Books Too Obscene to Describe in Newspaper, but OK for D214 Students?
Monday, May 22, 2006
By David E. Smith, IFI Senior Policy Analyst
Parents may not realize the type of pornographic and vulgar material some school administrators want students to read.
A school board member in northwestern Chicago school District 214, Illinois' second largest school district with appoximately 12,500 children, is opposing the purchase of some very controversial reading materials for students--including one book, "Perks of a Wallflower," with numerous graphic sex depictions.
Leslie Pinney, a newly elected member of District 214's school board, recently informed us that on Thursday, May 25th, the board will be voting on a request for "Perks" and several other books that, according to the i>Daily Herald newspaper, include "references to sexual acts including masturbation, bestiality and homosexuality."
One parent, as quoted in the Herald article reviewed one of the adolescent books targeted by Pinney, and said: "I don't find the content of the book to be appropriate for 15- to 18-year-old children ... What I've read so far, to me, defines pornography."
What are these works? Many of the books in question are pornographic, obscene and vulgar. Make no mistake, if these books were movies, they would receive ratings of R, NC-17 and some would be rated X. The following list is just some of the titles administrators want to purchase:
Fallen Angels
The Things They Carried
Freakonomics
The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World
But perhaps the worse of these are:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
(Click HERE for more information. **CAUTION! Graphic details**)
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent
(Click HERE for for more information. **CAUTION! Graphic details**).
The Herald continues to report that board member Miriam "Mimi" Cooper is in favor of this type of lewd material, saying "classrooms are a good, controlled setting for teenagers to read about and discuss adult situations they will encounter later in life." Cooper also thinks that exposing young students to vulgar and pornographic themes are good "teaching moments for kids."
Teacher Chuck Venegoni, head of the English Department at Hersey High School, is also quoted in the Herald article. He thinks that if parents "want their kids to have an education that is competitive, these kids will be exposed to these works."
**Click HERE for an accounting of all of the above titles. **CAUTION! Descriptions contain graphic information**.
These books were up for discussion on May 11th and will be voted on May 25th, 2006. This should be of grave concern to parents, grandparents and concerned taxpayers.
It is important that pro-family residents fully understand and get involved to protect our students from pornographic and vulgar material, and to fight for decency and higher community standards. (For more information on the types of dangerous material being pushed on our children, visit SafeLibraries.org.)
Parents, grandparents and local taxpayers must get involved in some way to help effect positive change in your local school districts. Without parental and pro-family citizens speaking out, this material WILL be used.
YOU can have a say in this!
Leslie Pinney, the school board member who uncovered this ridiculous book order, is pleading for District 214 parents to come and speak at the next board meeting on May 25th at Forest View Center at 7:30p.m. sharp. Citizens' comments are always at the beginning of the session.
WHO: Parents, grandparents and concerned taxpayers of SD 214
WHERE: School Board Meeting at the Forest View Educational Center
2121 South Goebbert Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
WHEN: Thursday, May 25th @ 7:00 P.M. (Arrive early as citizen talking time begins promptly.)
WHY: Our teenage students should not be exposed to pornographic and vulgar reading material.
Contact School Board Members:
William Dussling, President
bill.dussling@d214.org
847-398-6834
Alva Kreutzer, Vice President
alva.kreutzer@d214.org
847-228-0562
William M. "Bill" Blaine, Jr.
bill.blaine@d214.org
847-255-7545
Lenore Gonzales Bragaw
lenore.bragaw@d214.org
847-392-7652
Miriam (Mimi) Cooper
mimi.cooper@d214.org
847-279-0403
Leslie Pinney
leslie.pinney@d214.org
847-259-3197
Robert Zimmanck
bob.zimmanck@d214.org
847-398-2518
FAQs ABOUT THE MOST RECENT D214 BOOK ORDER REQUEST
by Leslie Pinney, District 214 School Board Member
1. Are these books just being purchased for the library, is it required reading for all D214 students or for some students and if so, which schools and grade levels and classes?
These are not just books purchased for the library, but will be or already are required books for reading for specific classes within District 214 high schools, specifically Preparatory Senior English, American Studies: Literature and Writing; Preparatory American Literature and Composition; American Literature and Composition; and AP Language, Composition and American Literature. The District has yet to tell me if these books just involve one school or all of them, if the controversial books involve selections made by a few teachers or many, and they cannot tell me the process by which books are approved for reading by the students. Many questions remain unanswered.
2. Do our D214 schools have an opt-out program?
Yes, but can you, as a parent, feel good about the teacher sending your child off to a separate room because they are not allowed to read a particular book? We strive to include and "mainstream" as many Special Education students, as well as those who are English as a Second Language students. The reason for this is so that the student will feel included and not shunned or ostracized from the rest of the group. Can't the material studied be of a higher caliber and quality of literature? Must we stoop to the lower levels in our selection? We need to be inclusive of all students and be protective, as well.
3. Is some of the material really pornography or at the very least obscene and doesn't this violate laws?
Good question. Here is the dictionary.com definition:
por-nog-ra-phy Sexually explicit pictures, writing, or other material whose primary purpose is to cause sexual arousal.
Three books certainly could be close, if not actually qualify for this classification: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Beloved, and How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent.
4. What can I do as a District 214 parent, a grandparent and/or a taxpayer?
Attend the meeting at Forest View Educational Center on Thursday, May 25th @ 7:30 p.m.
2121 South Goebbert Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
847-718-7600
Even if you do not speak, your presence indicates your concern. Only District 214 residents should speak and possibly one exception to "out-of-district" speakers would be an educator.
5. If I volunteer to speak at the upcoming Board Meeting, what can I say? What resources are available to research this topic? Is this happening in other districts?
Please check out this website to see how parents in another district refuted the top eight rationalizations we should expect to hear: http://classkc.org/excuses.php
Another informative page: http://classkc.org/acrossthecountry.php
More information: http://www.eagleforum.org/column/2005/aug05/05-08-17.html
It is best if the concerned parents and residents coordinate their efforts so that all topics are covered. Please e-mail http://www.dist214.k12.il.us/community/depts/superintendency/boardmembers.php
and the link to Dr. David Schuler's e-mail: http://www.dist214.k12.il.us/community/depts/superintendency/index.php
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For Students? |
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Leslie Pinney |
Parents may not realize the type of pornographic and vulgar material some school administrators want students to read.
A school board member in northwestern Chicago school District 214, Illinois' second largest school district with appoximately 12,500 children, is opposing the purchase of some very controversial reading materials for students--including one book, "Perks of a Wallflower," with numerous graphic sex depictions.
Leslie Pinney, a newly elected member of District 214's school board, recently informed us that on Thursday, May 25th, the board will be voting on a request for "Perks" and several other books that, according to the i>Daily Herald newspaper, include "references to sexual acts including masturbation, bestiality and homosexuality."
One parent, as quoted in the Herald article reviewed one of the adolescent books targeted by Pinney, and said: "I don't find the content of the book to be appropriate for 15- to 18-year-old children ... What I've read so far, to me, defines pornography."
What are these works? Many of the books in question are pornographic, obscene and vulgar. Make no mistake, if these books were movies, they would receive ratings of R, NC-17 and some would be rated X. The following list is just some of the titles administrators want to purchase:
But perhaps the worse of these are:
(Click HERE for more information. **CAUTION! Graphic details**)
(Click HERE for for more information. **CAUTION! Graphic details**).
The Herald continues to report that board member Miriam "Mimi" Cooper is in favor of this type of lewd material, saying "classrooms are a good, controlled setting for teenagers to read about and discuss adult situations they will encounter later in life." Cooper also thinks that exposing young students to vulgar and pornographic themes are good "teaching moments for kids."
Teacher Chuck Venegoni, head of the English Department at Hersey High School, is also quoted in the Herald article. He thinks that if parents "want their kids to have an education that is competitive, these kids will be exposed to these works."
**Click HERE for an accounting of all of the above titles. **CAUTION! Descriptions contain graphic information**.
These books were up for discussion on May 11th and will be voted on May 25th, 2006. This should be of grave concern to parents, grandparents and concerned taxpayers.
It is important that pro-family residents fully understand and get involved to protect our students from pornographic and vulgar material, and to fight for decency and higher community standards. (For more information on the types of dangerous material being pushed on our children, visit SafeLibraries.org.)
Parents, grandparents and local taxpayers must get involved in some way to help effect positive change in your local school districts. Without parental and pro-family citizens speaking out, this material WILL be used.
YOU can have a say in this!
Leslie Pinney, the school board member who uncovered this ridiculous book order, is pleading for District 214 parents to come and speak at the next board meeting on May 25th at Forest View Center at 7:30p.m. sharp. Citizens' comments are always at the beginning of the session.
WHO: Parents, grandparents and concerned taxpayers of SD 214
WHERE: School Board Meeting at the Forest View Educational Center
2121 South Goebbert Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
WHEN: Thursday, May 25th @ 7:00 P.M. (Arrive early as citizen talking time begins promptly.)
WHY: Our teenage students should not be exposed to pornographic and vulgar reading material.
Contact School Board Members:
William Dussling, President
bill.dussling@d214.org
847-398-6834
Alva Kreutzer, Vice President
alva.kreutzer@d214.org
847-228-0562
William M. "Bill" Blaine, Jr.
bill.blaine@d214.org
847-255-7545
Lenore Gonzales Bragaw
lenore.bragaw@d214.org
847-392-7652
Miriam (Mimi) Cooper
mimi.cooper@d214.org
847-279-0403
Leslie Pinney
leslie.pinney@d214.org
847-259-3197
Robert Zimmanck
bob.zimmanck@d214.org
847-398-2518
FAQs ABOUT THE MOST RECENT D214 BOOK ORDER REQUEST
by Leslie Pinney, District 214 School Board Member
1. Are these books just being purchased for the library, is it required reading for all D214 students or for some students and if so, which schools and grade levels and classes?
These are not just books purchased for the library, but will be or already are required books for reading for specific classes within District 214 high schools, specifically Preparatory Senior English, American Studies: Literature and Writing; Preparatory American Literature and Composition; American Literature and Composition; and AP Language, Composition and American Literature. The District has yet to tell me if these books just involve one school or all of them, if the controversial books involve selections made by a few teachers or many, and they cannot tell me the process by which books are approved for reading by the students. Many questions remain unanswered.
2. Do our D214 schools have an opt-out program?
Yes, but can you, as a parent, feel good about the teacher sending your child off to a separate room because they are not allowed to read a particular book? We strive to include and "mainstream" as many Special Education students, as well as those who are English as a Second Language students. The reason for this is so that the student will feel included and not shunned or ostracized from the rest of the group. Can't the material studied be of a higher caliber and quality of literature? Must we stoop to the lower levels in our selection? We need to be inclusive of all students and be protective, as well.
3. Is some of the material really pornography or at the very least obscene and doesn't this violate laws?
Good question. Here is the dictionary.com definition:
por-nog-ra-phy Sexually explicit pictures, writing, or other material whose primary purpose is to cause sexual arousal.
Three books certainly could be close, if not actually qualify for this classification: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Beloved, and How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent.
4. What can I do as a District 214 parent, a grandparent and/or a taxpayer?
Attend the meeting at Forest View Educational Center on Thursday, May 25th @ 7:30 p.m.
2121 South Goebbert Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
847-718-7600
Even if you do not speak, your presence indicates your concern. Only District 214 residents should speak and possibly one exception to "out-of-district" speakers would be an educator.
5. If I volunteer to speak at the upcoming Board Meeting, what can I say? What resources are available to research this topic? Is this happening in other districts?
Please check out this website to see how parents in another district refuted the top eight rationalizations we should expect to hear: http://classkc.org/excuses.php
Another informative page: http://classkc.org/acrossthecountry.php
More information: http://www.eagleforum.org/column/2005/aug05/05-08-17.html
It is best if the concerned parents and residents coordinate their efforts so that all topics are covered. Please e-mail http://www.dist214.k12.il.us/community/depts/superintendency/boardmembers.php
and the link to Dr. David Schuler's e-mail: http://www.dist214.k12.il.us/community/depts/superintendency/index.php