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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1/4/14  4:29 pm
Commenter: Wendy Lanehart, Elementary Librarian

Please reject censorship
 

     As a parent, I understand where parents' concerns are coming from.  However, what I consider "Sensitive" and "controversial" might be different from other families.  Who is going to make this judgment?  I don't want someone else deciding for my child.  I've taught in VA's public schools for over 15 years.  I taught high school English for 7 years and in my last year, had a parent contest my use of The Color Purple with an eleventh grade Honors English class.  As a librarian, I constantly hear stories of parents who don't like a certain book or author.  Each school should have a procedure in place for  parental concerns.  I do not think requiring teachers to post when they're going to use a "sensitive" piece of literature is going to help, it's just going to increase censorship in our schools. I believe as educators it is our responsibility to teach students using good literature and also about free speech and our rights and responsibilities as citizens.  I feel this is a bad idea, and I vote.

CommentID: 29836