The Verdict

We won. I think.

Last night’s school board meeting was unlike anything I have experienced while teaching here.

The meeting had to be shifted from the District Service Center to the high school cafeteria because of the large turnout.

From the beginning, the tension was thick. Though, in the end, most people were able to behave respectfully toward each other.

I was the first called to speak before the school board. I had no idea I’d be first. But it worked because I was caught off guard so my nerves didn’t get the best of me. Plus, I hadn’t yet heard any of the negative comments yet, so I was not worked up either.

I addressed three things – First, the text is relevant in its unabridged format. Second, censorship is the real issue. Where will this end? Finally, I read a letter from a former student defending both the book and his former teachers.

Then came an absolute barrage against the book. However, a few voices of reason did get up and speak including a coach, former student, and several teachers.

However, the school board did finally decide – after much debate – to not commit censorship and to allow parents to have the choice for their kids – either the unabridged book or the abridged version. Then it will be up to teachers to decide which text to teach if the parents do not choose.

Having never met many of the school board members, I was impressed. The President was excellent. I told her so in the grocery store tonight. Another student's father did a great job too. I told him to relay that message to his father. They mostly seemed open to sticking to the policy, which, if followed from the start, would have cleared this mess up.

We can live with the ruling.

I was certain we’d have the book banished. I was all ready to walk out of their with my head held high like Atticus after putting up his brilliant defense in the face of a no win situation, but we actually pulled it off.

Of course, the Heraldo – aka – Grand Forks Herald – butchered the story claiming that the book was deemed inappropriate and interviewing the superintendent and an unhappy parent – and no one from the book’s side – so much for unbiased reporting. However, it took all of ten minutes for the angry calls and emails to head the Herald’s way.