Racially Divisive Books Challenged:

INCIDENT:

In Tempe, objections to the short story, "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner in an anthology, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, both in use in the honors freshman English class, are being challenged for containing racial slurs.

COMPLAINT:

"Why should African-American students' and other minority students' right to a fair and equal education always be destroyed for another race of people's educational benefit?" the objector asked. Removal from the required reading list and placement on the optional reading list requested.

OBJECTOR: Parent.

RESOLUTION:

On appeal, the school board upheld the recommendation of a review committee to retain the books on the required reading list. "Rather than ignoring words that are offensive and hoping that the words and the evil thoughts behind them will go away, our high school students would be better served by being allowed to explore the historical development of such bigotry and to uncover the ignorance behind it," the principal said. In fact, the objector's child was given the option of choosing an alternate assignment, which she opted to do, and was allowed to pursue independent study in the library during class discussion of Huckleberry Finn.

In addition, the school and the school board decided to form a committee to ensure that the materials are taught with cultural sensitivity. Teachers and administrators are also getting a general training to ensure that cultural sensitivity exists all over the school. "As far as the specific complaints, the issue is dead. However, the issue is not dead as a whole. It got people to see that there is always more than meets the eye. In this case we saw that [the school] needed to take a look at its literary choices and we are doing just that," the principal said. For her part, the objector decided to join the curriculum committee, and "be part of the solution," one teacher said.

That notwithstanding, the objector has decided to sue the school in court to get the books removed from the required reading list. Said one supporter of the objector, "We're going to make you pay."

text used with permission: People for the American Way