[ISLMA-Share] Elem. book challenge (from the principal)

[Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association]

Very well said, Kathryn. Your second paragraph is perfect.
Given the pushback against the progress being made on the LGBT front, this type of situation is likely going to play out in more places than in the past when these issues were kept "safely" swept under the rug.
I hope the parent in question does take up this challenge, build a coalition of support (shouldn't be too difficult to find allies), and fight for her rights and those of her child. When it comes to doing the right thing, it can be difficult, but the fight itself often makes a huge impact.
I wish them well and support them in this struggle.

Michael Dorsam
Teacher/Librarian
National Honor Society Adviser
Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School
700 W. North St.
Bradley, IL 60915
(815) 937-3707, ext. 6063 or 6061
Currently Reading: Nobody's Fool, Richard Russo
"Your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing."
                                                                              -- Abraham Lincoln

From: islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info [mailto:islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info] On Behalf Of Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2016 9:43 AM
To: islma at list.railslibraries.info
Subject: Re: [ISLMA-Share] Elem. book challenge (from the principal)


I would be very surprised if her daughter faced much in the way of stigma at the school- more likely people will come out of the woodwork to support her (albeit quietly if the principal is involved).



This ends up being such a slippery slope in terms of LGBT   content, unfortunately, and while I personally don't believe age-appropriate books with LGBT characters can hurt  a child, I know enough people who truly have been hurt by never being able to find material about people like themselves.



School Boards tend to listen to parents very carefully and if your friend and her daughter have the courage to go and talk to them, I think they'd be speaking for a lot of people who may be unable to speak for themselves.



And, yes, newspapers love this sort of story.


Kathryn Spindler
Teacher-Librarian, MLIS
Simmons Middle School
Aurora, IL

________________________________
From: islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> <islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info>> on behalf of Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma at list.railslibraries.info>>
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2016 7:59 AM
To: islma at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma at list.railslibraries.info>
Subject: [ISLMA-Share] Elem. book challenge (from the principal)

Hi, all!

Happy Day of Silence. In a sadly ironic twist, I have a book challenge question for you about a Stonewall Award Winning book.

A friend of mine has a fourth grade daughter who decided to read George by Alex Gino for her fourth quarter independent read. Her teacher vetoed it, saying it was inappropriate (even though it's in the library at her school and it's at her reading/grade level). My friend had a meeting with the principal and the teacher yesterday. Prior to the meeting, she talked with the author and the Office of Intellectual Freedom, and they gave her some talking points. She took in copies of all the starred reviews (Kirkus, SLJ, Publishers Weekly). The teacher and principal wouldn't budge and said they didn't want to deal with any parents who might possibly call and complain about the content (it's about a kid who is labeled a boy, but feels they are a girl and wants to try out for the part of Charlotte in Charlotte's Web).

She has asked me not to reveal the school, but I can tell you that it's in a well-regarded elementary district in the Western Suburbs.

My question for the collective mind- what are her next steps here? I am livid on her daughter's behalf, but I also understand that my friend is concerned about making waves when her daughter will be at the school for two more years.

TIA!

~Kelly

**********************
Kelly McGorray Roberts
Head Librarian, Glenbard East High School
Ph: 630-424-6693
Tw: @roberts_reads






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