Boonies: Here’s an update about the challenge to Isabel Allende’s THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS in Mary Kent Whitaker’s sophomore Honors class at Watauga High. I was a guest in Miss Whit’s classes on Friday, October 18--they were covering the graphic novel PERSEPOLIS. While I was visiting, Miss Whit was told by Principal Marshall Gasperson that (a.) she must not proceed with her unit on her syllabus on SPIRITS and Chile until the book challenge process was complete, and (b.) she must not talk about the challenge with her students. Miss Whit kept mum, though it broke her heart not to use this controversy as a “teaching moment.” The first stage of the challenge involved choosing other Watauga High faculty at random to read SPIRITS and vote on whether or not the book should remain in the curriculum. This vote was held on Friday, and the book was upheld by a vote of 7-0. You can read about this phase of the process here: www2.wataugademocrat/News/story/Isabel-Allendes-The-House-of-the-Spirits-novel-upheld-on-challenge-id-012976 Good news, but as the article makes clear, the parent who brought the initial complaint will appeal. The challenge now gets kicked up to the local Board of Education, who will appoint a review committee to vote on the matter. After this review committee vote, there is one more appeal, directly to the members of the Board of Education themselves, who will make the third and final decision. This is where the complaint will probably end up. Now is our time to mobilize. I received an e-mail from Miss Whit who said that e-mails in support of SPIRIT in the curriculum would be very useful. You should send these e-mails to the members of the Board of Education, as well as to WHS Principle Gasperson and school superintendent David Fonseca. Here’s a list of the people to e-mail: Superintendent for Watauga County Schools: David Fonseca ([email protected]) Watauga High School Principal: Marshall Gasperson ([email protected]) Board of Education: Dr. Lee Warren, Board Chair ([email protected]) Delora Hodges, Vice Chair ([email protected]) Ron Henries, Board Member ([email protected]) Barbara Kinsey, Board Member ([email protected]) Brenda Reese, Board Member ([email protected]) Please consider sending a letter of support. And there may be future opportunities to help. It’s unclear, for instance, if public comment will be allowed at a future Board of Education meeting about this issue. I’ll keep you posted, and thanks for your attention. --Craig
Posted on: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 00:42:41 +0000
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