[CALIBK12] Brown Angels by Walter Dean Myers
Lynne Michels
lmichels2 at cox.net
Mon Feb 16 19:28:55 PST 2009
Joanne's advice is right on the money. First, there should be a district
policy on challenged materials, with a printed form that the parent or
community member needs to fill out. I was a high school library media
teacher in LAUSD for 30 years and only had two challenges in that time. In
one case, the parent declined to fill out the district form, which was
several pages long, which asked for specific examples and which required the
challenger to write sentences and short responsive answers. In the other
case, a mother objected to a book on the Salem witchcraft trials (which had
been classified as a 133.4 by Follette). When I discussed the book with her
I showed her that it was an historical treatment of factual events, and not
a book that taught students how to be witches, as she claimed. I asked if
she felt all students should be prevented from reading the material, or just
her student. She did not want anyone to have access to it. I also pointed
out that we had a balanced collection, so that if she felt this particular
book was anti-religious, we had a large section of books in the 200's to
balance this out. She agreed with everything I said, but still objected to
the book. So I gave her the District form. Our next step was to form a
committee at the school level, consisting of an equal number of teachers
(including myself, the union leader, and administrators as well as other
teachers), classified employees, students and parents, who were all given a
copy of the form and given time to review the book. The committee met and
after considering the merits of the book and the complaint, decided that the
book was acceptable and should not be removed from the collection or
circulation. This was put in writing and the principal shared this with his
higher-ups at the District level. In the end, the District was satisfied
that due process was followed and that the decision to keep the book was
valid. The principal then informed the parent, who accepted the decision, I
think, because she was heard, had an opportunity to weigh in, and there was
a procedural system in place.
I also second Joanne when she stated that Carole should not disobey the
administrator, even when the decision goes another way. Years later I
became the teacher's union rep at our school, and we were trained to inform
our teachers that they should never disobey a direct statement or decision
of the administrator. Instead, if there was a grievance involved, again
there was a process that would be followed. That being said, however, I
certainly understand Carole's frustration and feeling of being
professionally disregarded, especially when I think of the great American
classic, "Huckleberry Finn," and its ground-breaking use of regional dialect
and poor grammar as spoken by the characters. Of course, we then have to
remember all the challenges and censorship over the years, and in various
parts of the country, to "Huckleberry Finn."
Lynne Michels
Retired LMT
-------Original Message-------
From: ladewig
Date: 2/16/2009 5:55:45 PM
To: 'Koneff, Carole'
Cc: CALIB POST
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] Brown Angels by Walter Dean Myers
Carole,
I'm not familiar with that book but I would like to know if the parent
actually filled out a written complaint as well. I think that's very
important. It's very easy to walk in and complain verbally - it's quite
another thing to "put your money where your mouth is" and WRITE IT OUT. The
rule should be "We will not consider the merits of any complaint unless it
is made (or accompanied by) a written complaint, signed and dated [by that
person]." Most districts have that provision in some format (and a printed
form for such situations). Principals should be aware of the district's
policy and prepared to enforce/comply with it.
Additionally, I offer you a few of my (famous/infamous) "random thoughts" :
I agree with you about defending the wording of the book; while I don't
personally endorse poor grammar usage by students (or adults), students need
to understand (and often do recognize) that poor grammar, regional phrases
or terms, or dialects appearing in novels are frequently employed to create
authentic dialog for the characters. Truthfully, it would be hard to imagine
an author being able to convey a particular (like a pirate, gang banger,
etc.) or regional character accurately without doing so. Most adults will
reconsider their complaint when the usage is explained in that manner.
I don't know if Walter Dean Myers is the author of the poem the parent was
upset about, but I'd guess he (parent) doesn't know much about the author.
Walter Dean Myers is black (and grew up in Harlem), so I doubt whether he
intended to give the idea that people literally have different colored
hearts, but rather that in this case, calling a heart black simply means a
bad or evil heart, as in bad or evil intentions (a classic interpretation).
It's NOT a comment on or indication of the person's race.
Don't see it as the "parent winning." "Winning" isn't the issue, or at least
it shouldn't be. Don't take it as a personal attack on your choice of
materials. As a district employee working in the library, you should have a
copy of the district's policy and procedures in dealing with censorship
attempts, and follow through with it (i.e. get the parent to write out the
complaint on the appropriate form), if censoring is what the parent was
asking/insisting on. It sounds more like the parent felt the children
weren't mature enough to understand the intent of the poem, and might take
aspects of the poem literally. The younger the child, the more likely that
is to be true - that's why Amelia Bedelia is so popular (and helpful) at
this age (2nd grade) - children identify with Amelia because they are also
still figuring out the distinction between literal versus the intended
meaning. As an adult, we must constantly reassess what our current group of
students is mature enough for, and that could vary significantly even from
one class of 2nd graders to the next. I can't speak to "Brown Angels" but I
do know that most of Myers works are geared for middle school age and up.
I understand your frustration with the principal's decision, but STOP AND
THINK - to rebuke or disobey your principal, even on such an important
ground as this (potentially censorship), might be described or interpreted
as insubordination. For a CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE, this is bad news and can
taint your employment record indefinitely. Don't go there. Vent your
frustration and get advice from a union steward before you press on.
Hope this has been helpful - from one who has "been down that road already."
Joanne Ladewig (A.K.A. "Library Lady")
Library Media Tech
Lawrence Elementary, GGUSD
Garden Grove, California
shatz at verizon.net
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark.
Professionals built the Titanic.
Comments are my own and may not represent the views of GGUSD
-----Original Message-----
From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu
[mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Koneff, Carole
Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 6:50 AM
To: calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Subject: [CALIBK12] Brown Angels by Walter Dean Myers
Good morning one and all:
I work as a library aide in an elementary school for the Los Angeles Unified
School District. I have been doing it for five years and like all of you,
love my job. This is my first time using the list to guage opinions about
something.
This relates more to elementary school folk as far as the book goes, but I
will be interested to hear opinions from everyone who would like to comment.
How many of you are familiar with the book Brown Angels by Walter Dean
Myers? I like this book very much and have been using it on a reading
challenge open to grades 2 to 5. They all read the same books as this
challenge is not based on reading levels and 2nd graders may have as much
help from a parent as required. Last Thursday, a parent of a 2nd grader
came into the library to tell me that he thought this book completely
inappropriate for a 2nd grader and could not understand why I had chosen to
use it. I asked him to explain what he found inappropriate because I told
him that I personally did not see anything to send any warning flags when I
first read and decided to use the book. He specifically objected to the use
of the word "ain't" in the poem called They. He actually called it slang, I
chose not to correct him. He thought it wrong to encourage our children to
speak incorrectly. He then went on to say that he objected to the phrase
"black heart" in the poem ca!
lled Pride. He did not want his son to think that we all had different
colored hearts but that we are all the same. On this one, I begged to
differ with him (I am white and it is a white parent just for the record),
but explained that I felt the author was using the phrase to emphasize how
proud all the people who have come before and paved the way have felt. He
didn't like this answer much. He even threw the word "racial" at me at one
point. He did not raise his voice or insult me other than the fact that he
was questioning my judgment!
I advised him that it had been a while since I had read it so I would take
another look at it and also seek another opinion which I did. I spoke to
the teacher of the student who supported my findings as did the assistant
principal. We are all of different ethnic origins. Not that that should
make any difference, but he started it! The teacher spoke to him but as he
was unhappy that she didn't agree he went to the assistant principal.
Unhappy that she didn't agree he went to the Principal. Let me make it
clear, he did not request that the book be removed from the library, just
from my reading challenge. I gave the principal a summary of events,
printed out all the reviews for the book and waited. I also told her that
if he was specifically upset about the use of the word "ain't" as far as 2nd
graders go then perhaps I should be removing half the books in the library!
She called me in to say that she thought I should remove it from the
challenge and she would tell !
the parent that but that it would remain available for general circulation
I advised her that while I knew she had a difficult job to do and dealing
with parents can be quite interesting, I did not concur with her decision
and felt that she should have told the parent that while we appreciate
everyone's right to their opinion, it is not up to us to censor it for
someone else. I even said that I would substitute the book for that student
but that was not good enough.
Sorry that this is getting a bit long, but I wanted to explain it fully. I
feel unable to let the parent win and let the matter rest and so have
reserved my right to appeal her decision once I have gathered more
information and opinions, so this is where you all come in. I would like to
hear positive and negative views on both the book, my choice to use it, and
what has happened here. I have been so preoccupied with this this weekend
that I have written a poem about the book being challenged. I would be
happy to share that with anyone who is interested.
Thank you for your time.
Carole Koneff
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