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School board discusses: controversial novel,
recommendations for auditorium, changes to
Coaching Handbook
. . . and extends thanks to retiring personnel |
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June 18, 2015 |
High School English teacher Theresa Nix may
proceed in her literature class with her
proposed use of a novel that has been considered
controversial in some quarters. However, the
board is requiring that information about that
novel and all other books to be studied in the
course be made publicly available to parents and
on the District web site before the class
begins.
This, along with other important issues, was
discussed at the meeting of the Board of
Boundary County School District 101 this past
Monday, June 15.
Controversy about use of the novel
At last month's School Board meeting, discussion
arose regarding the novel The Handmaid's
Tale, written by Margaret Atwood and
originally published in 1985. The novel, which
has at times appeared on lists of "Most
Frequently Challenged" books from the Office for
Intellectual Freedom of the American Library
Association, is a dystopian novel whose story
unfolds in a land ruled by a totalitarian
Christian theocracy. The book has been
challenged in some areas, reportedly due to it
being inappropriate for the proposed age group,
sexual content, language, and other concerns.
After a brief discussion of the book and its use
during last month's month's meeting, the School
Board tabled the issue until this month's
meeting, to give the Board and the public an
opportunity to review the book directly.
At this School Board meeting this month, the
issue again came up for discussion.
Ms. Nix discussed why she selected this book for
her class, a new course on Dystopic Literature,
which will be taught in the coming school year.
"This book is excellent for the concept of
discussing the role of women in society, not
just western society, but society in general.
Margaret Atwood wrote this book by piecing
together clippings from the news over about a
decade, and everything in this book is tied to
an actual event that happened in the 1970s or
the early 1980s.
"Every one of those events is still on our
political radar today, still in our world, we're
still addressing the consequences. The fact that
everything in it is based on something real
means something to me, and I think it would mean
more to the kids than something we would make
up."
She also felt the book was written at a level
that would be easily followed and understood by
students. "The language is so easy that it
showcases the issues that are so hard," she
said.
Board members state parents should be
made aware
District Trustee Beverly Krichbaum, who pointed
out that she has yet to read the book but plans
to do so, said that in her research on the book
she has found, "There are issues in that book
that are very deep, very concerning, very
controversial within families of what should be
allowed for discussion in the public school
setting. That's where my concern is. And
realistically how many parents and community
members [will] read the book [or] read a very
good excerpt or review about this book—and not
just this book but all of these books take us to
places that aren't discussed a lot."
"Don't get me wrong," she said, "I'm not a
closed-minded person, but some of these issues
are very touching on matters of social or
religious points of view. That's where my
concern is regarding this class, and I wish
there was a way where we could get more
involvement or input from not only the parents,
but the community as a whole, so that they know
what's going on."
"In matters like this," Ms. Krichbaum continued,
"I've seen before where nobody knows [ahead of
time], and then these books come home and the
kids are talking about them, and then we have
the parents [screaming] in the principal's
office."
Ms. Nix indicated she understood those concerns.
"Two things that kind of ameliorate that for you
for this particular purpose," she said. "It's an
upper level selective, so it's only going to be
juniors and seniors. Nothing else below that.
And, secondly, it's a selective. Kids can opt
out of it, parents can opt their kids out of it.
Parents have to approve their schedules, so if
they have a problem with the class, they do not
have to take it, it's not a requirement, it's a
choice.
"I think you're still going to run into parents,
who didn't see this process happen, see their
kid bring a book home," Ms. Nix said, "Generally
when these things happen, parents have, even if
they call me upset at first, they think about
it, they come back with 'I got to have a really
nice conversation with my child about this.'
These issues, whether we like it or not, are
around our students, and they're around our
kids, and they see them and they hear them, and
so giving them a forum in a guided way to talk
about them I think is important and valuable."
Trustee Melanie Staples thought it important
that some sort of notification be given to
parents advising them about the book before the
class started.
Trustee Ron MacDonald, who said he had read the
book, pointed out that the movie Schindler's
List is shown in class at the high school,
with prior notes about the showing of the movie
being sent home to parents. He felt that movie
was more graphic "by far" then the book in
question.
"For me," Mr. MacDonald said, "I think it's a
great book, and it makes you think, and it's a
great conversation starter, and what better
place than a room with your peers with an
instructor who is going over the pros and cons
of it?
"There's nothing wrong with discussion," he
continued. "You don't have to agree with
it, you don't have to disagree with it, just
honest discussion."
Trustee Krichbaum pointed out that parents
generally know what is in Schindler's List
and its content, but don't generally know about
this book or what is in it. "We're saying, let
the parents decide. We should let them know. We
sent the permission slip home with Schindler's
List; why not let the parents know about these
books, and of course let them decide. Let's give
them a fair chance so they know what's going
on."
BFHS English teacher Paul Bonnell spoke in favor
of allowing use of the book. "Historically,
Boundary County School District, Bonners Ferry
High School, and our English Department, have
maintained a culture that does not restrict
reading material. Thus, students and teachers
have had access to a range of literary works,
many of which are prohibited across the
country," he said. "We have been grateful for
this culture which promotes freedom, rigor,
relationships, and academic discovery, values
which we deem necessary for our students."
He later added, "Honestly, The Handmaid's
Tale is disturbing. It's a disturbing
read, and it kind of should be because it's
meant to provide some disquietude."
Curriculum coordinator Robin Merrifield
indicated that the reading list for the course
and the course syllabus could be posted on the
District website, and Ms. Staples agreed that
would be the best thing to do, saying that then
those who want that sort of a course could take
it, and those that did not want that sort of
course content would know in advance and elect
not to take the course. "That's all we're
asking," she said.
Ms. Krichbaum added, "I would appreciate a nice
synopsis of each one of the books, please, not
just a one or two sentence. This is a whole new
course. How many of us knew what kind of a
literature course this was? I would really
appreciate that so that everyone truly gets a
sense of what this class is about and what each
novel is about."
The Board then approved a motion to proceed with
the course and the book, with information made
available as described.
Issues with the high school auditorium
In other business at the meeting, David
Carpenter, Performing Arts teacher at the high
school, asked the board to consider three issues
regarding the current auditorium facility at the
school.
First, he asked that the board consider
purchasing a projector for use in the
auditorium. He described the need for a
projector, and indicated he had identified one
that would be suitable for use.
Second, he asked the board to consider building
or otherwise making available additional space,
ideally next to or added on to the auditorium,
that would be used for storage of scenery, sets,
artwork, and costumes from previous productions
and programs at the school. He stated that over
the past eight years, approximately 25
productions have led to the creation of much
material, that could very likely be used again
in the future. Currently, he has this material
stored in scattered fashion in four private
barns around the county, in an area at the
Middle School, and at the High School.
He also recommended that this additional space
have the capacity to provide appropriate and
more private areas for students to change
costumes during productions, stating that this
has been a problem in the past, and that
students often feel uncomfortable in not having
more secure areas to change.
His third issue was to ask the Board to consider
hiring a temporary assistant supervisor to be on
hand during practice and performances of
productions. He stated that many times his
responsibilities in the production might require
that he be up in the sound booth, or at other
areas of the auditorium, sometimes leaving
students unsupervised as he worked in other
areas. He felt that having an assistant who
could be present to help with supervision and
other duties would be important.
The Board will take Mr. Carpenter's concerns
under further consideration.
Recommended changes for the District
Coaching Handbook
In other discussion before the School Board,
Trustee Ron MacDonald asked that additions be
made in the District's Coaching Handbook to
specify that vandalism would be an infraction
that would result in discipline for student
athletes, and also that the Handbook recommend
that District coaches document any disciplinary
discussion or action taken with student
athletes.
In making those recommendations, he pointed out
an example where an athletic team in the recent
past "trashed" an athletic facility at St.
Maries, resulting in damage there and also
bringing embarrassment to the school, the team,
the District, and to our community. The District
had to pay for those damages, and essentially
the students involved had no subsequent
consequences.
Regarding documentation of disciplinary
interactions or infractions by students, he felt
that if parents later had concerns about
disciplinary issues or decisions made regarding
their children who participated in athletics,
there would exist a written record of the
background history and information that led to
the actions the coach or the district had taken.
The Board agreed to make the changes to the
Coaching Handbook as recommended by Mr.
MacDonald.
Thanks to retiring District personnel
Also at the School Board Meeting, School Board
Chairman David Brinkman announced that this
would be the last Board meeting for long-time
trustee Melanie Staples. "You're going to be
missed," he announced in the meeting.
He further stated that Mt. Hall teacher George
Hays will be retiring after 32 years of service
in the District, and expressed the Board's
appreciation for his work.
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