What a Relief

Well, the meeting went incredibly well.

Administration was not happy with their knee jerk reaction. They stated that they cannot, in the future, let one or two parents dictate curriculum.

Applause.

Our superintendant suggested sending back the original texts in favor of edited ones; however, the 9th grade teachers decided just to get a classroom set of edited books in case parents disapprove.

It was decided not to refer to the committee and policy in the handbook because it was a lot of effort to expend just for two angry phone calls. If there were more, then forming the committee and examining the book would be the way to go.

The 9th grade teachers will discuss the book at our annual fall open house and conferences. They will also send home a permission slip, noting the books explicit content and make parents aware of either having their children read and edited version of the book (which, I think, has about four words altered in all) or an entirely different book. This is similar to our school's policy on permission for films.

In all, this was handled well and we felt supported.

What a relief. I know the freshmen teachers feel much, much better. As do I.