All the stir around banning books and book selection propelled many school boards to revise policies for reviewing and purchasing instructional and supplemental (teacher selected or library) materials. Many have created book review committees, approved book lists, convoluted processes, and paths that will allow materials to be used in classrooms even if they don't adhere to the appropriateness rubric, rating scale they created. Take a look at the document below. The items listed under each grade level show you what would be considered appropriate. In the case of high school supplemental, consensual descriptive sex acts, intense violence, pervasive crude language for body parts, profanity and graphic descriptions of drugs and alcohol would be permissible even to a 14 year old.
In the case of Mooresville Graded Schools, they will use recommendations from the American Library Association (ALA), Kirkus, School Library Journal or other professional industry sources as a means to bypass the standards they created. They will justify a book's use based on several variables such as a positive review even for mature themes, broadens a students experience, or provides alternative viewpoints/multiple perspectives. The Appropriateness Document should stand on it's own. Any book that cannot meet the standard should not be up for discussion. If parents want their children to read disqualified books, they have the freedom of choice to purchase them or check them out of the public library. Taxpayers should not be forced to finance books that they morally disagree with, no more than nuns should be forced to fund abortions.
Please take the time to read through Mooresville Graded Schools presentation because something similar is coming your way if it is not in place already. See if you believe as we do. that it is time to demand better for our children.
We would like to know what is happening in your district.
