Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Education
 
Board
State Board of Education
 
chapter
Regulations Governing Local School Boards and School Divisions [8 VAC 20 ‑ 720]
Action Amendments Regarding Use of Controversial or Sensitive Instructional Materials
Stage NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 1/15/2014
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12/18/13  8:38 am
Commenter: Cathryn Soenksen

Please consider all ramifications
 
Please take an imaginary step into your local high school's library and look around.  Each of those books has been carefully selected by professional educators and educating librarians as being of value, worth spending precious limited budget monies on acquiring for student use.  Take another imaginary step into a high school classroom and check out the volumes in that classroom library, books that may include topics of history, science, health, and literature that would make "including a notice to parents about any sensitive or sexually explicit materials that 
may be included in the course, the textbook, or any supplemental instructional materials" not only a Herculean task but one which would put a stranglehold on freedom of exploratory thought and discussion. 
 
Please consider a more rational alternative of inviting parents to explore with their children the texts assigned to and chosen by them.  Eavesdrop on any coffee shop discussion among parents and you'll be reminded that "sensitive" is not a term that can be universally applied to any given text and material that could potentially be perceived as such should be addressed on an individual basis with alternatives made available for families who determine a text is not appropriate for their children.
 
Also, you might enjoy The Book Thief at your local theater over the holidays.
CommentID: 29679