, strong, honest, hard working and understanding of the differences in our culture. A child will see things on TV, or at a restaurant, or at the circus and a child will then ask questions. A parent needs to be there to help the child understand the many different types of families in their world.

    The reason that our children today have close minded views that may be hateful is because the parent has influenced their child with his or her own opinion. This does not allow the child to be their own person and form their own views of the world. It does not allow the child's soul to grow in a positive way. It teaches the child hate and that being different is unacceptable.

    I personally do not want any child I am associated with to have such a negative or close minded view. Children desire to be guided. I think it's only fair that we prepare them for the world that exists, rather than for the world that you choose to believe in.
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  10. Phaedra EdwardsMar 10, 2008 01:59 PM
    I also have children in the Loudoun County school system.
    While I agree that explaining alternative lifestyles is the parents responsibility, I do not agree that taking books off the shelf, (limiting access or otherwise) is in the best interest of any child.
    Having open access to books provides the perfect opportunity for discussion with your children.
    By putting the book on restricted access Superintendant Hatrick is supporting the negative tag that will henceforth be attached to "And Tango Makes Three".
    Children have accidental exposure to much worse than the contents of this book.
    What about this book places it in the same category of "pornography, materials expressing hate speech, violent images, etc."?
    After all, isn't it just a book about Penguins?
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  11. Can I just ask this, doesn't anyone have anything better to worry about other than a simple book?!! I mean come on people! If you don't want your kid to read it, tell them not to. Further, I don't think it's anyone's business what sexual preference anyone else is. People are who they are!
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  12. I'm sorry Olivia, but didnt' you just post on this site?
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  13. Penguins are gay - everybody knows that!
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