[CALIBK12] homosexual themes in high school books

[Doyle_Tony]

I don't think there should be separate guidelines for books with gay characters.  Whatever selection criteria you have for other books should apply equally.  A well written library plan with selection and reconsideration policies should guide you collection development.  Our library plan specifically references controversial topics and the need to present a wide variety of viewpoints.  Alex Sanchez (Rainbow High series) and Julie Ann Peters are very popular at my school and so are Patricia Rushford, Tim La Haye, and Dave and Neta Jackson.
 
As for the parent complaint, I would tell him that every book in my collection is not right for every student (e.g. I have Christian-themed books but 10% of my students are Sikh).  I would volunteer to help him assist his child in selecting books that he deems appropriate.  If that doesn't mollify him I would explain the reconsideration policy and procedures for challenging a book.  I would volunteer to print out the necessary forms and walk him through the process, being as kind and helpful as possible.
 
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Tony Doyle, Library Media Teacher 
Member California Young Reader Medal Committee
Livingston High School
Livingston, CA
tdoyle at MUHSD.K12.CA.US
Http://www.lhswolves.org/library/index.htm
Http://lhsblog.edublogs.org <http://lhsblog.edublogs.org/> 
"You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture; you just have to get people to stop reading them."
Ray Bradbury
 
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________________________________

From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu on behalf of Brian Brown
Sent: Thu 10/25/2007 8:43 AM
To: CALIB POST
Subject: [CALIBK12] homosexual themes in high school books



I recently had a parent complaint about a novel dealing with a homosexual relationship.  This was a book in my high school library collection.  Does anyone have some guidelines that they use for the inclusion or exclusion of such titles?  

Thanks,

Brian Brown

LMT

Yuba City High School

Yuba City, CA 95991