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marti.maguire@newsobserver.com or (919) 829-4841
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PUBLIC SHUT OUT
The Johnston school board met in a closed session in October before asking school employees to review high school reading materials.
North Carolina public records law allows public bodies to hold closed sessions only to discuss certain topics, including personnel issues, potential land purchases or legal matters.
Curriculum issues -- what should or should not be taught in schools -- are not exempt from open meetings laws.
Superintendent Tony Parker said the closed discussion was legal because it dealt with personnel issues.
Parker said it was later determined that it was not about personnel and no one was ever disciplined.
WHY TEACHERS SUPPORT THE BOOK
"How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents," by Julia Alvarez, is suggested reading by the National Council of Teachers of English. Here is part of the rationale in support of the book:
* Recognized by the Young Adult Library Services Association as a popular paperback for teens ages 12 to 18.
* Explores themes of moving to a new place and having to make new friends, a theme common in the lives of young adults.
* Characters have to learn a new language, deal with bullies and teasing, discover sexuality. The universality of these themes is such that most readers will find connection to their own experience. Latino students and students form other cultures, in particular, may identify with the characters.
* Multicultural literature has been praised as "a powerful tool to help students develop an understanding and respect for individuals of all cultures while at the same time gaining an appreciation of their own cultural and literary heritage."
* Students develop sensitivity to others and an understanding of issues related to immigration and cultural assimilation.
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Works by black authors such as Toni Morrison or Latinas such as Alvarez are assigned more often as teachers try to diversify their classroom fare, Bell said, and such books rate high on national lists of banned and challenged books."Once you get away from the familiar, people have a tendency to challenge it," Bell said.Mar'a DeGuzmán, director of Latino studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, said she suspects discomfort with these modern works stems from their frank treatment of sex and other sensitive issues."These books aren't designed to make people feel comfortable," DeGuzmán said. "Literature functions to make us question, to make us think, to make us explore."Alvarez said she is dismayed to see students lose access to her book, which is partially autobiographical. She said the Garcia girls' struggles reflect reality in a way that helps students shape their own moral choices."Many of the things that I've written about are based on experiences and stories that I wish I had read about when I was younger," said Alvarez, who teaches writing at Middlebury College in Vermont. "The kids are facing this stuff. It's happening."For all the controversy, the book had little impact on Ben Schoeneman, a West Johnston sophomore who read it for class this fall. He said the book didn't stand out among the many he's required to read, though he did remember a few choice words."It had some of that stuff," he said, then offered this review: "It was OK."HAVE YOUR SAYComment on this story at share.triangle.com/schoolbooks. - Members of the Johnston County school board may be contacted by e-mail from their Web site, www.johnston.k12.nc.us, or by phone. Kay Carroll, chairman: 934-5882 Dorothy Johnson, vice chairwoman: 553-5527Fred Bartholomew: 936-2301 Butler Hall: 963-1025 Jack O'Hale: 934-6021Larry Strickland: 965-9366Donna White: 889-1239
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