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FROM THE FRONT LINE
Challenges Down; What Administrators Fear
Charles Suhor, NCTE/SLATE Field Representative
Since my September SLATE Newsletter column on censorship cases, approximately 51 reports of problems have come in--down slightly from the comparable time period last year, when the total was 57. The percentage of banned books was also down, from 14% to less than 10%.
Although speculating about reasons for increases or decreases in the number of cases reported to NCTE is irresistible, I'm convinced that it's mainly futile. Yes, the war in Iraq and the rapidly heating political campaigns might be preoccupying would-be censors. But there's a more prosaic explanation—diminished reportage of cases might be due to changes in the NCTE website that made access to the Censorship Incident Report form temporarily more difficult. The most honest reaction to the fluctuations is probably "Who knows?"
Perhaps the most dependable statistic will always be the percentage of books censored. While we can't guess accurately about the quantity of reports, we can assign some significance to the ratio of cases that we know ended well or badly. When an increased proportion of actually reported cases results in retention, as reported above, that's good news.
And for every statistic there's a moving, flesh-and-blood story. It's great to hear from teachers who have fought the good fight and prevailed. The losses are of course devastating, but when the challenges are counter-challenged, an important message is sent and changes sometimes occur. Some interesting variations: Mildred Taylor's ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY was retained in a Florida district after a careful defense was mounted, including a letter from NCTE. No letter was requested in a Texas protest where that book was banned, but the hubbub resulted in the establishment of a policy for review of challenges.
The salutary effects of speaking out are seen in the some of the Addenda to the cases below. Clearly, many administrators and boards of education that are inclined towards giving in to censors will back off and even reverse themselves as the controversy heats up.
They respond with anxiety when anti-censorship alarms are sounded by courageous teachers, indignant parents, students, university advocates, the media, unions, national organizations and their local chapters, and attorneys. Their retreat is sometimes hasty, sometimes labored, and it is often couched in face-saving language. We might wish that sweet reason and the public interest were the driving force in censorship cases, but this is true mainly when our best arguments are advanced with zest and in concert with others.
All reports of censorship problems receive prompt telephone, fax, or e-mail responses, followed by other action when requested. Listed alphabetically below is a sampler of the cases that dealt with censorship of particular works. Actions taken are italicized. "Rationale(s) sent. . ." indicates that NCTE sent the teachers one or more rationales for the protested work. Routinely, the NCTE Censorship Packet is sent or materials on our website referenced. Letters of support are offered; they typically go to the school board president or the superintendent. OUTCOMES that are known at press time are reported.
Overwhelmingly, schools and districts that call NCTE have two policies or practices in place--provisions for a substitute work when a student or parent objects, and an established process for orderly review of challenges that arise. Increasingly, schools also have in place formal or informal procedures through which English language arts teachers collegially select works to be studied.
If you are experiencing a challenge to materials or methods, or if you know someone who is, call either 800-369-6283, extension 3848, or 334-280-4758; or visit http://www.ncte.org/censorship/ and click on the "Report a Censorship Incident" option.
ALWAYS RUNNING Luis Rodriguez (grade 11, CA) sexual content. Rationale sent. RETAINED.
Addendum: This case started out very badly. A single complaint from a community member resulted in an administrative order to pull the book, ignoring the district's established policy for review of challenges.
Aggressive action by teachers and patents broke through the administration's stonewalling efforts, and the book was reinstated at a Board meeting well attended by anti-censorship speakers.
THE BLUEST EYE Toni Morrison (grades 11-12, Advanced Placement, CA) profanity, sexual content. Rationale and letter of support sent. RETAINED.
Addendum: The parent who challenged this book was a victim of her own extremism. The Board moved from an uncertain position to an awareness that acceding to her strident and unreasonable demand for banning of this book would result in a string of further protests.
BRAVE NEW WORLD Aldous Huxley (grade 12, TX) profanity, sex, drugs. Rationale and letter of support sent. RETAINED.
Related news articles:
“Literature Could Be Banned,” The Valley Morning Star.
Parent: Books may lead to ‘inappropriate sexual arousal of young teens’
“Board Decides to Keep Books,” The Valley Morning Star.
Some STHS parents wanted novels off required reading list
CEREMONY Leslie Silko (grade 11, Advanced Placement, NM) sexual content. Rationale sent. RETAINED.
Addendum: The teacher writes, "The English Department resolved the issue by retaining our current policy that alternative assignments would be available at the request of parents....I am fortunate to work with colleagues and administrators who believe in academic freedom. There was logical, though passionate, support for the difficulties resulting from a complaint from one parent."
A CHILD CALLED "IT" Dave Pelzer (grade 7, NE) depiction of physical abuse. Rationale and letter of support sent. ON HOLD.
Addendum: This year-old case is an example of a war of nerves and possibly, a pocket veto. In the absence of a review policy, the book was pulled after a complaint. After much delay and wrangling, a policy was established that resulted in two other protested books, THE LOST BOY and A MAN CALLED DAVE, being retained. But despite promises, no review of the Pelzer novel was held. The teacher who has run this labyrinth is persistent, continuing to nudge the superintendent on the matter.
CHRISTOPHER PIKE series (grades 7-8, FL) horror, "un-Christainlike works." No rationale available. RETAINED.
DON'T YOU DARE READ THIS, MRS. DUNPHREY Margaret Peterson Haddix (grade 7, CA) sexual content, stealing, violence. Rationale and letter of support sent. BANNED.
Addendum: The superintendent's disingenuous statement was, "I really don't see it as banning books as much as having discretion in what we provide for our children in an instructional program."
GIRL, INTERRUPTED Susanna Kaysen (grades 9-10, MI) objection unspecified. Rationale sent. RETAINED.
GODSPELL John-Michael Tebelak, Stephen Schwars (multi-grade, high school play, LA) "religious issues." No rationale available. BANNED.
Addendum: This banning was a fait accompli when this case was called in, but it uncovered a series of well-cloaked censorship problems in the district. I conferred at length with an activist parent and a teacher who called a town meeting that generated publicity and gave promise of a more open programs and visible processes in the future.
GRASS DANCER Susan Power (grade 10 honors, IN) sexual content. No rationale available. RETAINED.
HUCKLEBERRY FINN, Mark Twain; OF MICE AND MEN, John Steinbeck; TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Harper Lee (grade 11, IL) "N" word, depictions of Black characters. Rationales and letter of support sent. RETAINED.
Addendum: This protracted case in ultimately ended with productive interaction among community members, parents, high school and university teachers, and the NCTE staff. In-service programs were developed as a backdrop for teaching literary works that deal with sensitive issues.
A LAND REMEMBERED Patrick Smith (grades 10-11, FL) "N" word. No rationale available. RETAINED.
OF MICE AND MEN John Steinbeck (grade 9, CO) "N" word. Rationale sent. RETAINED.
PAY IT FORWARD Catherine Ryan Hyde (grade 10 honors, NY) profanity, sexual content. No rationale available. RETAINED.
RITE OF PASSAGE Richard Wright (grade 9, optional reading list, SC) profanity, referring to girls a "tomatoes." No rationale available. Letter of support sent. RETAINED.
STUCK IN NEUTRAL Terry Trueman (grade 8, WI) profanity, sexual content, violence. No rationale available. Letter of support sent. RETAINED.
Related news articles:
“Mother's Objection To Book To Be Heard By School Board,” Wisconsin State Journal.
“Stuck In Neutral' Mired In Controversy.” Wisconsin State Journal.
Evansville Parents Object To Book's Violent Content
“Let Students Read And Discuss Ideas,” Wisconsin State Journal.
“Evansville Board Hears Both Sides On Book,” Wisconsin State Journal.
Several Students Spoke In Favor Of The Novel Some Parents Believe Isn't Appropriate For Their Eighth-graders.
“Students Defend Controversial Book's Place In Curriculum,” The Capital Times.
“Your Views,” Wisconsin State Journal.
“Evansville Book Drama Nears Last Chapter,” The Capital Times.
“Book Survives Attack,” The Capital Times.
Evansville Board Vote Unanimous
“Let Students Read,” The Capital Times.
Author of Stuck in Neutral Terry Trueman's own Web site and covereage of the censorship case, as well as a transcript of his statement to the school board and a student's statement to the board defending the book
WE ALL FALL DOWN Robert Cormier (grade 9, KS) sexual content, profanity. Rationale and letter of support sent. BANNED from class study; individual can read.
Addendum: No policy for review of challenges existed when the protest was made. A committee has been formed to write a policy.
CODA: BOOK "LABELLING" SQUELCHED. In an Alabama district, a parent's protest of S.E. Hinton 's TEX led to a bizarre administrative order. English teachers, in distributing reading lists, would be required to asterisk certain titles, noting that "this selection contains controversial language, behavior, situations, descriptions, or innuendoes." NCTE sent a letter protesting the misleading and needlessly inflammatory labeling of books. A local teacher took the lead in organizing opposition to the order. After considerable negative publicity, the order was withdrawn.
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