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Ready for a challenge
- 1. Ready for a Challenge??? MISD Policy 633a Selection of Resources/ Challenged Resources PowerPoint presentation available for download at: http://tinyurl.com/6m4ozg
- 3. Some background… First Amendment Island Trees School District v. Pico (1982) “In loco parentis”
- 4. MISD Selection Policy Policy 633a “To provide a wide range of instructional and library materials on all levels of difficulty, with diversity of appeal, and with the presentation of different points of view.” “Persons having complaints or concerns about…materials…should feel free to express these complaints or concerns.”
- 5. Responsibility for Selection The School Board is legally responsible for materials that are selected for use with students Responsibility for selection of materials is delegated to professionally trained and certified – instructional staff and – librarians
- 6. Criteria for Selection Instructional materials must: support and be consistent with educational goals enrich and support curriculum needs – for instructional and recreational purposes be appropriate for the subject area and age, emotional development, ability level, and social development of students
- 7. Criteria for Selection Instructional materials must: Provide…information that will motivate students and staff to examine their own attitudes and behavior… as citizens in our society, and to make informed judgments in their daily lives Represent the contributions of all people, regardless of age, sex, religion, ethnicity, etc.
- 8. Criteria for Selection Instructional materials must: Respect the rights and values of individuals and families Meet high standards of quality in Physical format Factual content Readability Artistic quality Authenticity
- 9. Criteria for Selection When selecting materials, keep in mind: – The Freedom to Read statement Wide diversity of views and expressions are good Not all ideas must be endorsed Author’s background doesn’t matter Can’t force your tastes on others
- 10. Criteria for Selection – The Freedom to Read statement, continued Itis our responsibility to contest encroachments upon the freedom to read by individuals or groups seeking to impose their own standards or tastes upon the community By providing books that enrich the quality and diversity of thought and expression, we demonstrate that the answer to a “bad” book is a “good” one
- 11. Criteria for Selection When selecting materials, keep in mind: – The Students’ Right to Read (NCTE) “The right to read…can be used wisely or foolishly. In many ways, education is an effort to improve the quality of choices open to all students. But to deny the freedom of choice in fear that it may be unwisely used is to destroy the freedom itself. For this reason, we respect the right of individuals to be selective in their own reading.”
- 12. Criteria for Selection On a recognized list Reviewed Gifts must meet the same criteria as materials that are selected for purchase
- 13. Recommended Selection Tools Recommended book lists Professional journals Self review
- 14. Follow the Selection Policy… when putting materials in your classroom or library that are for student use
- 15. Request for Reconsideration Guiding principles: The right to object to instructional resources is granted by the Board Any parent, resident or employee of the district may raise an objection
- 16. Request for Reconsideration Guiding principles (2) The principles of the freedom to read, listen and view must be defended Access to challenged textbooks or classroom resources should NOT be restricted during the reconsideration process
- 17. Request for Reconsideration Guiding principles (3) Access to challenged library materials will be restricted unless parent provides written permission Major criterion for decision is the appropriateness of the material for its intended educational use
- 18. Request for Reconsideration Guiding principles (4) A decision to sustain a challenge shall not be interpreted as irresponsibility on the part of the professional involved in the selection
- 19. Request for Reconsideration A parent’s ability to exercise control over reading, listening or viewing matter extends only to his or her own children.
- 20. Reconsideration – The Process Try to resolve the issue informally
- 21. One page report
- 22. Our goal is to resolve the complaint informally whenever possible.
- 23. Reconsideration – The Process FORMAL RECONSIDERATION Step 1 - Principal mails documents and form to the concerned party: – A copy of Policy 633a – Citizen’s Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials form
- 24. Two page form
- 25. Reconsideration – The Process The complainant must complete and return the form to the building principal before the process can continue When the form is returned, the principal appoints a reconsideration committee: – Teachers (2) – Librarian – Parents (2) – Principal
- 26. Reconsideration – The Process The committee members read the challenged material and judge whether it conforms to the selection policy
- 27. Two page report
- 28. Reconsideration – The Process The complainant must be notified in writing of the committee’s decision within 30 instructional days of the receipt of the complaint. The decision of the committee is binding only for that individual school.
- 29. Reconsideration - Appeal Ifthe complainant is not satisfied with the committee’s decision, he may appeal within 10 days of the receipt of the decision to the appropriate A.O. The objection to the committee decision must be explained by the complainant in writing. The A.O. has 10 instructional days from the day of receipt to make a decision and notify the complainant.
- 30. Reconsideration - Appeal If the complainant is not satisfied with the A.O.’s decision, he may appeal to the superintendent, following the same procedure If the complainant is not satisfied with the superintendent’s decision, he may request a hearing on the matter at the next regular meeting of the Board
- 31. Follow the Selection Policy carefully to avoid a challenge
- 32. If you do have a challenge… Try to resolve it informally If you can’t, keep calm and follow the process Library Services can provide help and support
- 33. Now you’re ready to meet the challenge! MISD Library Services August 2007
Notas do Editor
- It is a beautiful fall day. The summer heat is gone and there is a crispness in the air that gives a new spring to your step. As you reflect on the day that just ended, you feel that every student experienced success with the day ’s lessons. As you look at your lesson plans for tomorrow, the phone rings. At the other end of the line is…an angry parent who is upset about the content of the book her child brought home from school. Suddenly the feeling of well-being you had evaporates and you are on the verge of a book challenge. How would you handle this situation? Fortunately, MISD has two very helpful policies that will help you meet the challenge!
- The First Amendment to the US Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or the press.” Freedom of speech under the constitution is not limited to the spoken word. Speech may include people’s writings, gestures, lyrics to a song, the wearing of a button, T-shirt or other clothing that displays a slogan. Speech may also be expressed under certain conditions as silence. “Freedom of expression” has become the most inclusive phrasing of the protected concept. The Pico case is the most important court decision concerning library materials and the First Amendment. In this case, the Supreme Court said, “Local school boards may not remove books from school library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books.” The Court recognized that the First Amendment rights of students are directly and sharply implicated when a book is removed from a school library; therefore, the discretion of school boards to remove books from school libraries is limited. Freedom of speech, however, is not absolute. Society and the legal system recognize that there are limits on freedom of speech. The Latin term “in loco parentis” means “in place of the parent.” Educational institutions are given the right to act in place of the parent in certain situations. For this reason, school districts develop selection policies for library and instructional materials.
- Policy 633a begins by giving some general information about the Board ’s philosophy. In addition to the statements you see on the screen, it also says that the School Board and the district believe in the principles of intellectual freedom and freedom of speech under the First Amendment and will endeavor to uphold these rights for students, teachers and staff.
- The policy goes on to address who is responsible for selecting materials for classrooms and libraries.
- The next section of the policy outlines the criteria that should be used when selecting instructional or library materials.
- Not only do we want to provide students with quality and diverse content, we also want to make sure the physical format of the material selected is of high quality.
- The Freedom to Read is a joint statement by the American Library Association and the Association of American Publishers, endorsed by several other groups including the Children ’s Book Council and the National Council of Teachers of English. The statement asserts that the freedom to read is essential to our democracy and that Americans can make their own decisions about what they read and believe. It states: It is in the public interest to make available the widest diversity of views and expressions We need not endorse every idea that is made available It is contrary to the public interest to bar access to writings based the identity of the author There is no place in our society for efforts to coerce the taste of others
- The “our” above really refers to librarians and publishers, but the MISD selection policy says that this statement is to be an “integral part” of selecting materials.
- The Students ’ Right to Read, written by the National Council of Teachers of English, is also referenced in MISD’s selection policy.
- Examples of gift items that might be given to a library or classroom are picture books that a child has outgrown or paperbacks from Weekly Reader. Neither of these types of items would meet the selection policy.
- Professional review journals Booklist School Library Journal Instructor Recommended book lists Texas Bluebonnet Award winners Best Books for Young Adults Self-review of title
- Following this policy will help you avoid challenges to instructional materials.
- Despite the best efforts of instructional staff members that are selecting materials, sometimes a challenge to materials may occur. When this happens, it is called a “request for reconsideration” and these guidelines should be followed.
- The main thing to consider when evaluating a book that has been challenged is the purpose for which the material was selected. Ask yourself if it accomplishes its intended goal.
- If a book is not meeting its instructional purpose and is removed, the teacher or librarian involved in selecting that item is not to be viewed as irresponsible.
- This is the main thing to remember when dealing with a book challenge.
- Tips for informal resolution: Practice “active listening” Acknowledge the individual ’s concern Commend him/her for taking responsibility for his/her child ’s reading material Stay calm and courteous Explain the role the resource in question plays in the educational program or offer to find out if you don ’t know Explain the selection process
- After talking informally with the individual, the principal will complete this form – BUILDING REPORT ON INFORMAL CONSIDERATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS – and keep on file. The principal will also inform the appropriate Administrative Officer of all challenges. For classroom resources – Glenda Heil For library materials – Debbie Gilbert
- This is often done just by listening to the complaint, then explaining the instructional purpose of the material. Suggestions for resolving the issue might include having the child choose another library book or letting the student read an alternate novel.
- If the complaint cannot be resolved informally, FORMAL RECONSIDERATION follows.
- The Citizen ’s Request for Reconsideration form is two pages long and can be found in the Policies and Procedures book.
- The reconsideration form has to be completed and returned before anything else is done. While waiting for this to happen, the use of the material goes on as normal because it hasn ’t been officially challenged yet. Many times the complaint is dropped at this point. The form is sent, but never returned.
- It is important that the committee members read the material in question carefully. They will also read reviews and other background information about the book and its author. All of this will be considered when they are making their decision.
- After making a decision on the challenged material, the committee will complete the RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE REPORT.
- If a challenge is upheld at one school, it is not automatically removed from other campuses in the district. The process should be followed on each campus.