Friday

Kenzie is now quite animated. She can coo and laugh and, best of all, smile. Let me tell you, when she sees me and gets that grin, there is nothing wrong with the world. Of course, I don’t have the same impact on Kenzie as her mother does, which is vexing.

Gail, who is staying with us for the next few months for daycare, said that as soon as Kristie got home for lunch, Kenzie was smiling and laughing and following her with her eyes.

Great.

I’m just happy if she doesn’t bawl when I see her when I get home! Well, it’s not that bad, but she is really a mother’s girl right now. She even likes Casey better! And he stays in his room most of the time.

However, when that little girl of mine looks at me - and I see that recognition in her eyes - and she smiles and giggles. Man, there is nothing wrong with the world and my feet don't feel the ground.

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Well, we’ve made the news now. WDAZ was here yesterday talking to one of my colleagues about the book. Apparently, one of the concerned mothers contacted them. Though I would suspect they were already aware of it since it was the cover story in the local paper.

Now former students have begun sending emails in support of the staff and curriculum. This long ago stopped being about a single scene from a book. It has now gone past the idea of censorship. Thanks to the crazy ass moms and their witch hunt, it has gone to where teachers and their reputations on the line.

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I heard from a colleague here that a middle school teacher openly wondered if the high school English department would have their students reading Playboy next.

Ironically, after having the original story “The Fireman” published in “Galaxy,” Bradbury expanded it and had it published in installments in . . . you guessed it . . . Playboy!

Things have now come full circle.

In another twist of fate, for my first class ever here, I wanted students to start the year off with a bang. I wanted them to read a story that was both complex yet interesting. So I printed off copies of a short story called “The Harry Hastings Method” that I had read for a summer short story class from BSU.

It was hilarious and it had a great plot twist. Plenty of stuff for us to discuss. So I ran copies off – diligent to white out any of the cuss words, which was no small task. But again, I wanted the students to read interesting stories and not all that boring stuff about Minister’s and their black veils or old ladies from the Civil War and their roses that I had to suffer through in high school.

We read the story on the first day and the kids liked it. Then I had them fill out an exit slip asking them to give me some feedback on the story and my first time teaching.

One comment made me wonder if I’d ever have a second day teaching. The comment read “Let’s reader another story from Playboy!”

Apparently, at the end of the story was the copy right info, which I also copied off. I never bothered to read the fine print where it said clearly that the story had originally appeared in an issue of Playboy!

Ha. I stuck mostly to stories from the textbook – regardless of how boring I thought they were – for awhile after that.


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Here is an interesting article from the author himself.

http://www.mathabane.com/book%20banning.htm

Here’s another cite about a controversial and banned book – and what happened to the man who


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Well, it doesn’t look like the code of conduct issue will die. Apparently, our superintendent will meet with the high school staff tomorrow morning to share his view.

I am surprised, given how poorly his side has gone over with the elementary and middle school staffs.

I just don’t see how any teacher will ever trust any administrator again. Yes, they are nice people who care, but when it comes to backing teachers and handling real issues, teachers have cause for concern.


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One of my colleagues just mentioned a great idea for Monday’s school board meeting. We should bring in all of the books that we teach that are on the banned books list and pile them up on the table. I like that idea.

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This morning the administration FINALLY is going to address the staff about the book controversy. I know they loathe confrontation, but sometimes confrontation is unavoidable.

Should be interesting. Don't worry readers . . . I'll be sure to take good notes and fill you in.