MATURE BOOK, READING PROGRAM OFFEND PARENTS

By Rachel D'Oro

An Eagle River (Alaska) couple whose fourth-grade daughter brought home a book about a child whose father has AIDS wants the School Board to pull the highly acclaimed book from school libraries because of it's casual treatment of homosexuality and other sensitive issues.

David and Lisa Brimberry also want the board to drop elementary school children from a district reading program for fourth through eighth graders because it encourages younger children to read material they may not be ready for.

The board is scheduled to address the matter Tuesday night. District staff are recommending that school libraries continue to offer the book, "Earthshine," by Theresa Nelson, as recommended by a district committee that deals with controversial issues.

Staff, however, offered a slightly different version of the committee's recommendation to keep the Young Readers Choice program as it is, to be coordinated and promoted by individual librarians at schools that adopt the program. Instead, the district should require schools to follow the rules established by the Pacific Northwest Library Association, which sponsors the program, said Fred Stoffett, the district's curriculum director.

The Brimberrys declined to comment Sunday about either the book or Beading program. "We're not looking for any controversy here," Lisa Brimberry said. But in a November letter to the principal of Alpenglow Elementary, where their 9-year-old daughter attends, the Brimberrys listed several reasons for objecting to the book, which has won critical praise from groups such as the International Reading Association Teacher's award. The couple said the book is rife with profanity, treats AIDS as a typical virus that any innocent person can contract, portrays Homosexuality as normal, running away as normal, and abortion as an option for unwanted pregnancy.

"Homosexuality should not be a promoted lifestyle by the public schools," the Brimberrys wrote. "Additionally, homosexual parenting is identified within the book as common. Again, this is not the type of parenting which public schools should be promoting."

Parents can already ask a school not to allow their own children to check out particular books. But the couple said that wasn't enough, according to a district staff report to the board.

Dianne Etter, a PTA reprensentative on the controversial issues committee, was among the two committee members who wanted to ban the book - at least from elementary school children. The mature theme is more appropriate for middle school children. she said. "I don't feel the subject matter is appropriate for elementary school students," Said Etter, who also voted against the reading program because of it's broad age range. "I pretty much support everything the Brimberrys said. A school library should be a place where younger kids can safely browse."

Another committe member, Lynn Halquist, was in the majority who wanted to keep the book on school shelves and the reading club as it is. Halquist defended the book as sensitive and insightful, the homosexuality tastefully implied but not explicit. "I think students should be able to choose among a wide variety of subjects," said Halquist, a librarian at Klatt Elementary School. "As long as it's not a curriculum, libraries should not necessarily be safe. They should contain controversial materials, and students should be able to choose from a wide variety of subjects."

From: AlaskaDan@aol.com
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 09:24:36 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Anchorage School Board decisions...

For the second week in a row, the Anchorage School Board has decided an issue by a vote of 4-3.

Last week, the School Board voted to continue to allow a "limited open forum" in schools which resulted in a decision in favor of keeping the newly created "Gay/Straight Alliance" at Dimond High School. However, the Board also voted to require parental permission for students to join non-curriculum based clubs. Once again, there was heavy testimony from the rightwing opposed to the club. Testimony continued to oppose the discussion and "promotion" of homosexuality in public schools. The purpose of the club is tolerance and understanding rather than sexual education!

Last night, the School Board once again voted on a gay-related issue. This time parents with a daughter in the 4th grade attempted to have a book (Earthshine by Theresa Nelson) banned from Elementary schools. The book is one of 12 books included in a program called the Young Reader's Choice Program, a voluntary program established to encourage 4th-8th graders to read more.

The parents and others objected to the award-winning book due to its subject matter--a girl who's father is gay and has AIDS. The parents acknowledged the book is very well written but think 4th graders are too young for this subject.

Several other parents and school librarians testified in favor of the book. The librarian at Klatt Elem. called the book "one of the richest books I've read in children's literature." She also said the book deals with a topic that is part of our lives--like it or not. "Earthshine" is currently in 23 Anchorage elementary school libraries.

Again the Board voted 4-3 against taking the book out of elementary schools. They also voted to change the program by sending a synopsis of the 12 books children are encouraged to read to parents.

Voting for the book and for the Gay/Straight Alliance were the following Board Members: Drummond, Haney, Ossiander & Robinson-Wilson. Against: Gillespie, Ferrell & Werdal

School Board elections are coming up on April 15. You can be sure the rightwing will be supporting Lorraine Ferrell for reelection. Harriet Drummond and Debbie Ossiander are also up for reelection. They need our support! The religious political extremists need only one more vote to control our School Board. Let's make sure they don't get it!!