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Live coverage: School committee discuses removing controversial book

A mother upset by the selection of a young-adult novel that deals frankly with life on an American Indian reservation is asking School District 2 for a second time to remove the novel from its required reading list.

3rd & 7 37yd

by Billings Gazette 11/11/2013 11:16:18 PM

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A mother upset by the selection of a young-adult novel that deals frankly with life on an American Indian reservation is asking School District 2 for a second time to remove the novel from its required reading list.

The book, Sherman Alexie’s “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” winner of the 2007 National Book Award, is on the list of required reading for sophomore English classes in SD2 and is taught in some classrooms.

The district also has an “opt-out” policy to replace one book or movie with another for students who find a specific text objectionable.

In her request to the district last May, Supola wrote that Alexie’s book is “filled with racial slurs, inappropriate language, sexual innuendo, and explicit sexual descriptions. This book does nothing to educate our children about the positives in Native American life, culture, traditions, beliefs and abilities.”

But she’s concerned also that the district doesn’t do enough to let parents know ahead of time that some of the books on the required reading list have mature content.

Read more

Documents
Request for book removal
SD2's response to Gail Supola
Gail Supola's appeal

by Billings Gazette 11/11/2013 11:16:27 PM

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#SD2 committee meets at 6 to discuss what to do with @Sherman_Alexie book "Part-Time Indian." Here's the background: billingsgazette.com/news/local/edu…

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 12:01:42 AM
High School Students already know about adult content....That's a lame excuse to exempt any teaching to them....I can't comment more because I have not read the book....Besides, this isn't a perfect world, no matter what is taught..

by r Beason 11/12/2013 12:10:42 AM

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A committee of SD2 trustees will discuss the book and its place in the classroom during a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday in the Lincoln Center board room.

by Billings Gazette 11/12/2013 12:13:31 AM

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Best way to follow tonight's twitterstorm on the #SD2 book hearing? billingsgazette.com. That way you see what everyone else is saying.

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 12:27:04 AM
This is a first. There's a line to get into an already packed #sd2 board room. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BY1PHGSCQAAktNb.jpg

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 12:50:09 AM
You'll recall, the controversy is over Sherman Alexie novel: bit.ly/16POb3L

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 12:52:59 AM
The crowd gathered looks like an equal mix of parents, students and community members. #sd2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 12:56:17 AM
It's official; standing room only. #sd2 http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BY1ReELCIAA4Z3V.jpg

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:00:28 AM
The meeting starts. Trustee Travis Smith is acting as chair of the committee. #sd2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:04:53 AM
Gail Supola will speak first. She's the parent who raised the complaint. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:05:59 AM
After Ms. Supola, the committee that voted to keep the book in the classroom will speak. #sd2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:06:27 AM
Following that, the public will then get its chance to weigh in. #sd2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:07:01 AM
"Mom, if you think that's bad, you should see what we're reading in our English class," Suploa on her son, talking about swearing in school.

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:08:21 AM
"I'm hear to voice my concerns and set the record straight," she said.

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:08:59 AM
Thanks for the photos, Rob. They're nice for those of us who aren't there.

by ktdid30 11/12/2013 1:09:02 AM

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She's not here to ask for the book's banning, rather, she's hear to ask that students are given a choice on what they read. #sd2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:09:56 AM
She wants the district to make parents aware when books with mature subject matter are being taught. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:10:48 AM
She argues that district policy has been violated b/c she wasn't given an adequate chance to opt out of the book. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:11:58 AM
She now raises her concerns about the book's harsh language and sexual situations. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:12:48 AM
"I anxiously await this board's findings," she tells them. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:13:32 AM
Hillary Wood, a parent and supporter of Gail's stands up to make her case. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:14:20 AM
Like Gail, she's not interesting in getting the book banned. Her concern is what kids are learning in English. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:15:06 AM
"As a parent I have a right to decide when my children will be taught certain subjects," she said. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:15:36 AM
By not being notified of the book's subject material, she feels that right was taken from her. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:15:58 AM
Why can students read swear words in English class, but then get in trouble for using the same words in the hallway. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:16:58 AM
The parents' right to decide has been taken away, she argues. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:18:34 AM
The lessons the book teaches "don't make up for the crude and obscene language" used in it, she said. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:19:30 AM
The third and final parent, Ann Marie Chapman, asking for the appeal now stands up to speak. #sd2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:20:58 AM
If she is so concerned about what her child reads and is taught. she should home school her child and lock him in a closet so they can be protected from the world. she is costing people time and money for a very

by redline 11/12/2013 1:21:22 AM

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She reads the every one of the swear words used in the book. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:21:58 AM
She complains about how she and others have been portrayed in the media, saying she and then others never wanted the book banned. #sd2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:23:36 AM
What she fails to understand is that we don't advocate that students do what they read about. Otherwise we'd say it was okay to take your own life (Romeo and Juliet) or kill your friend (Of Mice and Men).

by ktdid30 11/12/2013 1:24:19 AM

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"If this book were made into a movie my son would not be of age to view it," she said.

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:24:42 AM
Kim Anthony, director of curriculum for #SD2 , now addresses the committee. #sd2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:26:26 AM
Kim clarifies that Gail had wanted the book removed from #SD2 's required reading list. And the media review committee elected to leave it.

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:28:35 AM
It's a good thing that we're not discussing the porn in the Bible here.

by Abraham Sebastian_News 11/12/2013 1:29:10 AM

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I am willing to bet her child is on Facebook and ever every word from the book and more are posted on there.

by redline 11/12/2013 1:29:25 AM

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Dulce Witford, #SD2 's director of Indian Education for All, talks about her role in the district and the review committee's decision.

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:29:52 AM
She's one of the educators who oversaw the book's addition to the district's required reading list. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:31:34 AM
She said the book met all the criteria required for Indian Education for All and 10th grade English. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:32:32 AM
Lance Orner, principal of Will James Middle, now talks about the process and decision of the review committee. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:34:29 AM
The review committee ruled that the book should stay and that high schools should do more training on #SD2 's opt-out policy.

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:35:25 AM
And now, we move onto public comment. #SD2

by Rob Rogers via twitter 11/12/2013 1:36:00 AM