I suppose nobody thought to ask these supposed relatives if they signed the waiver for this kid to be in the class? Did they sign out without reading what it was about? Did they see the previews? Why they didn't just take the option to have their alleged kid not read it?
Such dramatics, multiple supposed relatives, weeping, and I'll bet all speaking rapidly, one after the other, and over anyone who objected, are really upping the ante here. Sounds like the Gish gallop employed in phony debates.
They blindside the board, giving them no time to prepare for objections by reading the book or even about the book, checking the files to see if the waiver was signed, and who signed it, etc.
This just has to stop. We who oppose it have to figure out how to stop it before our schools and public libraries are stripped of everything worth reading.
Thank you for your work on this, and for keeping us up-to-date.
Thank you! And this is accurate: "Such dramatics, multiple supposed relatives, weeping, and I'll bet all speaking rapidly, one after the other, and over anyone who objected, are really upping the ante here." It was a very emotional presentation, and the family connection added to the resonance. If you didn't know the book or the facts of the case, it would have been easy to side with the family. And unfortunately, judging by the body language and comments of the trustees, it may have been effective.
Thank you, Frank. The bombardment continues, but one encouragement to me last spring was that censorship opposition is seeing more success. I am not in Klein ISD, but I think it’s important for us to support each other throughout the state. What local school,boards do or don’t do impacts public teacher recruitment and retention as well as all of our students’ education experience.
One more point. I taught in public schools as well as a highly selective independent school, with a top notch curriculum and master teachers. I guarantee you they will continue to read Toni Morrison. If public schools, including those in high socioeconomic areas, start dumbing down their curriculum, they are going to see their graduates woefully underprepared as they go off to college. I am even curious how college admissions at top tier schools will view a 1950s curriculum.
For now, I am going to write each of the Klein ISD trustees and include a link to your website about this book.
Thank you ! And yes, this is absolutely true and concerning: "If public schools, including those in high socioeconomic areas, start dumbing down their curriculum, they are going to see their graduates woefully underprepared as they go off to college."
I like your thought process of offering countering tools in the same manner the banners are doing. I've often thought we are five steps behind in how things are portrayed coming from the moderate or left viewpoint of things when the right has been barreling down the highway at full speed and we're just trying to dodge the traffic cones left in our wake. No real offense, only defense and that puts us further and further behind in our arguments. It's the point of their tactics, of course.
Somehow I have never gotten around to reading The Bluest Eye but will make it a point soon!
Oh, re: them coming after AP---IB coursework has been a target in my district for a while and thankfully the board has stood up to the things being said about it. It's honestly absurd.
This is so true! I was the children’s coordinator at Huntsville Public Library when it was being attacked. These kinds of resources putting books into context from a progressive perspective, and explaining why someone would teach them/stock them are really needed!
I suppose nobody thought to ask these supposed relatives if they signed the waiver for this kid to be in the class? Did they sign out without reading what it was about? Did they see the previews? Why they didn't just take the option to have their alleged kid not read it?
Such dramatics, multiple supposed relatives, weeping, and I'll bet all speaking rapidly, one after the other, and over anyone who objected, are really upping the ante here. Sounds like the Gish gallop employed in phony debates.
They blindside the board, giving them no time to prepare for objections by reading the book or even about the book, checking the files to see if the waiver was signed, and who signed it, etc.
This just has to stop. We who oppose it have to figure out how to stop it before our schools and public libraries are stripped of everything worth reading.
Thank you for your work on this, and for keeping us up-to-date.
Thank you! And this is accurate: "Such dramatics, multiple supposed relatives, weeping, and I'll bet all speaking rapidly, one after the other, and over anyone who objected, are really upping the ante here." It was a very emotional presentation, and the family connection added to the resonance. If you didn't know the book or the facts of the case, it would have been easy to side with the family. And unfortunately, judging by the body language and comments of the trustees, it may have been effective.
Thank you, Frank. The bombardment continues, but one encouragement to me last spring was that censorship opposition is seeing more success. I am not in Klein ISD, but I think it’s important for us to support each other throughout the state. What local school,boards do or don’t do impacts public teacher recruitment and retention as well as all of our students’ education experience.
One more point. I taught in public schools as well as a highly selective independent school, with a top notch curriculum and master teachers. I guarantee you they will continue to read Toni Morrison. If public schools, including those in high socioeconomic areas, start dumbing down their curriculum, they are going to see their graduates woefully underprepared as they go off to college. I am even curious how college admissions at top tier schools will view a 1950s curriculum.
For now, I am going to write each of the Klein ISD trustees and include a link to your website about this book.
https://www.kleinisd.net/district/board_of_trustees gives email addresses.
Thank you ! And yes, this is absolutely true and concerning: "If public schools, including those in high socioeconomic areas, start dumbing down their curriculum, they are going to see their graduates woefully underprepared as they go off to college."
I like your thought process of offering countering tools in the same manner the banners are doing. I've often thought we are five steps behind in how things are portrayed coming from the moderate or left viewpoint of things when the right has been barreling down the highway at full speed and we're just trying to dodge the traffic cones left in our wake. No real offense, only defense and that puts us further and further behind in our arguments. It's the point of their tactics, of course.
Somehow I have never gotten around to reading The Bluest Eye but will make it a point soon!
Oh, re: them coming after AP---IB coursework has been a target in my district for a while and thankfully the board has stood up to the things being said about it. It's honestly absurd.
This is so true! I was the children’s coordinator at Huntsville Public Library when it was being attacked. These kinds of resources putting books into context from a progressive perspective, and explaining why someone would teach them/stock them are really needed!