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See Garrison’s Letter to the Board and Superintendent on keeping TKR 

Point of Paragraph #1 – “I am qualified to have made this book selection”.

- Does the reader take a more active role in the story when reading it compared tosomeone who watches it unfold in a movie? Explain what happens in someone’s mind

when reading the descriptions given by an author.

Points of P#2 – 

* If ‘they’ are using this novel, then we should use it, too. (Peer pressure)

* The parents didn’t complain in the right way – we could have assigned an alternateassignment. (There are no BCPS policies telling parents they can object to compulsory

reading selections).

Read selections from the book.- Did it occur to anyone that the subject matter in “The Kite Runner” was controversial

and the parents should be notified before the book was assigned? (If it did cross

someone’s mind, what was the reason for not notifying parents of the mature themes of 

the book?) Did the MTAC committee or the Superintendent decide a letter should gohome to parents? Do you normally send letters home to parents when their children are

assigned controversial books?

- Did they consider the fact that a child who had been raped in this way may have been

assigned the book without their parents’ knowledge?

- Were the students made aware (warned) by the teacher of the mature theme of the book 

 before they read the sodomy rape scene?

- - Was any research consulted to determine if this book is age appropriate for 10 th

graders? (Is this a subjective decision?)

- Did Mr. Garrison write a rationale when deciding to approve this controversial

material? Do departmental chairpersons routinely write and submit rationales when

selecting a new piece of literature?

- When was the DPI conference and who went?

- Did department chairs from other BCPS high schools consider and/or approve the use of 

TKR for their World Literature classes?- Was TKR included to the English 10 Honor’s course as an additional piece of literature,

or did it replace a novel that has been used in the past? What novel did it replace?

- letter says “we decided to purchase a classroom set”. Was this a group decision?

- Mr. Martin told his class his mother liked the book and suggested it to him. He wasreading it at the same time as the class, staying one chapter ahead of them.

- Since it was listed “without disclaimers”, meaning it’s not necessarily controversial,

then you go along with that.

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2nd half of this paragraph.

- What will the alternate reading selection to “The Kite Runner” be? Explain how a classis conducted when a student or students are reading an alternate selection. Are they

segregated to another room during the class discussion of the book? Are you concerned

about the student(s) being socially ostracized because their parents have chosen to opt for the alternate selection?

-What sources were consulted in identifying potential alternative books to achieve thecourse objectives?

- If other books were available and/or considered why was TKR selected and all other 

 books rejected (censored)?

- When one book is selected over another one, is that considered “censorship” or is that

simply a “curriculum choice or decision”? When someone challenges, or second-

guesses, the department chairperson’s or education professional’s book selectiondecision, is that what is labeled “censorship” or “book banning”?

Points of P#3 – 

* If you accept this book challenge, the precedent will be set to stop all learning.

* If they are using this novel, then we should use it, too.

* Praise for the book – it’s about “redemption”

- The challenge process – under what conditions should a book be challenged? Are all

 book challenges referred to as an act of censorship?

- Should school and public library books be "rated" like the movies? Discuss the benefitsand the problems that such a scheme might present.

- Continuum - Suppression of knowledge to Complete Academic Freedom

Redemption:

An act of redeeming or the state of being redeemedDeliverance, rescue

Theology. Deliverance from sin; salvation.

Atonement for guilt.Redeemed

To set free; rescue or ransom.To save from a state of sinfulness and its consequences.To make up for.

To restore the honor, worth or reputation of. (example, “You botched the last job but can

redeem yourself on this one”).

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HOW CAN SCHOOL OFFICIALS AVOID CONTROVERSY?

Good internal communications and public relations offer the best way to avoid

unnecessary controversy. Districts need sound written policies, procedures, and criteriathat are "developed cooperatively by teachers, administrators and school board members,

with formal approval given by the Board" (Haiman).

The district must specify criteria for making curriculum judgments, identify personnel tomake those decisions, and provide written rationales for including or excluding

 potentially controversial materials. These policies should be reviewed yearly. Broad

support should be sought from local, state, and national organizations that are committedto academic freedom.

Does BCPS have a policy for regulating the selection of curriculum materials?

Who makes the final decision about supplemental material (books/novels) to be used in

English classes?

Is there a policy regarding parental notification and consent when using assigning books of a

controversial nature?