Frequently Asked Questions
How do I contact the Blue Valley Board of Education?
Isn’t what you are doing equivalent to censorship?
When are elections for each member of the Blue Valley Board of Education?
How does the Blue Valley School system compare to others in Johnson County?
What has the U.S. Supreme Court said about this issue?
Q: I am also concerned about the books that are being used in the Blue Valley school system. What can I do about this?
A: First of all, be informed. The very fact that you’re reading this Web site is a wonderful indication that you are actively involved in your child’s education. But specifically, ask your child’s teacher for a list of books that are assigned in his or her communication arts class. Compare this list with the approved list at this Web site. Ask your child about the content of the books. Read the books yourself, read the documentation provided by the school to support the selection of this novel, and read third party book reviews at this and other Web sites. The documentation on why each book was selected for the Blue Valley system is supposed to be available at each Blue Valley high school library. This documentation consists of two professional reviews and 2-3 teacher reviews per book.
Then, if you feel that a particular book is inappropriate for your child, ask the teacher for an alternative novel. But be aware that while Blue Valley states that they are committed to providing an alternative novel for any student that requests one, this system is not currently well understood, promoted, or implemented. (For example, in one case a child who is asked for an alternative was sent to the library during communication arts class.) The BV communication arts curriculum claims to teach literary concepts and skills – the choice of the novel to support these concepts and skills is supposed to be irrelevant to these goals. It makes good common sense to choose the richest, most educational literary examples available. Yet in the classroom, the discussions often focus on the R-rated content of a particular book. This means that a child that is reading an alternative would only become more confused, offended, and ostracized during these discussions. Unfortunately, Blue Valley currently appears to have no meaningful system to integrate alternative books into the classroom discussion making their alternative system somewhat punitive to the child who requests an alternative.
If you feel that a book should be removed from the approved book list, notify your school’s teacher, principal, and the Blue Valley Board of Education. Be specific about the offensive material. Blue Valley policy 4610 may be exercised to challenge a learning resource, but the last time it was used (to challenge This Boy’s Life ), the Board ruled 7-0 to retain the book on the Blue Valley approved list. Their vote was partially due to a last-minute legal opinion that questioned the Board’s ability to remove the book in the first place. So while policy 4610 provides parents with a process to challenge a learning resource the process is currently destined to a predetermined result. The Board needs to clarify whether or not they do have the legal right to remove a book; the Board needs to clarify whether they can implement their own policy. Without this clarification, the policy does not provide the implied parental recourse that it currently claims. (Click here to read a partial transcript of the 2/9/04 Board meeting discussion on This Boy’s Life.) If you would like to have the Board reconsider removing This Boy’s Life from the approved book list, click here.
The bottom line is that this situation will not improve unless many parents speak up. Use the process, the words, and the methods that make the most sense to you. Be specific and be persistent. We’re really after a common goal – the best education for our children. To that end, we should expect good choices in the literature assigned to our children.
Q: How do I contact the Blue Valley Board of Education?
A: Information about the Blue Valley Board of Education can be found at the home page: http://www.bluevalleyk12.org/BOE/index.cfm
This site lists Board member profiles for each Board member. Individual e-mail addresses and voicemail numbers are provided below.
How do I contact the Blue Valley Board of Education? boe@bluevalleyk12.org (Sends your message to the entire Blue Valley BOE and Superintendent Tom Trigg, ttrigg@bluevalleyk12.org)
Lori Hisle, President lorihisle@yahoo.com Voicemail: 239-4700, then 999-1245
Dan French dfrench@bluevalleyk12.org Voicemail: 239-4700, then 106-5000
John Fuller jfuller@dlrgroup.com Voicemail: 239-4700, then 106-7811
Steve Klika sklika@bluevalleyk12.org Voicemail: 239-4700, then 106-2005
Sue Matson smatson01@bluevalleyk12.org Voicemail: 239-4700, then 106-5555
Pam Robinson pamelajrobinson@aol.com Voicemail: 239-4700, then 404-0098
Clint Robinson crobinson4@kc.rr.com Voicemail: 239-4700, then 106-2003
Q: I think that the novels used in the Blue Valley school system are fine. Kids will learn about this material sometime, so why not read about it in school?
A: With all due respect to the parents that feel this way, many of us do not. Some parents want to retain the right to determine when and how their children are exposed to sexually-explicit, occultist, vulgar, violent, and otherwise obscene content. Some parents do not allow their high school children to see R-rated movies, and do not expect the school to introduce R-rated ideas, words, and situations to their kids without prior parental knowledge and consent. Also, no one is suggesting that a parent who wants their child to read a particular book should not be able to check it out of the library. The issue at hand is whether or not a particular book is appropriate as part of a required reading assignment for all children in a particular class.
Also, no one is suggesting that the school “water down” the curriculum or in any way make it less rigorous. In fact, by selecting novels of higher literary quality, just the opposite will occur. Given the fact that hundreds, even thousands, of classics and novels exist that are not being assigned, it is an educational disservice to all students to not expect the school to adopt the best literature reasonably available. Freshman books such as This Boy’s Life and The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole fall far short of that common sense standard.
Q: Isn’t what you are doing equivalent to censorship?
A: Anyone who suggests that the removal of a particular novel as part of a required reading assignment for a class is equivalent to censorship is either ignorant of the law as well as the policies of the Blue Valley School system, or deliberately obscuring the truth. Consider these facts:
- This debate is not about removing existing books from the Blue Valley school libraries.
- This debate is not about preventing children from checking out books from the Blue Valley school library.
- This debate is not about limiting a child’s “right to read.”
- Rather, this debate is about what constitutes excellent and age-appropriate literature for required reading assignments. It's about providing decent and non-sexually-charged literature for required reading assignments.
- The teachers select only a tiny sliver of available literature to assign as required reading assignments. Yes, we, as the parents of these minor kids, oppose foisting vulgar and sexually-charged books on our children as required reading assignments, but we also promote hundreds of other high quality books that are currently NOT being read in favor of some highly offensive titles. If the word "censor" could be used in this situation, which group would it better describe?
Q: Given the fact that there are so many good books, why must the Blue Valley School system insist on using books that contain such vulgar material?
A: That’s the million dollar question that sadly remains unanswered. The following information does provide some clues to this mystery, though.
Much of the problem is due to the fact that the Blue Valley School System has not followed nor enforced their own policies. For example, policy 4600 that describes the 14 criteria by which learning resources shall be selected has not been followed in the selection of novels for their communication arts classes. The documentation to support the selection of each novel (available at the district office and some school libraries) shows that only two of the 14 criteria have been seriously considered even though the policy clearly states that all 14 shall be used. Many of the selection criteria such as whether or not a novel is age-appropriate for its audience, or of high quality, have been ignored. Had this policy been followed as written, we may not be in the current situation of wondering why our children are reading books that contain the f-word in the first place.
In addition, books have been assigned that have not gone through an evaluation process at all. It truly seems unbelievable that a teacher would assign a book with complete disregard to the existing district selection policies, but that is happening in many classrooms. Does it make any sense that the Board would set an important policy such as the criteria by which learning resources are selected, but hold absolutely no one responsible when the policy is ignored? Yet that is exactly what is happening.
Also, the alternative process is not clearly understood, promoted, or implemented. Few parents know that they can request alternatives, teachers are not prepared with alternative choices should they be requested, and the classroom is not currently organized to allow a discussion of literary concepts using two books at the same time.
Finally, it's important to note that the Blue Valley School Board has refused to address the issue of decency standards although this was identified as an important issue -- a "10,000 pound gorilla" -- by President John Fuller at the February 9, 2004, Board meeting.
It's truly amazing that the same people who will readily admit that books can inspire and educate, refuse to acknowledge that books can also debase and degrade. The hidden agenda by those who are requiring students to read these vulgar novels as well as those Board members who refuse to enforce their own policies is unclear. But one thing is very clear: No one loves, understands, or is as concerned for the welfare of your child as much as you, the parents. Get involved.
Q: When are elections for each member of the Blue Valley Board of Education?
Terms of office are for four years and begin July 1. Elections are held in odd-numbered years. If a Primary Election is held, voters vote only for the board member position in which they live and for the at-large position. In the General Election, voters vote for all positions. Susan Asner (4), Sheryl Spalding (5), and Nikki Copp's (6) terms expire in 2005. John Fuller (2), Lori Hisle (3), Pam Robinson (1), and Clint Robinson's (7-At Large) terms expire in 2007.
Click here to view more information on Board Member elections.
Click here to download a map of Board districts as a .pdf file from the Blue Valley school Web site.
Q: How does the Blue Valley School system compare to others in Johnson County?
While the Blue Valley School system appears to have a sound set of policies on paper, the fact that they have not implemented them in the classroom (for example, assigning novels that have not gone through their own evaluation process as described by policy 4600) makes their policies worth little more than the paper they are printed on. Furthermore, by the Board's actions in the past two Board meetings, they appear unable or unwilling to enforce their own policies or hold those accountable within the school system that refuse to follow them.
The following course descriptions provide more insight into the problems within the Blue Valley Communication Arts programs. Note the clarity with which the Shawnee Mission and Olathe course descriptions are written. This clarity starts with the course titles themselves. For Shawnee Mission and Olathe, the course titles include the word "English" (which also matches the graduation requirements as defined by the Kansas State Department of Education ). Blue Valley English courses are titled "Communication Arts" courses.
More concerning than this, however, is the lack of clarity of the actual course descriptions themselves. Consider, for example, the course description for the freshman Blue Valley, Shawnee Mission, and Olathe English classes. The first sentence of the Blue Valley course description describes a philosophy course. The Shawnee Mission and Olathe course descriptions are much clearer.
Blue Valley -- Communication Arts I
Communication Arts I, a skill-based course, focuses on themes of identity and the individual’s journey as a hero. The curriculum contains a balance of reading, writing, listening, speaking, and viewing skills. For comprehension and pleasure, students read novels, plays, short stories, poetry and non-fiction. Students write narratives, poetry and exposition. The class includes the study of literary terms, vocabulary and conventions, as well as the application of research skills.
Shawnee Mission -- English 9
All English courses address the same general goals. Students will:
- Read a variety of texts for understanding, information, and personal enjoyment.
- Write effectively for different audiences, purpose, and occasions.
- Employ language to communicate effectively.
- Speak effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and occasions.
- Apply skills to become independent learners.
Students study a variety of literary genres and related literary terms, write a range of formal and informal papers, practice the language skills needed for effective presentation, participate in individual oral activities, and apply study and test-taking skills to all coursework.
Olathe -- English 1
This course includes the study of literature, composition and the writing process, vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and other communication skills.
Q: What has the U.S. Supreme Court said about this issue?
In the 1982 case, Board of Education v. Pico, the U.S. Supreme Court recognizes the legitimate authority that school boards have in removing materials from the educational settings of school libraries and classrooms that are “pervasively vulgar” or “educational unsuitable.” The Court maintains that the school board actions should reflect “community interest in promoting respect for authority and traditional values be they social, moral, or political.”
Also, in Butler v. Michigan, "The First Amendment protects not only the dissemination but also the receipt of information and ideas" and "Public debate must not only be unfettered; it must be informed."
Q: Does it really matter?
Yes!
The simple truth is this:
What you let your mind dwell on, you become.
Parents understand this truth. They really don't need to see research, talk to experts, or confer with counselors to understand this in their minds and hearts. But obviously our Communication Arts teachers, administrators, and even the Board members are currently unwilling to acknowledge this truth. In fact, we've twice heard Blue Valley officials publicly state, "It doesn't matter what I think". (An appropriate response to which would be: "Then please resign from your position, a requirement of which is that you think.") Perhaps what they really meant to say is this: "My personal opinions about this content are not important." But that doesn't really make any sense either because the teacher's opinions about the books are very clearly identified as one of the 14 criteria by which the books are supposed to be selected in the first place!
With respect to those who still don't think it's important that "they think," or are not sure whether the f-word is "good" or "bad" as it relates to required reading for our students, consider the following...
1. Even the secular movie industry acknowledges more concern over the age-appropriateness of its product than the Blue Valley School system's Communication Arts program. By implementing a rating system, warning potential customers that the movie they are about to see may contain adult-only content, the movie industry provides some advance notice of the content of its product and acknowledges that not all content is appropriate for all ages. The Blue Valley School system has to date refused to provide any advance notice of the R-rated content of the books on their required reading list in either their individual course directives, or in their official reviews.
2. It's hypocritical for the Blue Valley school system to have a policy that requires prior parental notification when R-rated movies are shown, but be completely silent about the same issues as it relates to the novels the children are required to read.
3. The teacher reviews of these books (available in your school library) do not mention the fact that the book contains sexually-explicit scenes, the f-word, or any other R-rated content. Therefore, when a parent asks to see the teacher reviews of the books, they do NOT get the information they are probably most interested in. In fact, it's as if the teacher reviews have intentionally ignored the controversial content in order to justify the adoption of the book.
4. There are hundreds...perhaps thousands...of classics and otherwise wonderful literature that is NOT being used in lieu of some obscene and f-word laden novels. Your child's education is being severely compromised in the Communication Arts curriculum when they are required to read f-words versus books by outstanding authors such as Bronte, Cooper, Pyle, Austen, Wallace, Kipling, and Lewis -- authors who have no books on the "approved" book list.
5. The Communication Arts curriculum does "not teach any specific novel." (A quote from a district representative.) Yet the teachers, district, and School Board have spent an enormous amount of time and energy defending the current list of books this past school year by justifying the current situation and taking absolutely no action to require the Communication Arts curriculum to come into compliance with its own policy for the selection of learning resources, policy 4600. To date, the only positive action by the Board has been to commission a subcommittee to study policy 4600. But this subcommittee has no jurisdiction over the real problem -- the lack of compliance with the policy and the lack of accountability over why the policy has never been fully implemented.
The question is this: If the curriculum doesn't require the reading of any particular novel, why is it such a big deal to remove a depressing and f-word-laden book such as This Boy's Life and replace it with such books as Story of My Life by Helen Keller, Anne Frank: A Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr. by Coretta Scott King, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce, or a number of other memoirs that would inspire, uplift, and otherwise nurture a love of reading?
6. The books on the approved list were not selected according to the criteria set forth by the district's own selection policy, 4600. So when is the district going to take action to prove to the parents and children that the novels they have selected do follow their own selection criteria? So far, they have refused to do this!
7. Many psychologists say that boys are typically 2-3 years less mature than girls until their early 20s. In other words, the current content of the Communication Arts program is probably having an even greater negative impact on our boys than our girls. (And we wonder why our boys are not having the same academic success as our girls?! This was a general finding of a study recently done in the Blue Valley school system.)
8. If you still want your child to read these books, no one is stopping you. No one is even suggesting that the books be removed from the library. Please, however, do not force this content upon every child as a required reading assignment.
9. While textual descriptions of heterosexual sex, oral sex, homosexual sex, anal sex, rape, and incest are not generally classified as pornography because they don't contain images, it's undeniable that descriptions of sexually-explicit scenes helps develop an appetite for more of the same. Unfortunately, that appetite easily and logically leads to pornography and sexual experimentation. (Anyone watching the news knows that students are engaging in oral sex at a greater rate than ever before.) While it may be a leap to say that reading This Boy's Life leads to increased sexual encounters among students, one thing can be said with certainty: It's not helping! For information on the moral and spiritual dangers of pornography, click here.