Guidelines to request an alternative novel and Parent Notification letter
(The following guideline to request an alternate novel was provided to classkc.org by Blue Valley officials in late September.)
Click here to read some of the problems with the alternative guideline.
Click here to read one version of the Parental Notification letter.
Click here to read some of the problems with the Parental Notification letter.
******************************************************************************************BLUE VALLEY GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS READING AN ALTERNATE NOVEL—Revised by Blue Valley as of 8/10/04
"Students along with their parents have the right to request an alternate selection if a novel assigned is not considered acceptable by the family for the student to read. The teacher, parent and student will be responsible for selecting an appropriate alternative together in a timely manner. In some instances the district may provide a list of alternates; in other cases the teacher or parent may suggest an alternate. The teacher must agree that the alternate meets the objectives being taught by the original novel.
The assignment that directs the study of the novel will be given by the teacher. Whenever possible, the student will remain in the classroom. The teacher will inform the parent and student of potential material to be discussed that might be objectionable to them. The student may choose to go to the Library Media Center or other designated area if the parent and/or student do not want the student present for discussion of the novel by the other students. The teacher and the student will identify an agreed upon time to discuss the alternate novel as well as work on appropriate assignments.
Teachers will use instructional strategies that allow students to be a part of the class discussion whenever appropriate. Such strategies as literature circles allow students to choose from three or four novels that may represent different reading levels and interests and may be appropriate at times for use in high school classrooms.
Advanced Placement classes offer a list of novels suggested by the Advanced Placement organization. The more of those books a student is familiar with, the better he or she may do on the Advanced Placement test. If students opt out of reading certain novels, their scores may be influenced."(Editor's Note: This is extremely misleading -- see point #6 below.) "Opting out will not impact a student’s grade in the class.
Teachers will inform parents that students may choose an alternate novel at the beginning of the school year through the syllabus/class directives and at the parent night."
******************************************************************************************Problems with the Alternative Policy:
How does a student or parent know about the alternate novel guideline in the first place? Where is this information provided to the public? This is not an official Board of Education policy.
How does a student or parent request an alternative for a summer required reading assignment?
- How does a student or parent request an alternative for the first book assigned in the regular school year? (In our experience, students will already be deeply involved with the first book before parents receive the Parental Notification letter.)
What assurances does a parent have that the alternative will be an equitable match as compared to the objectives and rigor of the original selection?
Unfortunately we have heard of three cases where Great Expectations, Charles Dicken's 1800s, 380+page classic, has been used as an alternative for a much shorter contemporary literature assignment. While all college-bound students should probably read Great Expectations at some point in their high school career, the alternative process should not be used to punish those who exercise it by making the assignment significantly more difficult. Furthermore, because Great Expectations is one of the most COMMONLY referenced books on past AP English exams, and is present on almost all college-bound recommended reading lists, its current Blue Valley use -- only in the freshman grade level, and only as an alternative for a student seeking refuge from a vulgar freshman required reading assignment such as Bless Me Ultima or Stotan -- makes NO SENSE from many different standpoints.
What assurances does a parent have that the child who opts for the alternative will be treated fairly in class and not be embarrassed or socially ostracized? Several parents have told us how their children were put in extremely awkward and socially uncomfortable situations in their Communication Arts classes, all because their parents asked for an alternative to a profane or sexually-charged required reading assignment.
The "Advanced Placement" paragraph implies that students who opt out of reading a certain novel will have a lower score. First, the AP organization does not offer a list of required reading to prepare for their exams. Secondly, how does this implication square with this fact: Blue Valley CA teachers require AP students to read books that are used LESS frequently on past AP exams than some non-controversial books used MORE frequently on the AP exam (such as Great Expectations which is only used as an alternative novel at the freshman level)? Click here to see our research that proves that Blue Valley does NOT use the books that are most frequently found on AP exams.
And most importantly, where do students and parents learn about the content in the books in the first place?
Click here to view a sample book rationale form that would give parents the information they want and deserve to know BEFORE their children are assigned adult-themed books. (Compare this to the Blue Valley rationale used to support a book such as Song of Solomon. The Blue Valley rationale praises Song of Solomon as a text that is "necessary for success on the (English Advanced Placement) test". This is not true! Furthermore, the Blue Valley rationale makes NO mention of the excessive amount of sex, violence, and profanity in Song of Solomon.)
A Version of the Parent Notification Letter
******************************************************************************************August ___, 2004
Dear Parents/Guardians:
The Blue Valley Secondary Communication Arts Departments have developed a curriculum that we believe to be developmentally and cognitively appropriate for our students. We have selected some of the most acclaimed classical and contemporary literature available for study that meet Kansas and Blue Valley School District standards and benchmarks. The books listed below are the approved novels for (class name).
Professional reviews and curriculum rationales are available in each high school library media center. If you are unfamiliar with a title or have concerns about a book, please visit the library media center to learn more about the book. Some novels may include mature themes.
I encourage your involvement in your child’s education. If you object to your child reading a particular novel, the district has a process in place for determining an alternate. If you have any questions or concerns, contact me at your earliest convenience.
I look forward to working with your student and enjoying a successful and productive year.
Sincerely,
INSERT YOUR LIST OF MATERIALS/RESOURCES HERE:
******************************************************************************************Problems with the Parent Notification Letter:
- There is no mention of the nature of the potentially objectionable content that the student will be exposed to.
- There are multiple versions of the Parent Notification letter. For one thing, some ask for parent signatures and some do not.
- There is no accountability by the school that the parent has actually seen the letter even if a parent signature is requested.
Again, we ask: How can the Blue Valley school system honestly say they want the parents to be involved in the education of their children on topics such as sexuality, occultism, suicide, and profanity when they continue to refuse to acknowledge that these topics ARE being covered in class in the form of required reading assignments? Neither their parental notification letter nor their rationales share the information that parents SHOULD and DESERVE to know about the education of their children! Why does Blue Valley continue to refuse to discuss the specific content of their required reading assignments with the parents??