| Decision on WHEN JEFF COMES HOME |
[Jan. 11th, 2006|02:37 am] |
Here is a link to an article from the Dallas Morning News with the latest information on the challenge to WHEN JEFF COMES HOME in Irving, Texas. In short, the appeal to the superintendent's decision was withdrawn, so middle school students in Irving will need signed parental permission slips to read WJCH. I'm not sure what to say about all this except to note that this event has brought lots of new attention to JEFF, and got people talking about it again, and what more could an author want?
On a serious note I am sorry the decision came down this way. I think the book should be out there for students to read, or not read, as it suits them. I don't understand restricting it. Through this I've often thought about my elementary school library(grades K-8) in a tiny, rural California town. The librarian had all kinds of materials available--*available*, not pushed on anyone--and as far as I know, no one bothered her about it. Her library was much better stocked than the public one downtown. This was where I read Isabelle Holland, Richard Peck(in his edgy YA days), Kin Platt, works like THE LITTLE GIRL WHO LIVES DOWN THE LANE and FRIEDRICH and THE FRIENDS. Stuff that was completely outside my experience, and no one was talking about it, and I know I wasn't harmed by reading it. Materials like these opened my eyes to a world beyond what I was seeing. Isn't that a good thing? It was for me. |
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[Dec. 21st, 2005|01:02 am] |
On December 20, I appeared on the Dallas/Fort Worth KLIF-570 AM morning drive news program talking about the challenge to When Jeff Comes Home. The host was for restricting the book, but willing to listen to the other side, and we had a good conversation about it.
Here is a link to the article in the Dallas Morning News about the challenge. |
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[Dec. 19th, 2005|11:54 am] |
Great article today in the Dallas Morning News about the challenge to When Jeff Comes Home in Irving, Texas. A balanced report, with voices on all sides of the issue.
An overview of the challenge as it stands: An Irving, Texas middle school parent complained about When Jeff Comes Home, asking that it be removed from district libraries. A committee reviewed the book and decided to keep it on the shelves. The parent appealed, and after reading WJCH, the superintendent ruled that middle school parents must provide written permission before their students are allowed to read it. Librarians appealed, and now the decision rests in the hands of the school board, which will vote on the matter after a public hearing on January 23. |
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[Dec. 12th, 2005|02:08 am] |
A librarian contacted me from a school in Texas where my book, When Jeff Comes Home, is being challenged. The librarian said that a parent had complained about WJCH, the superintendent had read it as a result, and that now he is requiring parents to write permission letters before their students may read the book. The matter will likely go before the school board next. The librarian asked if I had any insights to share about the book and why I wrote it. I thought about it, and this is what I sent:
( Read more... ) |
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