Board of Education Special Meeting: 11-29-22

001. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, I'D LIKE TO CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER AND TURN TO BOARD MEMBER DEBORAH NAPPER TO OPEN US UP, PLEASE. THANK YOU, NOW I'D LIKE TO REFER TO OUR LEGAL COUNSEL. >> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, AND MY PARTNER ELIZABETH IS GOING TO LEAD THIS PROCESS AND I'LL BE HERE IF YOU NEED ME, BUT YOU WON'T. >> BOARD MEMBERS, FIRST HERE TODAY THE CHALLENGE TO THE SELECTION OF THE BOOK SALVAGE THE BOOKS BY JETION MEN WARD FOR 12TH GRADE AT NORTHERN GUILFORD DID HIGH SCHOOL. PURSUANT TO REGULATION 3200 THIS CHALLENGE HAS BEEN HEARD AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL BY MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISOR COMMITTEE, THEIR DECISION WAS APPEALED UP TO THE DISTRICT LEVEL AND HEARD BY THE DISTRICT REVIEW COMMITTEE. IT IS THERE ARE DECISION THAT IS BEING APPEALED TO YOU, THE BOARD OF

002EDUCATION. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO SELECT MATERIALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PEDAGOGICAL OBJECT O*IFS. MAY BE BROUGHT BY A PARENT OR STUDENT BUT THE BURDEN OF SHOWING THAT THE SELECTION SHOULD BE REMOVED IS ON THE COMPLAINANT. GIVEN THAT, WE WILL HEAR FIRST FROM THE COMPLAIN AND IT MAKE THEIR CASE AND THEN FROM GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR RESPONSE. EACH SIDE WILL BE GIVEN 10 MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR PRESENTATION AND THEN THE BOARD WILL DELIBERATE. WHEN YOU ALL DELIBERATE, AT THE POINT OF DELIBERATION IT'S PR TO THE BOARD TO KEEP IN MIND THE LEGAL STANDARD HERE. THE BOARD HAS FULL AUTHORITY AND DISCRETION AT ANY TIME TO DETERMINE THE MERITS OF THE CHALLENGE AND TO DETERMINE WHETHER TO RETAIN OR REMOVE A PARTICULAR EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE. HOWEVER, THAT DISCRETION MUST BE

003EXERCISED IN A LAWFUL MANNER. IT MAY NOT BE EXERCISED IN A NARROWLY PARTISAN OR POLITICAL MANNER. THE BOARD MAY KHADS TO REMOVE AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE IF THE REASON FER THAT REMOVAL IS EITHER, 1, THE RESOURCE IS EDUCATIONALLY UNSUITABLE OR, 2, THE RESOURCE IS PER VASIVELY VUL BEGAN OR, 3, THE RESOURCE IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE AGE, MATURITY OR GRADE CAN LEVEL OF THE STUDENTS. THE BOARD MAY NOT REMOVE A RESOURCE IF THE REASON FOR DOING SO IS TO SUPPRESS IDEAS WITH WHICH THE BOARD DISAGREES. BEARING ALL THAT IN MIND WE WILL START WITH THE COMPLAINANTS AND ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COMPLAINANTS TO COME UP AND MAKE THEIR PRESENTATION. >> DR. OAKLEY AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY, EVEN IF I JUST GOT CONFIRMATION

004OF THIS MEETING A LITTLE OVER 24 HOURS AGO AND HAD TO REASTRANGE MY SCHEDULE TO BE HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS KIMBERLY MAGNUSSEN AND I AM THE MOUR OF 5 CHILDREN. THREE OF MY DAUGHTERS HAVE GRADUATED FROM NORTHERN. ONE DAUGHTER HAS CHOSEN TO [INDISCERNIBLE] MY HUSBAND AND I TRIED TO GET HER TO LEAVE NORTHERN BUT SINCE IT WAS HER SENIOR YEAR SHE CHOSE TO STAY. MY LAST CHILD WOULD HAVE BEEN A SOPHOMORE BUT WE PULLED HIM OUT OF NORTHERN BECAUSE OF DECLINING ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND GARBAGE AND FILTH TOLERATED IN THIS SCHOOL AND THIS COUNTY. I USED TO LOVE NORTHERN AND HAD ALWAYS BEEN VERY SPERTIVE AND HAPPY WITH THE DECISIONS. THE TEACHERS AND NORTHERN AT NORTHERN GUILFORD HIGH SCHOOL. I CAN NO LONGER SAY THIS. THIS BOOK CHALLENGE HAS OPENED MY EYES TO SEEING WHAT

005THE ADMINISTRATION IS ALLOWING AND CONDONING AT NRPB AND GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. YOUR COME PLAY SAEPBS SI AND WOKE IDEOLOGY IS RESULTING IN INCREASED TRUANCY AND DISCIPLINE AS WELL AS BEHAVIOR ISSUES, AN INCREASE IN FIGHTING, A DECREASE IN RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY AND A LOWERING OF ACADEMIC RIGOR IS CREATING AN ADD MUSS FEAR DIFFICULT FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN. THERE IS A SKULL FUER BEING INTRODUCED, ENCOURAGED IN THIS SCHOOL AND THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. IT ALL STARTS WITH WHAT WE ARE ALLOWING TO INFILTRATE IN OUR SCHOOL AND OUR CHILDREN'S YOUNG MINDS. LAST SPRING WHEN I WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS BOOK I WAS SHOCKED, DISGUSTED AND APPALLED WHEN READING IT. IN CASE IS OF YOU HAVEN'T COMPLETED THE ENTIRE BOOK OR HAVE ONLY READ THIS IN PIECES I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU A

006COUPLE OF THE MOST INAPPROPRIATE AND DISTURBING TEXTS OF THIS BOOK BETWEEN ONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS, ESCH, WHO IS A 15-YEAR-OLD CHILD, AND MANNY, WHO IS A 19-YEAR-OLD ADULT MALE. HE GRABS MY HAND AND PULLS IT TOWARD HIM, WRAPS MY FINGERS AROUND HIS DICK. NOT TOO BAD, HE SAYS. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE SO I REACH OUT UNDER THE WATER TO TOUCH HIS CHEST, HIS NIPPLES THE SIZE OF RED GRAPES. THEY ARE MUCH SOFTER THAN THAT. THE SKIN IS THE COLOR OF SUGAR DADDY CARAMEL CANDY. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? HIS DICK SLIDES OUT OF MY HAND, HOT IN THE COOL WATER, THEN GONE. BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU, SAYS MANNY, THEN HE HAS PUSHED ME BACK INTO THE STALL, CLOSED IT BEHIND US, GRABBED MY ARMS AND TURNED US SO HE IS SITTING

007ON THE TOILET. HE UNZIPS HIS PANTS AND I GRAB HIS DICK HARD ENOUGH TO HURT. I WANT IT TO HURT. HE DOESN'T WINCE, INTENT ON MY LOOSE SHORTS. HE PULLS ME DOWN ON HIM SO I AM STRADDLING HIM. THEN HE IS INSIDE. IT IS EASY AND WET. HE GRIPS MY SHOULDERS, PULLS ME DOWN AND ROLLS ME AWAY FROM ME. IT'S THE FIRST TIME HE'S GRABBED ME OVER MY WAIST, KEPT HIS HANDS ON ME CLOSER TO MY FACE AND TOUCHED ME. WAIT, HE SAYS, THEN HE IS MAKING ME STAND UP, PULLING OFF MAY SHORTS AND UNDERWEAR, MY CLOTHES CATCH ON ONE ANKLE, OPINIONNED LIKE THEY ARE ON A CLOTHES LINE. WE'VE NEVER DONE THIS LIKE THIS. FUCK, YELLS MANNY AND HE'S THROWNING ME OFF OF HIM. I HIT THE DOOR BEHIND ME, THE ROUGH CAT TONGUE

008OF HIS FACE GONE AND I GRIP STEEL, BARE, NOTHING. HE IS ZIPPING HIS PANTS FOLDING ME INTO THE CORNER OF THE STALL WHEN HE OPENS IT, LEAVING ME STANDING IN THE DARK BATHROOM, RUNNY AT THE LEGS, BREASTS ACHING WITH PHLEGM. THESE ARE JUST TWO GRAPHIC AND INAPPROPRIATE TEXT IN THIS BOOK. IF THIS ISN'T PORNOGRAPHY I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL TIMES IT ISN'T PORNOGRAPHY WAS IT WASN'T THE AUTHOR'S INTENT TO AROUSE STUDENTS READING IT. BUT REALLY HOW CAN WE PROVE WHAT THE AUTHOR'S INTENT IS AS WELL AS WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MINDS OF 17 AND 18 YERLD STUDENTS READING THIS BOOK. WHAT HAPPENS IN THE HEAD OF A STUDENT WHO STRUGGLES WITH PORNOGRAPHY OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE TOWARD OTHERS WITH THOUGHTS OF RAPE OR A STUDENT WHO HAS BEEN RAPED OR

009SEXUALLY ABUSED. WHAT DEKEPBLT DULT THINKS THIS IS PROFITABLE FOR EDUCATION? THE TEACHER AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS SUSPEND THE CHOICE BECAUSE AN ALTERNATIVE IS OFFERED, THE STUDENT WHO CHOOSES AN ALTERNATIVE IS EXPECTED TO GO TO THE MEDIA WHEN THE BOOK IS DISCUSSED. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER BOOKS TO CHOOSE FROM THAT ARE FAR MORE UPLIFTING AND CHALLENGING TO THEIR YOUNG MINDS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE FOR THE TEACHER TO CHOOSE A BOOK FROM THE AP COLLEGE BOARD LIST THAT WOULD BE SUELTABLE FOR ALL STUDENTS TO LEAVE, THAT LEAVES OUT PORNOGRAPHY AND PORNOGRAPHIC IMAGES. I'M NOT HERE TO UNDERMINE AUTHORITY BUT TO REMIND THE PAID STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION THAT YOU ARE ROLE MODELS AND SHOULD BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT YOU ALLOW OUR CHILDREN TO BE READING

010AND LEARNING IN THE WALLS OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. NORTHERN TEACHERS ARE OFFERING, DISSEMINATING AND MAKING AVAILABLE THAT WHICH IS OBSCENE. HOW ARE THE STUDENTS OF NORTHWEST MANAGING TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE AP ENGLISH WITHOUT HAVING TO READ THESE SEXUALLY XWLIS SIT BOOKS. MISS HARRIS, OUR MEDIA SPECIALIST, SAID, AND I QUOELT, IF THIS WOOK IS BANNED NORTHERN COULD LOSE THEIR ABILITY FOR STUDENTS TO RECEIVE AP ENGLISH CREDIT FOR AP LITERATURE THIS YEAR. STUDENTS MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THE AP EXAM OR GET CREDIT THAT THEY ARE WORKING TOWARDS, END QUOTE. NOW HOW DOES NORTHWEST KEEP THEIR AP STATUS WITHOUT ASSIGNING THIS BOOK? COMMITTEE MEMBERS SUGGEST THAT SINCE OUR KIDS ARE WATCHING FAR WORSE ON SOCIAL MEDIA THIS SOMEHOW JUSTIFIES THIS BOOK. WHERE'S THE LOGIC IN THAT? MY POINT IS IN AP ENGLISH I WANT SLIGHTLY MORE CHALLENGING

011MEDIA THAN A SOCIAL MEDIA LEVEL BOOK. WHEN THE SCHOOL BOARD INTRODUCES XWLIS SIT MATERIAL TO OUR KIDS WITHOUT SEEKING OUR PERMISSION FIRST IT IS UNCON SHEPBABLE. THESE ARE MINORS AND THEY DON'T BELONG TO YOU. IN MY DAUGHTER'S MEDIA CLASS PARENTAL CLASS HAD TO BE GAINED. HOWEVER THERE WAS NO PERMISSION REQUIRED TO READ THIS BOOK. THERE IS A BREAKDOWN WHEN ADUPLTS THINK THIS KIND OF MATERIAL IS ACCEPTABLE TO ALLOW IN OUR SCHOOL ISS. WE AREN'T HERE TO DISMANTLE PUBLIC EDUCATION BUT MUST REPAIR AND RESTORE THAT WHICH IS BROKEN AND WE MUST STEP UP AND DO BETTER FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR YOUNG ADULTS. LET'S REFUESZ TO LET THE TRENDS OF THIS WORLD DEFINE US. THIS BOOK SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN SWRE DUESD IN AN AP ENGLISH CLASS TO ROOM READ. I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS

012QUOTE. A LIE DOESN'T BECOME TRUTH, WRONG DOESN'T BECOME RIGHT, AND EVIL DOESN'T BECOME GOOD JUST BECAUSE IT'S ACCEPTED BY THE MAJORITY. [APPLAUSE]. >> THANK YOU, NOW WE WILL HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM THE [INDISCERNIBLE] ADMINISTRATION. I THINK IT'S FINE. IF THE BOARD -- CHAIR AGREES. >> THAT'S FINE. PART OF THE COMPLAINANT GROUP. >> THE SAME BOOK. >> WE ARE CHALLENGING THE BOOK. DEAR DR. OAKLEY AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, I AM ONE OF THE PARENTS FROM NORTHERN WHO IS CHALLENGING SALVAGE THE BONES. THIS HAS BEEN SHOCKING. AT TIMES I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE READ A DIFFERENT BOOK. I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK OF THE SCRIPTURE WHERE IT DESCRIBES FEUDAL THINKING. KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT WISDOM IS HOW YOU DEFEND SALVAGE THE BONES AS AN EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR AN AP ENGLISH CLASS. I WAS ALSO SURPRISED -- NOT REALLY --

013THAT I WAS JUST INFORMED OF THE MEETING YESTERDAY. IT CONFIRMS THIS PROCESS IS UNFAIR AND YOU ARE REALLY NOT INTERESTED IN DEFENSE, DISCUSSION OR DEBATE. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN GRANTED ANSWERS TO THE BASIC COMPLAINTS WE HAVE ASKED. OUR MAIN QUESTION ALL ALONG HAS BEEN, WHAT VALUE DOES THE XWLIS SIT MATERIAL ADD TO THIS BOOK? QUOTE, LITERARY TEXTS MACON TAIPB MATURE CONTENT AND THEMES INCLUDING SEXUAL ACTS AND TRORL THEMES BUT ARE CHOSEN BASED ON THEIR LITERARY MERIT. THAT'S FROM GUILFORD COUNTY STATEMENT ON TEXTS. EVERYONE WHO HAS SO FAR DEFENDED SALVAGE AS HAVING LITERARY VALUE HAS DONE SO WITH WEAK LOGIC. THE BOOK HAS LITERARY VALUE BECAUSE TEENS LIKE IT AND IT WON AN AWARD. I WOULD HOPED KATORS HAVE BETTER SKILLS THAN THEIR OPINION ON WHAT TEENS LIKE. SALVAGE THE BONES GOES WAY BEYOND WHAT IS

014USEFUL TO THE CONTENT. WHY HAS NOBODY ADDRESSED THAT POINT? THERE ARE MANY BOOKS THAT WOULD SATISFY THE PURPOSE OF EXPOSING STUDENTS TO PERSPECTIVES UNLIKE OR IN OPPOSITION TO THEIR OWN IN ORDER TO ANALYZE COMPLEX THEMES AND TO PROMOTE INDIVIDUAL GROWTH. WHAT CHOOSE THIS BOOK? THERE'S A REASON AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE IT IS WELL WRITTEN, COMPLEX, INSIGHTFUL OR APRESENT PRAIT. PERHAPS IT IS MRS. WALLACE FROM NORTHERN STATED IS IT ABOUT AP CREDIT OR CULTIVATING YOUNG MINDS. THAT WAS A QUOTE. ANOTHER SERIOUS QUESTION THAT HAS NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED IS WHAT IF A MALE TEACHER ASSIGNED THIS BOOK, WOULD THERE BE ANY PUSH BACK DUE TO THE SEXUAL CONTENT? WOULD THIS BOOK QUALIFY AS SEXUAL HARASSMENT IF THERE WAS OPEN CONVERSATION IN THE CLASSROOM. DESPITE REPEATED CLAIMS THAT THE SEXUAL CONTENT WAS NEVER DISCUSSED IN

015THE CLASSROOM, DOES ANYONE REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT DIDN'T FOSTER PERHAPS SOME UNFRUITFUL CONVERSATION IN OR OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM? SHOULD I REMINE YOU THAT A STAFF MEMBER FROM GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS, NORTHERN'S COACHING STAFF, WAS ARRESTED LAST YEAR IN SEPTEMBER FOR FELONY INDECENT LIBERTIES OF A NORB STUDENT. THIS BOOK GOES INTO GREAT DETAIL ABOUT ILIS SIT SEX BETWEEN A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND 19-YEAR-OLD MAN. I WONDER IF THE CHARGES WERE AS CRUDE AS THE TEXT OF THIS BOOK OUR STEW DOEPBTS ARE READING. THE GCS PARENT HANDBOOK HAS CONSEQUENCES FOR STAFF FOR DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT. THIS BOOK QUALIFIES FOR BOTH. YOU ARE AWARE OF YOUR HANDBOOK AND YOU SHOULD RESPECT YOUR OWN RULES. QUOTE, SEPX YOU'LLY HARASSING CONDUCT INCLUDES SEXUALLY SUGGESTIVE WRITTEN MATERIALS. HOW CAN ANY REASONABLE ADULT NOT SEE SALVAGE AS CONTAINING SEXUALLY ILLICIT CONTENT. THERE IS NO

016WAY AROUND THAT OTHER THAN YOU JUST DON'T CARE. THERE IS A RECKONING FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS BOOK YET REFUSES TO PUT ANY RESTRICTIONS ON IT. YOU ARE NOT PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT ONE DAY YOU WILL HAVE TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT TO SOMEONE HIGHER THAN YOURSELF WHEN YOU ARE WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE WILL YOU BE FOUND WANTING? A COMMON DEFENSE FROM A STEECHER, THE STUDENT ON THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN NOBODY WAS FORCED TO READ THE OBSCENE EXCERPTS IF THEY CHOSE TO READ THE BOOK, OR IF THEY WANTED THEY COULD DO AN ALTERNATE. SO WHEN A TEACHER HAS TO CAVEAT AN ASSIGNMENT WITH THERE ARE GRAPHIC SEXUAL SCNES YOU MIGHT WANT TO SKIP OVER THAT COULD BE YOUR FIRST CLUE THAT YOU SKIP OVER THE BOOK. I WOULD

017SUGGEST THAT THE TEACHER ASSIGN BOOKS THAT ARE NOT THIS LEVEL OF OBJECTIONABLE AND I WOULD ALSO ASK STUDENTS BE ABLE TO FREELY PARTICIPATE WITHOUT THEIR VALUES BEING COMPROMISED. WHERE IS THE CONCERN FOR MY STUDENT'S RIGHTS. IS IT FAIR TO SEGREGATE SHOES STUDENTS WHILE THE REST OF THE CLASS IS DISCUSSING THE LID TRAER VALUE OF A PROMISCUOUS 12-YEAR-OLD CHILD? IF A STUDENT HAS A LEGITIMATE OBJECTION TO FILLING THEIR MIND WITH GARBAGE THEY SHOULD BE HEARD, RESPECTED AND HONORED, NOT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. PROCEDURES OF SELECTION OF EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FROM GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SAID, QUOTE, THE ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTED TO RECEIVING INPUT FROM FACULTY STAFF, STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY IN THE SELECTION OF EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, END QUOTE. IT APPEARS THAT THAT IS BEING IGNORED. I TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO OBTAIN A SYLLABUS FROM DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS IN GUILFORD

018COUNTY. IT IS CURIOUS AS TO WHY SEVERAL OF THEM WOULD NOT GIVE ME ACCESS TO IT. WHERE IS THE TRANSPARENCY? I WAS, HOWEVER, ABLE TO OBTAIN A COPY OF NORTHWEST'S SYLLABUS. IT SEEMS THEY ARE NOT USING SALVAGE BUT RATHER CHOSE BOOKS THAT I BELIEVE ARE MATURE BUT ALSO ADVANCED. ARE THOSE STUDENTS GOING TO BE LESS PREPARED FOR THE REAL WORLD THAN VAL LAIPBLG-LEVEL CLASSES? I WILL BE WILLING TO BET THEY WILL BE BETTER PREPARED. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN AP SCORES BETWEEN THE TWO SCHOOLS. YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD WANT ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS. WHY IS IT HARD FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT MOST PARENTS JUST WANT YOU TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS WILL IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING TO READ OR WRITE WELL. WE VALUE THAT OVER ANY CULTURAL ROUTE

019YOU TRY TO IMPOSE. WHY WILL YOU NOT UNDERSTAND IT IS NOT YOUR PLACE TO OPEN OUR CHILDREN'S EYES TO WHAT IS NORMAL, ACCEPTABLE AND GOOD. THEY ARE OUR CHILDREN. EXAMINE YOUR HEARTS AND ROOT OUT THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NOT USEFUL OR OFFEND. PUT AWAY THOSE THINGS THAT ARE CULTURALLY ACCEPTABLE AND FOOLISH BUT DEEP DOWN YOU KNOW THEY ARE CORRUPT, HARMFUL AND DEVICIVE. YOU MUST LEARN THAT WHICH IS RIGHT, ACCEPTABLE AND PROFITABLE WITH LEARNING WITH TEACHING COMPASSION AND WISDOM. HOW CRUDE DOES A WORK HAVE TO BE BEFORE YOU WOULD DISAPPROVE. AGAIN I HAVE ASKED THAT QUESTION TWICE NOW WITH NO ANSWER. I'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF WANTING TO BAN BOOKS. THAT WAS AND IS DISINGENERAL WITH US. I AM JUST ASKING THAT YOU NOT USE IT IN AN ADESIGNED AP ENGLISH CLASS, NOT A SIT IN A

020CORNER AND TEACH YOURSELF FOR THE 4 OR 5 WEEKS THAT THE CLASS IS SDUSING THIS OTHER BOOK. SEGREGATING STUDENTS BASED ON PERSONAL BELIEF AND CONVICTIONS IS WRONG. IF YOU WANT TO PUT IT IN THE LIBRARY OR 17 UEGT IT AS A SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCE IN THE CLASSROOM YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT. THE PARENT CAN THEN DECIDE IF THEY WANT THEIR CHILD TO READ IT. IF IT IS IN THE LIBRARY I WOULD ALSO SUGGESTS PUTTING AN XWLIS SIT SIGN ON IT. WHY IS IT OKAY FOR THE MTAC COORDINATOR TO SAY LOOKING AT THE AP LIST I FELT LIKE A LOT WERE WRITTEN BY WHITE MEN, A COUPLE BY BLACK MEN, THERE JUST WEREN'T MUCH WRITTEN BY BLACK WOMEN AND I THOUGHT, YEAH, I LIKE THIS ONE. DOES THAT SATISFY THE CRITERIA FOR EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES? QUOTE,

021THE STAFF MUST USE SELECTION CRITERIA RATHER THAN PERSONAL OPINIONS AND BELIEFS IN THE SELECTION OF RESOURCES, END QUOTE. SO DO WE JUDGE BY OUTWARD APPEARANCE, ARE WE BANNING BOOKS THAT WEREN'T WRITTEN BY BLACK WOMEN. I CAN'T IMAGINE GUILFORD COUNTY IS THAT NAIR REMEMBER MINDED. THIS SHOULDN'T BE THAT HARD. ASSIGN BOOKS THAT ARE A STRETCH INTELLECTUALLY. I WANT A TEACHER AND STAFF WHO WORK FOR US TO ASSIGN BOOKS AT OR ABOVE MY CHILD'S READING LEVEL BUT DO NOT INCLUDE OBSCENE AND XWLIS SIT MATERIAL. I DON'T DISAGREE THAT OUR CHILDREN BENEFIT AND GROW FROM LEARNING ABOUT OTHER FAMILY SITUATIONS IN THE WORLD WE LIVE IN. I WANT MY CHILD TO NOT BE EGOCENTRIC AS SHE UNDERSTANDS HER PLACE IN THE WORLD. PARENTS SHOULD MAKE THEM AWARE AS THOSE WHO ARE NOT AS WLUKY SHELTERED OR BLESSED. I

022WANT MY CHILD TO HAVE CONCERN FOR OTHERS AND MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE. THOSE THINGS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH LOVE, TENDERNESS AND RESPECT. MY POINT IS IT IS NOT HARD TO FIND BOOKS THAT SATISFY THE AP REQUIREMENT AND MY WISHES AROUND PARENTAL AUTHORITY. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU REMOVE THIS BOOK FROM THE ASSIGNED AP CLASS AND CHOOSE A BOOK THAT DOES NOT SHOCK, OFFEND OR DUMB DOWN, INCLUSION OF THE ENTIRE CLASS IS FAIR, RIGHT AND BENEFITS ALL WHILE AT THE SAME TIME FOSTERS A HEALTHY AND REBUST LEARNING EXPERIENCE. AS YOU WEIGH YOUR DECISION I ASK THAT YOU ABOUND IN EVERY GOOD WORK, DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO NOT OFFEND, HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO WHAT YOU KNOW IS RIGHT AND RESPECT ALL PERSPECTIVES. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM GCS

023ADMINISTRATION. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, I AM NATALIE STRANGE, DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY MEDIA SERVICES. I WANTED TO REVIEW THE FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION THAT REVIEW BY THE DRC, THE DISTRICT REVIEW COMMITTEE AND THE SCHOOL'S MTAC COMMITTEE. IT INCLUDES THE PEDAGOGICAL USE HOW IS THIS USED IN THE CLASSROOM. IT IS ALL WRITTEN ABOUT IN POLICY 3200 AND 3200 R FURTHER EXPANDS ON THOSE. WHEN LOOKING AT EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES THEY SHOULD BE TO SPE REPRESENT DIVERSITY, THEY SHOULD ALLOW STUDENTS TO EXPAND CRITICAL THINKING THROUGH SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, PERSONAL AND POLITICAL PROBLEMS AND PROVIDE VARIOUS VIEWPOINTS ABOUT ISSUES. MEDIA SPECIALISTS AND TEACHERS SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING RESOURCES UNBIASED SELECTION TOOLS. THE QUALITY OF THE TEXT, IT'S RELEVANT AND ITS ALIGNMENT TO THE OBJECTIVES IN THE COURSE.WH SALVAGE THE BONES AND HOW ALIGN THE BONES IS USED ON AP CENTRAL CLASSROOM IT APPEARS IN

024TWO AP VIDEOS THERE, AS WELL AS THE FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT.THE CO THE BONES TO KEECH CHARACTERIZATION. IN THE LITERATURE COMPOSITION IT FEECHES SALVAGE THE BONES IN THE HOME AND FAMILY UNIT, AS A TRADE NOVEL. THE BOOK ANALYZES COMPLEX VOICE AND REPRESENTS DIVERSE VIEWPOINTS. SDIG INTO WHAT THOSE VIEWPOINTS ARE THAT YOU SEE WITHIN THIS BOOK AS YOU READ ABOUT ESCH YOU READ ABOUT POVERTY, TEEN PREGNANCY AND DISASTER RESPONSE. WHEN WE ASK STUDENTS TO ANALYZE CRITICAL THINKING, THINKING ABOUT SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND OTHER SOCIETAL PROBLEMS THIS GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATES THOSE THAT ARE COVERED WITHIN THE TEXT. OTHER WAYS THAT WE DELVE IN THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND PERM PROBLEMS INCLUDE POVERTY, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND MENTAL HEALTH. ALL COVERED WITHIN THIS BOOK AND REFERENCED IN OUR SELECTION CRITERIA. DIVERSITY IN THIS BOOK SHOWS MA AS ALIGNED SOURCE SELECTION GOALS. OUR SELECTION SAYS

025THAT THIS BOOK MUST BE APPROPRIATE TOTHE AGE AND INTEREST, ABILITIES, LEARNING STYLES RTION SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND MRA DUERT LEVELS OF THOSE STUDEN THIS IS AN OPTIONAL AP ENGLISH COURSE AND IT'S MEANT TO BE COORS. THIS TEXT IS USED AND RECOMMENDED BY COLLEGE BOARDS HIS COURSE. WHEN LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT THE READABILITY LEVEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM INTEREST AND MATURITY LEV THIS SLIDE FURTHER TALKS ABOUT READABILITY OR READING LEVEL OF A TEXT. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT MORE THAN JUST THE WORDS ON THE PAGE. A CLASS IS ADVANTAGE AND TASA, WHICH IS NOW ADVANTAGE, WHEN LOOKING AT OTHER TEXTS AVAILABLE THIS SCORED A THIS IS [INDISCERNIBLE] INCLUDED AS PART OF THE AP UNIT. THIS BOOK IS WELL ESTABLISHED AS BEING APPROPRIATE FOR UPPER HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEVEL. THESE ARE A LIST

026OF SOME OF THE AWARDS AND THE REVIEWS FROM UNBIASED SOURCES. WHEN IT COMES TO THINKING OBSCENITY, IT MUST APPEAL PREDAUPL NAIPBLTLY TO PRUER YEPBT INTEREST OR CONDUCT, DESCRIBE SEXUAL CONDUCT IN A PATENTLY OBJECTIONABLE WAY AND LACK SCIENTIFIC OR [INDISCE THE BOOK AS A WHOLE IS NOT PURIENT. EXPERTS IN THE SAY ABOUT THIS BOOK AND HOW IT CAN BE USED.OK WON THE NATIONAL IN 201. THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD IS SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL BOOK ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO CELEBRATE THE BEST IN LITERATURE IN ERICA, EXPAND ITS AUDIENCE AND ENSURE BOOKS HAVE A PROMINENT PLACE IN AMERICAN CULTURE. EACH YEAR FOUNDATION ASSEMBLES 25 DISTINGUISHED WRITERS, TRANSLATORS, AND LIBRARIANS, BOOK SELLERS TO JUDGE THFOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD. THEY ARE CONSIDERED EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD. SENSITIVE TO CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT, THESE ARE THE OBJECTIVES FROM THE AP LITERATURE

027COURSE. ESCH IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW CHARACTER'S OWN CHOICES AND SPEECH REFLECT COMPLEXITIES IN THE CHARACTER. THE DOG, TYNA, ACTS AS AN OBVIOUS SYMBOL IN THE BOOK. WHEN THINKING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT ALL NARRATORS CAN BE TRUSTED IN THE AP CLASSROOMS THEY PULL OUT ESCH AS AN EXAMPLE OF AN UNRELIABLE NARRATOR AND FINALLY WHEN THINKING ABOUT ILLUSIONS THE MOST OBVIOUS EXAMPLE IN THE BOOK IS THAT BETWEEN MEDEA AND JASON. IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW AS YOUTH IN THE CLASSROOM THERE IS ALWAYS STUDENT AT FRONT. ALTERNATE TEXTS REMAIN AVAILABLE, STUDENTS HAVE THE OPTION OF SKIPPING OVER VARIOUS SCENES, FOR THE 4 STUDENTS WHO DID CHOOSE TO READ SOMETHING DIFFERENT. STUDENTS XWLETED AN ACTIVE WHEN THEY TRACE THE CHARACTER, SYMBOL OR NARRATIVE ELEMENT THROUGHOUT THE BOOK OF THEIR CHOICE. IN MARCH THE NOVEL WAS INTRODUCED BY THE

028TEACHERS. THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE PAGE SO ALL THE PARENTS WHO WERE PARENT OBSERVERS WOULD HAVE HAD ACCESS TO THIS. AS ITS IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR POLICY THAT PARENTS AND GUARDIANS CAN REQUEST ALTERNATE ASSIGNMENTS FOR THEIR CHILD. THE LINKS WITHIN THIS KAS HAVE AN PAGE EXPLAINED WHY THIS BOOK WAS CHOSEN AS THE ASSIGNMENT FOR STEW DOEPBTS. IT LISTED ALSO HOW TO CONTACT THE YOU HAD QUESTIONS OR WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENT CHOICE. STUDENTS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS RESPONDED ABOUT HOW THEY FELT ABOUT THIS BOOK AND ITS USE IN TEACHING FOR THAT PARTICULAR UNIT. THE COLLEGE BOARD STATEMENT OPPOSES CENSORSHIP. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION FURTHERS THAT BY NOTES THE COLLEGE BOARD DOES HAVE THE RIGHT TO STRIP A SCHOOL OF ITS AP DESIGNATION IF AN AUDIT FINDS THAT THE FRAMEWORK IS NOT BEING FOLLOWED. AS A SCHOOL

029LIE XWRAIRAN, AS AN EDUCATOR, I KNOW THAT PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR WILL CHILD. THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT'S BEST FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE THIS POLICY IN GCS FOR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, NOW WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSION AMONG THE BOARD. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> ANY DISCUSSION? DEBORAH? . >> WHERE TO START? OF COURSE THE CHALLENGE TO THIS BOOK BEGAN IN MY DISTRICT, IN DISTRICT 5, WHICH NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL IS A PART OF. AND FROM DAY ONE MY GOAL WAS REPRESENTATION TO DECIDE MY OWN OPINIONS ON WHAT HAPPENS UNLESS IT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO MY CHILDREN, IN WHICH CASE IT WOULD NOT BE AN APPROPRIATE VENUE HERE. LET ME PUT RIGHT OUT THERE THAT I HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS EMAILS AND

030THE VAST, VAST MAJORITY HAVE BEEN IN FAVOR OF KEEPING OPEN ALL OPTIONS FOR READING MATERIALS. -DIRECTLY RELATED TO SALVAGE TH BONES, THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE BEEN GENERAL STATEMENTS NOT TO BAN OR CENSOR ANY BOOK. WE ARE TALKING 17 AND 18-YEAR-OLDS, OLD ENOUGH TO ENLIST IN THE MILITARY AND TAKE A LIFE. LEAVE THESE CHOICES OPEN FOR THE ADULTINGS TAKES THESE CHOICES AND AS THE HEAD ON TO COLLEGE THEY WILL TAKE THOSE CHOICES WITH THEM AND LEAVE THE PARENTS WHO RESIDE IN MY DISTRICT TO CONVERSE WITH THEIR CHILD AND MAKE THOSE DECISIONS TOGETHER. >> DIANE. >> FIRST, YOU KNOW, I WANT US TO LOOK AT THE INFLUENCE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS BROADEN US AND THE BROADNESS OF THIS SFEERPBS HAS BROUGHT US TOGETHER IN THIS ROOM. BECAUSE IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL WE WOULDN'T

031HAVE SEEN THE LEVEL OF PEOPLE BEING INTRODUCED TO PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT LIKE THEM. WE WOULDN'T SEE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ISSUES, WHETHER IT WAS POVERTY, WHETHER IT WAS WEALTH, WHETHER IT WAS EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC ABILITY, WHETHER IT WAS DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES. PUBLIC SCHOOL HAS BEEN THAT INFLUENCE IN OUR SOCIETY AND MY POINT OF THIS IS THAT MEANS THAT IN HAVING DIFFERENT BOOKS BECAUSE WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL, SCHOOLS WERE SEGREGATED AND THE BOOKS THAT I HAD TO DEAL WITH WERE ALL BOOKS WRITTEN ABOUT AND BY WHITE PEOPLE. THAT'S WHAT I HAD TO LEARN FROM. SO I DIDN'T LEARN ABOUT THE STRUGGLES OF BLACK PEOPLE EXCEPT SLAVERY IN THE BOOKS IN LIBRARIES WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL. NOW A CHILD CAN PICK UP A BOOK ABOUT SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT MAY OR MAY

032NOT BE ON TV, MAY OR MAY NOT BE DISCUSSED IN THEIR FAMILY HOMES. I WOULD HOPE THAT WHEN I HEAR SOME OF WHAT I HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT THE FACT THAT YOU ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO COME TO PUBLIC SCHOOL MEANS MAYBE YOUR HOUSEHOLD IS BROADER IN ITS THINKING THAN WHAT IT APPEARS FROM YOUR PRESENTATION HERE. THE FACT THAT CHILDREN ARE GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE OPTIONS WHEN, AGAIN, I WENT TO SCHOOL, YOU READ WHAT THE TEACHER TOLD YOU TO READ. THERE WAS NO SETTING ASIDE. THE ONLY EXPERIENCE I HAD WITH THAT WAS IN THE 11TH GRADE I HAD A TEACHER WHO DID NOT WANT TO TEACH THE CIVIL WAR SO SHE'D TAKE THOSE PAGES IN HER BOOK AND SHE WALKED OUT OF THE CLASSROOM FOR 3 WEEKS AND TOLD US TO TEACH OURSELVES. AND YOU KNOW

033WHAT WE DID, WE WERE 11TH GRADERS. SO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS GIVEN TO STUDENTS WITH A PROPRAIT ACTIVITIES AND IT'S NOT LIKE THEY ARE JUST BEING PUSHED ASIDE. AND I BET YOU SOME OF THOSE KIDS ARE CURIOUS AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM, WHETHER THEY PARENTS WANT IT OR NOT. I HAVE A QUESTION, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN ASK IT OR NOT, BUT CAN YOU DEFINE WHAT YOU MEAN BY COLLEGE LEVEL? . >> QUESTIONS ARE FINE, I BELIEVE THAT ONE WAS FOR MISS STRANGE. >> YEAH. >> BY COLLEGE LEVEL TEXT? . >> WHEN YOU SAY COLLEGE LEVEL, DEFINE THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE STUDENT'S ABILITY. WHEN YOU SAY COLLEGE LEVEL YOU MEAN -- IF YOU SAY KINDERGARTEN LEVEL I KNOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 4 OR 5-YEAR-OLDS, RIGHT. >> RIGHT.

034SO WITH A COLLEGE LEVEL TEXT THOSE COULD BE BY ADULTS THEIR LEVEL IF YOU WERE WALKING INTO A BARNES AND NOBLE, BUT IN THIS CONTEXT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW IT'S UTILIZE THE IN THE CON TEPT. COLLEGE LEVEL THINKING, THE ABILITY WE'RE LOOKING FOR TO ALIGN WITH THE AP CURRICULUM, WHICH IS A COLLEGE LEVEL CURRICULUM. >> WILL STUDENTS RECEIVE COLLEGE CREDIT FOR THIS CLASS. >> IT COULD IF THEY PASS THE AP TEST. >> SO PERHAPS WHAT WE'VE DONE IS GIVE THIS STUDENT A LEG UP AS FAR AS COURSES THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IN THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR OF COLLEGE, RIGHT. >> CORRECT. >> AND IF THEY WERE -- YOU MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS ONE -- IF THEY WERE A FRESHMAN IN COLLEGE, WOULD THEY HAVE THE OPTION OF CHOOSING TO READ THIS BOOK.

035>> HAS IT BEEN USED TO TEACH COLLEGE FRESHMEN, YES. THIS HAS BEEN USED TO TEACH COLLEGE FRESHMEN BEFORE. >> WE TRY TO HIDE THE FACT OUR KIDS ARE ACTUALLY MORE SAVVY THAN WE GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR. I MEAN, MOST OF US IN HERE WHO HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THIS, YOU CAN HAND IT TO YOUR 8-YEAR-OLD AND SAY, YOU KNOW, FIGURE THIS OUT FOR ME. THAT MEANS THAT IF AN 8-YEAR-OLD CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE A CELL PHONE, THAT MEANS A 17 OR 18-YEAR-OLD DOES KNOW ABOUT SEX, DOES KNOW MORE THAN, I MEAN, MASTERS AND JOHNSON WAS A LONG TIME AGO, WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT THAT WAY. SO I THINK TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TEENAGERS TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, NOT GROWN FOLK BEING PEDOPHILES, THAT'S A DIFFERENT

036PLACE. I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THEIR RIGHTS, THEIR SEXUALITY, THEIR DO'S AND DON'T'S AND AT LEAST MY TEENAGERS DIDN'T COME AND ASK ME, MAMA, CAN I BE WITH A GIRL? USUALLY WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT WAS, HERE SHE IS. SO YOU CAN'T CONTROL, PARENTS, WE, WE CAN'T CONTROL EVERYTHING. WHAT WE DO IS GUIDE. WHAT WE DO IS HOW TO GIVE KIDS THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES -- NOW, THE LANGUAGE IN THE BOOK IS A BIT BUT YOU CAN LOOK AT TICKTOCK OR ANY SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOMEONE OF THAT IS WORSE OR MORE. AND IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUR CHILD WATCHING TICKTOCK I BET YOU IF I ASK, DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE A CELL PHONE, MORE THAN LIKELY THEY DO. SO THEY ALREADY HAVE EXPOSURE. MY LAST COMMENT IS ARE THERE

037BOOKS THAT DEAL WITH OTHER SOCIAL ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES. >> YES. >> OKAY, SO WE HAVE BOOKS THAT DEAL WITH RACISM, SECTIONISM, AGISM, POVERTY, VIOLENCE, ANY OF THOSE, RIGHT? AND THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUR KIDS. >> YES. >> WITH THE GUIDANCE OF TEACHERS, RIGHT? NO? . >> THE GUIDANCE -- >> YEAH. >> THESE IN A SCHOOL LIBRARY ARE AVAILABLE FOR CIRCULATION. PARENTS OFTEN COMMUNICATE WITH SCHOOL LIBRARIANS AS WELL TO ASK WHAT TYPE OF BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE OR TO HELP STUDENTS LOOK THROUGH THE LIBRARY COLLECTION. >> IS UNCLE TOM'S CABIN AVAILABLE. >> I AM SURE IT IS. >> SO BOOKS THAT DEALT WITH VERY HARSH SOCIAL ISSUES -- WAR -- THESE BOOKS ARE THERE. >> YES. >> AND THESE BOOKS ARE USED SOMETIMES FOR DISCUSSION WITH OUR STUDENTS. >> YES. >> WE

038HAVE TO BE A BROADER POOL AS FAR AS EXPOSURE TO WHAT WE HAVE, I THINK IF YOU WANT A LIBRARY DON'T HAVE CERTAIN NUMBER OF KINDS OF BOOKS THEN THAT'S WHY PRIVATE SCHOOLS OR CHARTER SCHOOLS CAN FILL THE BILL. YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT, I'M JUST MAKING A COMMENT. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. PAT. >> I HAVE JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS. NO. 1, IS IT TRUE THAT A HIGH SCHOOL CAN LOSE THEIR ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH STAL TUESDAY? I HEARD THAT. >> A STATEMENT FROM THE AMERICAN LIBRARY STATEMENT OFFICE OF NTELLECTUAL FREEDOM SO IT WOULD BE AFTER A SCHOOL IS AUDITED, IF THE COURSE IS IS AUDITED AND DOESN'T MEET THOSE GUIDELINES, THEN, YES, THERE WOULD BE A PROCESS. >> IT LIKELY WOULDN'T BE OVER ONE BOOK. >> THAT WAS MY FOLLOW-UP

039QUESTION. THAT'S MORE OF A POLICY OR PHILOSOPHY WITH THOSE ASSOCIATIONS, IT'S NOT SPECIFIC TO ONE -- >> NOT ONE. >> THE OTHER -- FOR THE LEGAL PART OF THIS, WHAT WE'RE BEING ASKED TODAY, IS IT AN EITHER/OR? IS IT REMOVE THE BOOK FROM LIKE AN OPTION COMPLETELY OR IS THERE A WAY FOR EXAMPLE WITH PARENTAL CONSENT, WOULD THE PARENT OF THE CHILD HAVE TO SIGN SOMETHING. >> RIGHT, SO THE REQUEST IS THAT THE BOOK BE REMOVED FROM THE CURRICULUM OF A PARTICULAR COURSE AT NORTHERN GUILFORD HIGH SCHOOL. >> RIGHT. >> YOU COULD AS A BOARD DECIDE IT'S WITHIN YOUR DISCRETION TO PUT PARAMETERS AROUND THAT, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE YES OR NO. >> OBVIOUSLY PROBABLY A LOT OF US STRUGGLE WITH THIS. I COME AT IT FROM THINGS I'M TRYING TO PUT ASIDE AND

040JUST LOOK AT THE MERITS OF THE CASE, AS IT WERE. I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS, MY MOM WAS A 30 YEAR PLUS MEDIA SPECIALIST, I AM CHANNELING MARIAN TILLMAN AND I AM A FREE SPEECH -- BUT THERE ARE LIMITS. ALL OF OUR FREEDOMS THERE ARE LIMITS. SO I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET SOME OF THE GROUND RULES, THE REQUEST IS, THE COMPLAINT IS TO REMOVE THIS BOOK AT NORTHERN FROM THE AP OPTION. THEN WE AS A BOARD HAVE, WE HAVE WORK TO DO TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE IS EITHER-OR, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> BUT EVEN, LINDA, WHAT I CAN TELL THE POLICY HAS BEEN FOLLOWED AS FAR AS THE BOOK IS CONCERN ODE, IF WE ARE GETTING READY TO GET OUR STUDENTS READY FOR A COLLEGE LEVEL COURSE AND THIS IS LIKE

041A COLLEGE LEVEL COURSE TAKEN IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AND PROBABLY IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THEY GRADUATE THEY ARE GOING TO ENTER COLLEGE AND THEY WILL HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF BOOK TO BE READ, ARE THE PARENTS GOING TO [INDISCERNIBLE] BUT INSTEAD THE PARENTS CAN ALSO ASK FOR AN ALTERNATIVE BOOK FOR ASSIGNMENT. SO THAT'S ANOTHER WAY THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT IT AS PARENTS, ASK FOR THE ALTERNATIVE ASSIGNMENT FOR YOUR CHILD IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THE BOOK. AND YOU HAVE A CHOICE AND YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO DO THAT AND THAT'S ONLY TALKING WITH THE TEACHER AND YOU ALL COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING AS FAR AS ANOTHER BOOK, ALTERNATIVE BOOK, TO BE READ. KIDS ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE MANY THINGS IN LIFE AS WE DID AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY

042WILL PROBABLY EXPERIENCE. WE ASPARENTS NEED TO TALK WITH OUR KIDS AND SHARE WITH OUR KIDS THINGS THEY ARE GOING TO LEARN IN THE FUTURE AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. LINDA. >> I THINK THE QUESTION COMES DOWN TO THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY GRAPHIC ON MULTIPLE LEVELS. THE AUTHOR IS VERY GOOD AT HER DESCRIPTIONS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TOUCHING GENITALIA, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BODY FLUIDS GOING DOWN LEGS. AT WHAT POINT ARE WE CROSSING THE LINE? THERE AGAIN, CHILDREN UP UNTIL 18 ARE UNDER THE PARENT'S GUIDANCE, OKAY? AND AS -- AND WITH THE MULTITUDE OF BOOKS OUT THERE, THERE AGAIN, AUTHOR'S VERY TALENTED AND GRAPHIC IN HER DESCRIPTION WHICH, WHETHER IT COMES TO THE SWEATING OR MOANING OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, MUCH OF THE BOOK UP UNTIL THE FIRST

04310 CHAPTERS RELATES TO ESCH'S SEXUALITY, HER GETTING PREGNANT, AND I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, AT WHAT POINT -- THE EDUCATION SYSTEM HAS MOVED THEIR LEVEL OF ACCEPTABLE SEXUALITY, IN MY VIEW, TO A HIGHER STANDARD AT THIS POINT AND PARENTS AREN'T THERE WITH THEM. OR SOME PARENTS. HERE'S THE THING -- THE FIRST I LOOKED UP THE BOOK ON AMAZON AND THE FIRST NEGATIVE, AND I DON'T AGREE 100 PERCENT WITH THIS PARENT VIEW OF IT, BUT THIS WAS A PARENT OF COLOR. FIRST ONE I GOT WHEN I LOOKED AT THE BOOK TO LOOK AT THE REVIEW, AND I DIDN'T HUNT IT, IT WAS JUST, BOOM, NO. 1. AND IT IS A PARENT OF COLOR. AND WHAT SHE SAYS, I THINK SHE TALKS ABOUT HER CRITICISM OF WHAT IT MAKES PERCEPTION OF PEOPLE OF COLOR. I

044THINK SHE'S CRITICAL THERE. WHAT SHE SAYS ABOUT THE BOOK FOR MY HIGH SCHOOL DAUGHTER, THE SCHOOL HAD THIS LISTED ON A READING LIST AND I CLOTHES IT BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY ONE THEY OFFERED THAT WAS ABOUT PEOPLE OF COLOR. I REGRETED THAT DECISION. THIS BOOK PORTRAYED BLACK AMERICANS AS DIRTY -- AND I DON'T AGREE WITH IT, BUT THAT'S HER VIEW -- UNEDUCATED, OVERSEXED AND ALCOHOLIC. IT FICTION AND LEAVES A BAD IMPRESSION OF BLACK PEOPLE. BLACK PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED THROUGH POVERTY. AS A WHOLE THEY HAVE DONE SO WITH DIGNITY IT. THEY ARE STRONG AND DIGNIFIED. I THINK THIS BOOK IS A BAD REPRESENTATION OF BLACK AMERICAN FAMILIES. THIS THESE GRAPHIC SEXUAL SCENES, MY DAUGHTER SAID IT MADE HER SICK WHEN SHE READ IT. SHE DIDN'T READ THE WHOLE THING. IF PARENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SEXUAL

045CONTENT THEN DON'T HAVE YOUR KIDS READ THIS BOOK. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A TRUE AND HONORABLE REPRESENTATION OF BLACK AMERICAN LIVES I WOULD SUGGEST I KNOW WHAT THE CAGED BIRD SINGS. AND THE REASON I READ THIS, EVERYONE WANTS TO ASSUME THESE FEW PARENTS ARE OBJECTING TO THIS BOOK. OKAY? THIS WOMAN TOLD HER WHOLE BAND OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS NOT TO READ THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT GOES AGAINST HER LEVEL OF OBSCENITY. I THINK THE BOOK IS FINE IF WE TAKE OUT SOME OF THE GRAPHIC, GRAPHIC SEXUAL -- THERE AGAIN, WHERE DO WE CROSS THE LINE INTO TOO GRAPHIC OF -- FOR ME IT'S PRETTY GRAPHIC. 50 SHADES OF GRAY IF WE GET TO THAT LEVEL, IS THAT GOING TO BE TOO GRAPHIC? SO HOW GRAPHIC DOES IT HAVE TO BECOME BEFORE IT BECOMES UNACCEPTABLE? FOR

046ME WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BODY FLUIDS RUNNING DOWN THEIR LEGS, REACHING DOWN AND TOUCHING GENITALIA, IT'S GETTING A LITTLE GRAPHIC FOR ME AND I'M AN ADULT WOMAN. SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING PARENTS -- AND IT'S NOT, THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF THE PARENTS HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THIS BOOK. NOW, THEY MAY GO AND FIND THE BOOK AND READ THE BOOK AND THERE MAY BE MORE PEOPLE THAT -- BECAUSE ON THE WHOLE THE BOOK HAS, YOU KNOW, TELLS A LOT OF THINGS AND I UNDERSTAND WHY, WELL, WHEN YOU LOSE A PARENT, CHILD WITH A BUNCH OF BOYS AND THEREFORE THERE'S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOYS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS YOUNG GIRL AND THERE WAS NO ONE TO STOP IT. HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE SHOULD -- THE QUESTION IS,

047IS IT TOO GRAPHIC? SO THAT'S MY TAKE AS A -- AND I THINK PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT, YOU KNOW WE PREACH ABSTINENCE AND WHERE DOES IT CROSS THE LINE THAT IT'S TOO GRAPHIC. BECAUSE YOU ARE CONFLICTING WITH THE FACT THAT WE SAY WE DON'T SUPPORT GRAPHIC SEX FOR THIS SIDE BUT IF IT'S IN AN AP CLASS WE SUPPORT IT OVER ON THIS SIDE. STUDENTS ARE STILL UNDER THE -- THEIR PARENTS STILL HAVE THE MAIN SOLE LEADERSHIP AND CAN DETERMINE WHAT THEY THINK THEIR CHILDREN WANT. SO -- THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER BOOKS, LOTS OF OTHER BOOKS THAT WOULD HAVE MET MANY MORE SCENARIOS. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, FOR ME THIS BOOK CROSSES OTHER POLICIES AND GUIDELINES AS FAR AS IS IT SO GRAPHIC THAT IT MAKES IT IT GO TOO FAR? AND

048I KNOW EVERYONE'S GOING TO TELL ME, YES. CHILDREN KNOW THIS. WELL, I HATE TO TELL YOU THERE ARE STILL PARENTS OF ALL COLORS THAT HAVE HIGH STANDARDS FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND NOT EVERY CHILD IS EXPOSED TO THESE THINGS AND I WISH EVERY CHILD HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE NEED TO EXPOSE CHILDREN TO THIS THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THIS, THAT HAVE NOT WRITTEN THIS. IT'S NOT UP TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO DETERMINE THAT. THE QUESTION IS, IS THIS TOO GRAPHIC, TO CROSS THE LINE? TO ME IT DOES. [APPLAUSE]. >> KIM. >> I DID READ THE BOOK AND I ALSO MADE THE TIME TO WATCH THE AUTHOR TALK ABOUT THE STORY LINE OF THE BOOK. AND I THOUGHT THE STORY REALLY WAS ABOUT THEM PREPARING FOR KATRINA AND HER BROTHER AND

049HAD DOG FIGHTING WHICH TO ME THAT WAS VERY GRAPHIC AND LEARNING ABOUT DOG FIGHTING. YOU KNOW, IT WAS NOT A LOT ABOUT ESCH. SHE DEFINITELY, SHE LIKED THAT YOUNG MAN BUT I JUST -- YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY GOT SO AWARE AS AN ADULT I REALLY COULDN'T READ THIS BOOK, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A BOOK OF MY PERSONAL CHOICE. I CAN SEE WHY IT'S A BOOK WRITTEN FOR STUDENTS OR IN THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL OF READING BECAUSE AFTER A WHILE I GOT TIRED OF HEARING MORE ABOUT THE DOG FIGHTING. I JUST KIND OF FEEL LIKE THAT BOOK TALKED MORE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR STRUGGLES AND THE LOSS OF A PARENT, YOU KNOW, AND HER RELATIONSHIP WITH HER MOTHER AND COMPARING HER MOTHER WITH THE STYLE OF PARENTING OF HER MOTHER TO HER FATHER, THE FATHER

050DEALING WITH TAKING CARE OF THIS FAMILY AND DEALING WITH POVERTY AND THOSE STRUGGLES. I READ MORE ABOUT THAT IN THIS BOOK THAN ANYTHING ELSE. THE GRAPHIC, YOU KNOW, DESCRIPTION OF HOW SHE FELT WHEN SHE WAS INVOLVED WITH THE YOUNG MAN, SO, YOU KNOW, I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE THIS WAS A GOOD CHALLENGE OF CONVERSATION AND IF YOU ARE HAVING THESE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS IN THE CLASSROOM THAT'S A GOOD THING THAT THIS BOOK CAN OPEN UP ALL THOSE DYNAMICS, TALKING ABOUT KATRINA AND NEW ORLEANS AND WHAT IT'S GOING THROUGH TODAY. THERE'S A LOT THAT YOU CAN GET IN THIS PARTICULAR BOOK THAT I REALLY DIDN'T EXPECT THAT I RECEIVED FROM IT. I DEFINITELY WOULD SUPPORT CONTINUING TO HAVE THIS BOOK AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AND I'M LOOKING AT SOME OF THE REVIEWS ON AMAZON AND IT GETS A

051LOT OF 5 STAR REVIEWS ON AMAZON HERE IN REGARD TO THE BOOK AND I ACTUALLY CHOSE NOT TO READ THE BOOK BUT TO ACTUALLY DO AUDIBLE SO I LISTENED TO THE BOOK. THANK YO. >> THANK YOU. LINDA THEN DEBORAH THEN DIANE. >> THINK I ALREADY WENT. >> SORRY, WINSTON THEN DIANE. >> I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PROCESS BECAUSE I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE TALKING ABOUT BOOKS A LOT. I DON'T DISCOUNT THE PARENTS OR PUT THEM IN A PARTICULAR GROUP, COLOR OR NOT COLOR, MY BOYS ARE 20 AND 22, THEY WENT TO GRIMSLY, THEY READ SOME CHALLENGING TEXTS AND ONE I CONTACTED THE TEACHER, HELP ME UNDERSTAND ABOUT VIOLENCE AND SEX AT THE TIME. I HAD A RICH WITH THE BOYS OVER THANKSGIVING AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE BOOKS THEY READ OVER HIGH SCHOOL

052AND THAT WAS A GOOD CONVERSATION. ONE OF MY BOYS SAID, FOR ME, THIS WAS JUST THEM, IT'S NOT THE WORLD. THE SEX IN THAT BOOK, I KNEW ABOUT SEX, BUT IT HAD BEEN A POWERFUL TOOL TO OPEN UP SOME OTHER VIEWPOINTS FOR THEM. IT WASN'T SALVAGE THE BONES, IT WAS A DIFFERENT BOOK AND AS HE WENT THROUGH COLLEGE REFLECTED ON HOW THAT HAD PREPARED HIM FOR DISCUSSIONS AT COLLEGE. I DO THINK SOMETIMES THE SUBTLE AND NOT SO SUBTLE OF FRAMING THAT WE ARE MORALLY CORRUPT IF WE READ THIS BOOK OR IF WE THINK YOUR CHILDREN BELONG TO US, I HAVE MY OWN CHILDREN, I DON'T THINK YOUR CHILDREN BELONG TO ME. I THINK EVERY MEMBER WHO SITS UP ON THIS DAIS IS RELIGIOUS, THEY HAVE MORAL INTEGRITY, AND YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE THAT, YOU HAVE

053A RIGHT TO WALK IN THE WORLD AND BELIEVE DIFFERENTLY. AND I THINK THE PROCESS HAS BEEN HEALTHY, BUT I WILL STAND UP FOR MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY VOTE, THAT THEY VOTE FROM A SENSE OF CONSCIENCE AND LISTENING AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THEM AS MORALLY CORRUPT. AS CHILD OF TWO PREACHERS I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN CHURCH. THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO READ IT. I WILL VOTE TO LEAVE IT IN. THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR PARENTS TO CHOOSE OTHER THAT EXIST IN A VARIETY OF CONTEXTS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. PROVIDING CHOICE DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN SEGREGATION OR ROBBING SOMEONE OF AN TURPBT. WE PROVIDE CHOICE IN A LOT OF WAYS BUT IN GENERAL I THINK THE PROCESS HAS BEEN GOOD. STUDENTS HAVE SPOKEN UP AND SHOWED UP, I HOPE WE WILL

054TALK MORE ABOUT BOOKS, READ MORE BOOKS, READ MORE HARD BOOKS ABOUT THINGS THAT KEEP US ON OUR GROWING EPLG, MAKE US A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE AND DO THAT IN RESPECTFUL WAYS AS A COMMUNITY. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. >> DEBORAH THEN DIANE. >> WHOEVER CONTROLLED THE AIR CONDITIONER MUST CONTROL THE HEAT TOO BECAUSE I'M DYING UP HERE. FIRST UP, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE PARENT INVOLVEMENT WITH WHAT THEIR CHILDREN READ. I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH SEVERAL PARENTS OVER THE PAST, I DON'T KNOW, PROBABLY GOOD SOLID YEAR. BECAUSE ASIDE FROM THIS PARTICULAR CHALLENGE WE ALSO DISCUSS THINGS LIKE CRT AND WHERE AND WHEN IT IS TAUGHT, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HORRIFIED I OWN THIS BOOK. I OWN ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL. I KNOW SOME DAY THESE CHILDREN OF

055MINE WILL HAVE THESE BOOKS BEFORE THEM AND I WILL KNOW WHAT'S IN THEM BEFORE THEY LAY THEIR HANDS ON THEM. WHEN THIS BOOK WAS PUT INTO THE AP CURRICULUM THE TEACHER GAVE A MULTITUDE OF OPTIONS. READ IT IN ITS ENTIRETY WITH THE KNOWLEDGE IT HAS PHYSICALLY AND SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT IN IT. READ IT IN AN ABRIDGED FORM WITHOUT THOSE SECTIONS WHICH WERE IDENTIFIED FOR THE STUDENTS. IT LEFT THE CHOICE IN THE HANDS OF THE STUDENTS AND THE PARENTS AND LEFT THE PARENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THE EDUCATION. WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW IS BEING ASKED TO MAKE THE DECISION FOR ALL THE OTHER PARENTS, FOR ALL THE PARENTS WHO LEAVE THE DECISION TO THEIR CHILDREN -- I WILL NOT CALL 17 AND 18-YEAR-OLDS CHILDREN, THESE ARE YOUNG ADULTS. THE PARENTS WHO WOULD LEAVE

056THE DECISION TO THEIR STUDENTS TO READ AS THEY SEE FIT. WE ARE TAKING THAT AWAY FROM THEM IF WE REMOVE THIS FROM THE CURRICULUM. WE ARE LIMITING CHOICES IF WE REMOVE THIS FROM THE CURRICULUM RATHER THAN LEAVING MORE OPTIONS. [INDISCERNIBLE] I READ SALVAGE THE BONES AND TOOK YOUR QUESTIONS AND WENT BACK AND READ THEM AND TOOK TIME TO CONSIDER. WHAT DOES THE EXPLICIT CONTENT ADD TO THIS BOOK AND IS THE EDUCATION RELEVANT? I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS YES FOR THE SIMPLE REASON YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, THIS IS A COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND A 19-YEAR-OLD BOY. SHE IS ABSOLUTELY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. AND THE CASUAL WAY THAT IT IS SPOKEN OF INSIDE HER OWN HEAD AND HER THOUGHT PROCESS AND THE CASUAL WAY SOME OF THESE INTERACTIONS COME ACROSS CAN ABSOLUTELY BE,

057ESPECIALLY FOR THE GIRL, OUR STUDENTS' RESOURCE. THIS WAS A VERY, VERY HARD READ FOR ME BECAUSE THIS COULD BE ANY YOUNG, ESPECIALLY AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN IN GUILFORD COUNTY. HOW MANY OF THEM HAD THEIR HOMES TORN APART WHEN THE TORNADOS CAME THROUGH. HOW MANY LIVED IN POVERTY BEFORE WHAT LITTLE THEY HAD WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM. HOW MANY HAD SOMEONE REACH OUT TO THEM SEXUALLY NR A MANNER THAT WAS NOT OKAY. THESE BOOKS IN THEIR CONTENT ARE HARD TO READ AND I'M GLAD THE STUDENTS COULD OPT OUT IF THEY WANTED TO BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO READ BUT IT CAN ALSO OPEN THE CONVERSATION, HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU, DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. IF YOU DO, PLEASE KNOW THIS IS NOT OKAY. YOU CAN LEAVE OUT THE EXPLICIT CONTENT AND LOOK AT

058THE POVERTY PEOPLE LIVE IN IN THESE RURAL AREAS AND SAY WE CAN HELP. THESE ARE THE EYE-OPENING DISCUSSIONS AND YOU HAVE TO EXCUSE ME, I'M SORRY, I'M DYING UP HERE. THESE BOOKS CAN BE A CAVEAT ESPECIALLY AS CHILDREN LOOK TO GROW INTO MATURITY, AS THEY AGE INTO COLLEGE AND STILL HAVE THE LET'S CHANGE THIS FOR THE BETTER MINDSET AND MENTALITY BEFORE YOU CAN CHANGE THINGS FOR THE BETTER THESE HELP REALIZE THE WORST. IT IS HARD TO READ AND IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL WITH NO FEMALE INFLUENCE IN YOUR LIFE AT THE TIME LOSING EVERYTHING RIGHT DOWN TO THE CLOTHES OFF YOUR BACK IN A HURRICANE AND THINKING WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE END, HERE YOU GO, I

059AM IN TEARS. LOOKING AT THIS GOING, I WANT TO HELP HER. I WANT TO OPEN THIS DIALOGUE, I WANT TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. AND IF IT DOES THIS FOR OUR COLLEGE AGE CHILDREN -- CHILDREN -- STUDENTS. AS A PARENT BECAUSE AGAIN MY STEP DAUGHTER HAS GRADUATED AND SHE GRADUATED AT 18 AND STILL VIEW HER AS A YOUNG GIRL IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH ACNE AND NOW HE'S WRITING MOVIE SCORES. SHE IS AN ADULT. THESE CHILDREN ARE ADULTS AND THESE BOOKS OPEN UP THE HARD CONVERSATIONS. AND I WILL MAKE ANOTHER PARALLEL FOR YOU REAL QUICK, ANOTHER REALLY POPULAR BOOK RIGHT NOW AND ONE I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIGH SCHOOL WAS ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT. MY HERITAGE IS GERMAN AND THAT BOOK IS HARD TO READ BECAUSE IT IS TRENCH WARFARE. IT IS GRAPHIC BATTLE

060SCENE DESCRIPTIONS. IT'S, YOU KNOW, BRINGING BREAD TO THE LOCAL GIRLS TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN GET FROM THEM AS A SOLDIER. IT IS ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT AND THEN YOU REALIZE THAT THIS YOUNG MAN WHO NEVER EVEN HIT 20 STANDS UP IN A TRENCH AND DIES. BUT IT CAPTIVATED ME AND CHANGED MY ENTIRE PERCEPTION OF THE WORLD AND WAR AND LET ME GO AS AN EXCHANGE STUDENT TO GERMANY TO SEE THIS FOR MYSELF. AND THAT'S WHERE THE VALUE OF THE LITERATURE COMES FROM IS IN THESE MOMENTS THAT CHANGE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS TO LEAD YOU TO SOMETHING. . >> THANK YOU. DIANE AND THEN PAT. >> WHEN I WAS WORKING TO BRING ABOUT THE JUSTICE CENTER FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WE DID A FOCUS GROUP AT ONE OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS WITH TEENAGE

061GIRLS. AND IT WAS SHOCKING TO HEAR THESE YOUNG WOMEN TALK ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIPS AND HOW SOME OF THEM FELT THAT IF HE DIDN'T HIT ME, HE DIDN'T LOVE ME. AND, YOU KNOW, THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM WERE LOOKING AT THESE TEENAGERS AND, WHAT, WAIT, THAT'S NOT LOVE. BUT TO THESE TEENAGERS WE GAVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS -- BAD, GOOD, WHATEVER. THEY HAD EXPERIENCED THIS. IT WOULD MAKE BETTER SENSE TO HAVE OUR STUDENTS BE ABLE TO PERHAPS SEE THIS IN A BOOK AND HAVE A CONVERSATION AND TALK ABOUT IT AS OPPOSED TO HAVING THE EXPERIENCE AND THEN TALK ABOUT IT IF YOU'RE FOLLOWING WHERE I'M GOING. IF YOU THINK YOU ARE HIDING OR YOU ARE PROTECTING YOUR CHILD FROM THE BIG BAD WORLD OUT HERE, YOU ARE NOT. NOW, MAYBE YOU DON'T

062HEAR THAT CONVERSATION. MAYBE YOU DON'T REALIZE THAT YOUR CHILD MIGHT EVEN BE IN AN INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE KIDS DON'T COME HOME AND TELL PARENTS EVERYTHING AND THEN ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE I WOULD SAY UNLESS -- IF YOU ARE NOT AFRICAN AMERICAN AND YOU NEVER WALKED A DAY IN AFRICAN AMERICAN SHOES YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE AT WHATEVER LEVEL THAT IS FOR BEING AN AFRICAN AMERICAN. AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEND TIME TRYING TO DESCRIBE IT TO YOU, BUT IT'S NOT ALL JOKES AND HAPPINESS AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS GOOD. AND JUST AS THERE IS DEVIANT BEHAVIOR IN NON-AFRICAN FAMILIES, THERE IS DEVIANT BEHAVIOR IN AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILIES TOO. AND WHAT HAPPENS, THOUGH, IS BEING ABLE TO FIND AVENUES WHERE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT. AND FOR MANY KIDS THE PLACE TO BE

063ABLE TO CRY OUT OR TALK ABOUT IT HAS BEEN AT SCHOOL. NOW, YOU MAY SAY WELL THAT'S NOT SCHOOL'S PLACE. WELL, SCHOOL IS DOING A HECK OF A LOT OF THINGS THAT'S NOT OUR OFFICIAL PLACE, BUT WE MADE THE DIFFERENCE. SO LET'S NOT CRIMP KID'S ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO FEEL WHETHER IT'S SEEING A BOOK THAT PROMPTS THEM TO SAY SOMETHING WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING OR TO FEAR A CONVERSATION, WE WOULD SAY, WELL, THAT'S NOT AN APPROPRIATE CONVERSATION. WHO IS TO DECIDE? WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO GIVE OUR CHILDREN THE BEST OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO EDUCATION BUT TO LIFE. ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, NOT WHITE KIDS, NOT BLACK KIDS, ALL OF OUR KIDS. MADAM CHAIR, WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE I HAVE A MOTION TO MAKE. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE RETAIN

064SALVAGE THE BONES BY MISS WARD AND THE REASONS BEING THE BOOK HAS LITERARY MERIT AND EDUCATIONAL VALUE, THAT THE BOOK IS APPROPRIATE FOR USE IN A 12TH GRADE AP LITERATURE COURSE, AND THAT THE BOOK MEETS THE CRITERIA OUTLINED BY REGULATION CODE 3200 R >> MADAM CHAIR, I WAS GOING TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION BUT BEFORE THAT, IF I CAN MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS. ON PAGE 13 IT DESCRIBES OBSCENITY AND I REALLY HAVE ISSUE WITH GOVERNMENT BODIES OR REALLY ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE DECIDING ON THESE THINGS. I MEAN, WHO ARE THESE ANGELS AMONG US TO KNOW. THE PARENTS? IS IT YOU? IS IT US? WHO REALLY -- IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE WHEN WE HAVE GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT CAN MAKE THESE CALLS BECAUSE TWO YEARS FROM NOW IT MAY BE SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, IT'S A BOOK

065YOU LOVE AND ADORE. BUT I THINK THE AUTHOR HAD SOME OPPORTUNITIES, IT'S THE GRATUITOUS NATURE OF THE SEXUAL CONTENT THAT BOTHERS ME. IT DOESN'T ADD TO LITERARY GENIUS IN ANY WAY, I THINK IT'S A GREAT BOOK ON ITS FACE. BUT BECAUSE IT'S FICTION, THE AUTHOR HAS GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO, INSTEAD OF ALMOST SENSATIONALIZING THE EXPERIENCE, THE SEXUAL EXPERIENCE, AND TURN IT INTO A DIFFERENT WAY THAT CLEARLY STATES HOW ABHORRENT THE BEHAVIOR IS, BUT IT DOESN'T DO THAT. JUST ON THE OBSCENITY ON PAGE 13 TO ME IT HITS AT LEAST TWO OF THOSE. YOU COULD ARGUE IN SOME WAYS IT HITS ALL THREE. I DON'T THINK THE WHOLE ENTIRE BOOK IS THAT WAY. >> THE STANDARD THAT YOU ARE PROBABLY CONSIDERING HERE IS PERVASIVELY VULGAR, OBSCENITY IS SORT OF A DIFFERENT -- JUST SO WE'RE ALL WORKING

066FROM THE SAME DEFINITION. >> SURE. >> PERVASIVELY WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE WORK AS A WHOLE, NOT JUST PARTICULAR SECTIONS. AND THEN VULGARITY IS DEFINED SIMILAR TO OBSCENITY COMPARED TO COMMUNITY STANDARDS. >> I THINK FOR SURE IT HITS TWO OF THOSE, I'M NOT SURE IT HITS ALL 3. I DON'T THINK THE ENTIRE BOOK IS PREDOMINATELY PRURIENT. IF I MAY MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, THAT WOULD BE THAT IF THIS BOOK IS KEPT THEN IT MUST BE, IT MUST HAVE PARENTAL STUDENT CONSENT. >> JUST TO CLARIFY YOUR MOTION IS WITH RESPECT TO USE IN THE AP LITERATURE COURSE, NOT GENERAL BELY. >> NOT ON THE SHELVES OF THE LIBRARY, CORRECT. >> WE'RE JUST GETTING CLARITY ON THE MOTION. >> I'M NOT SURE THERE IS THE CONCEPT OF PARENTAL CONSENT OTHER THAN TO CHOOSE NOT TO TAKE THE

067CLASS OR TO CHOOSE ANOTHER BOOK. THE CON SENT, THE CURRICULUM IS SET, THEY CAN CHOOSE TO OPT FOR ANOTHER MATERIAL, THAT'S PARENTAL CONTENT IN A FASHION THAT ALREADY EXISTS. OR THEY CAN CHOOSE NOT TO TAKE THE CLASS, THAT IS PARENTAL CONSENT THAT ALREADY EXISTS. BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE PARENTAL CONSENT TO DETERMINE THE CURRICULUM. >> IS IT YOU ARE SAYING YOUR MOTION WOULD BE THAT THE TEACHER MUST AFFIRMATIVELY NOTIFY PARENTS AHEAD OF TIME. >> CORRECT, LIKE A FIELD TRIP, LIKE A MOVIE. IT WOULD BE AN OPEN DISCUSSION AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO THEN JUST LIKE THEY WOULD TO GO ON A FIELD TRIP. >> BETTY HAD HER HAND UP. >> I'M SORRY, [INDISCERNIBLE] WILSON RESTATED WHAT I WAS SAYING. THE PARENT CONSENT IS WHEN YOU ALREADY HAVE A SYLLABUS AND THE SYLLABUS IS

068SIGNED AND TURNED BACK IN TO THE TEACHER. >> RIGHT. >> SO THAT IS PARENT CONSENT. >> YEAH, I THINK YOU NEED -- >> WE CAN GET SOME CLARITY. >> HOW PARENTS KNOW, I KNOW THERE'S A WEB SITE. >> SO IF A PARENT SIGNS FOR A PARTICULAR COURSE, THEN THAT CURRICULUM IS ALREADY SET. SO THERE'S A CONSENT AT THAT MOMENT. I BELIEVE WHAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING IS THAT THERE BE AN ADDITIONAL CONSENT PROVIDED BUT IT'S NOT REALLY CONSENT TO THE CURRICULUM. I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE OF A NOTICE THAT THIS BOOK IS STARTING AND OPTION PROVIDED TO A DIFFERENT BOOK, WHICH IS I BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED ANYWAY ON THIS PARTICULAR BOOK. >> BECAUSE THAT'S IN THE NOTE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE DOCUMENT. >> [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> AND A CONTACT FOR THE TEACHER TO FIND

069A DIFFERENT NOVEL. >> OKAY. >> LINDA. >> I'M SORRY, DIANE. >> WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION AFTER WE HAVE A SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT, WE'VE GOT A DISCONNECT WITH PARENTS OR FROM PARENTS OR US AND PARENTS ON SEXUAL CONTENT IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM RIGHT NOW. THIS HAS GONE -- NUMEROUS LEVELS, OKAY? BOOKS IN ELEMENTARY, THIS BOOK BECAUSE OF THE GRAPHIC NATURE OF IT. SO THE QUESTION FOR ME BECOMES WHERE'S THE DEFINITION OF WHEN SEXUAL DESCRIPTIONS CROSS THE LINE? AT WHAT POINT, THERE'S GOTTA BE A POINT WHERE WE SAY, THAT'S TOO GRAPHIC, THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE, THIS IS PAST PG13, THIS IS X-RATED, THIS IS R-RATED, BECAUSE THE LEVEL OF WHAT WAS ACCEPTABLE IS SHIFTING. IF ANYBODY HASN'T NOTICED THAT, IT'S SHIFTING. NOW, A LOT OF PARENTS AREN'T ON THAT PAGE TO SHIFT WITH IT. AND WE DON'T

070HAVE A DEFINITION OF AT WHAT POINT ARE WE CROSSING THE LINE BE. AT WHAT POINT DO WE SAY THAT IS OVERLY SEXUALLY CONTENT, THAT IS X-RATED OR R-RATED AND NOT -- AND THERE AGAIN THIS BOOK IS FINE IF YOU TAKE OUT THE GRAPHIC DETAILS WHICH, YOU KNOW, I READ AN ADULT -- YOU WOULD READ IN AN ADULT NOVEL, OKAY? THAT HAS ALL THAT DETAIL. SO MY QUESTION WHERE IS THE PARENT'S LINE, WHAT LINE CAN A PARENT HAVE TO SAY THAT IS TOO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT. THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO COME UP. BECAUSE WHAT WAS ACCEPTABLE BACK IN THE DAY OR -- HAS SHIFTED, WHETHER ANYBODY REALIZES, IT IS. THERE ARE STILL PARENTS THAT DON'T WANT TO SHIFT. THEY DON'T WANT THEIR CHILDREN READING SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL. IF YOU STILL HAVE TO GET CONSENT TO DISCUSS,

071YOU KNOW, SEX WITH STUDENTS, MAYBE THAT HAS CHANGED, I THINK THE SUPERINTENDENT NOW TELLS ME YOU HAVE TO OPT OUT OF SEX ED INSTEAD OF OPT IN. WHICH WAY IS THAT. >> IT HASN'T CHANGED. IN FIFTH GRADE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS TO COME IN AND REVIEW -- THEY ARE NOTIFIED AND THEY -- I'M JUST SAYING BUT THEY DO HAVE SOME ABILITY TO SAY SOMETHING. BUT WHERE IS THE LINE? IS 50 SHADES OF GRAY GOING TO BE TOO MUCH? . >> BECAUSE THE STANDARDS THAT IT USES, THAT THE BOARD HAS SETS FORTH AND DIRECTS THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS TO RELY ON, SOURCES AND OTHER OUTSIDE OPINIONS TO DEVELOP THE CURRICULUM. YOU HAVE SET FORTH STANDARDS AND LINES AND GUARDRAILS AROUND THE SELECTION ALREADY IN YOUR POLICY. >> WELL, I DON'T HEAR A DEFINITE GUIDELINE ON WHEN

072IT BECOMES TOO SEXUAL. I DON'T HEAR WHERE A PARENT CAN GO, BOOM, IF IT GETS TO THIS LEVEL OF CONTENT IT IS CONSIDERED INAPPROPRIATE. >> BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GO ITING TO GO. THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT. PARENTS DON'T NECESSARILY WANT THEIR CHILDREN -- EVERYBODY CAN SAY THEY ARE ALL ADID ADULTS, EVERYBODY CAN SAY -- BUT IT'S THAT PARENT'S CHILD. SOME PARENTS ARE UP HERE AS FAR AS WHAT THEY WANT TO CONTROL AS FAR AS WHAT THEIR CHILDREN SEE, READ, ALL THAT. SOME PARENTS ARE HERE AND SOME PARENTS ARE HERE. AND I JUST SEE THE MOVEMENT OF SEXUAL CONTENT MOVING IN TO THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM MUCH FARTHER THAN PARENTS ARE COMFORTABLE. YOU GOT PG ON A MOVIE, YOU GOT R-RATED, YOU GOT X-RATED ON A MOVIE THEN PARENTS EXPECT THAT TO BE HAPPENING HERE.

073>> IT'S HERE, LINDA. THERE ARE CONTENT WARNINGS. IT'S HERE. NOW, THE LEVEL OF -- WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S TOO MUCH IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR BAR IS. IT'S JUST WIDE RANGING. BUT THERE IS CONTENT WARNING HERE. >> THERE IS ON THAT ONE. >> IT'S IN THE -- PLEASE DON'T SPEAK FROM THE -- DURING THIS SESSION WHILE THE BOARD IS HAVING CONVERSATION. BUT IT'S HERE IN THE SLIDE THAT WAS PRESENTED. IT SAYS HERE, CONTENT WARNING. SALVAGE THE BONES CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT, NAMELY LANGUAGE AND SEX. SO THERE'S THE WARNING. THERE'S WARNINGS ON WHAT USED TO BE ALBUMS, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CD'S OR HOW MUSIC COMES TO YOU ANY MORE, IF IT'S A PLAY LIST, BUT I'M SAYING THERE'S SUCH A WIDE RANGE, IT SAYS THERE IS MATURE CONTENT AROUND A PARTICULAR AREA AND

074THEY NAME THE AREA AND SAY IT'S THERE AND THEN THERE'S AN ALTERNATIVE CHOICE. >> AND I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR LINES AROUND THINGS OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE NEBULOUS STANDARDS. BUT THIS BOOK WAS SELECTED FIRST BY THE COLLEGE BOARD. SO GCS TEACHERS AREN'T JUST RANDOMLY SELECTING, THERE ARE GUIDELINES AND THE COLLEGE BOARD IS A PLACE WHERE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS DO LOOK FOR OPTIONS. >> DIANE AND THEN KIM. >> YESTERDAY WE HAD 630 MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE UNITED STATES THIS YEAR. MY POINT IS DO WE NOT HAVE BOOKS THAT HAVE GRAPHIC VIOLENCE SCENES IN THEM? DO WE NOT HAVE BOOKS OUR STUDENTS READ THAT HAVE GRAPHIC VIOLENCE SCENES. >> I'M SURE WE DO. >> I KNOW YOU DON'T KNOW EVERY BOOK, BUT WE HAVE BOOKS THAT HAVE SHOOTINGS, CUTTING, BEATINGS, NOT JUST HE POINTED

075THE GUN AND SHOT IT, IT GOES INTO MORE DETAIL. >> WE SELECT OUR BOOKS TO SHOW THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. >> MY POINT IS THAT ARE WE JUST SCARED OF SEX HERE OR ARE WE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER BOOKS THAT TALK ABOUT VIOLENCE AND WE ARE A VERY VIOLENT SOCIETY AND WE HAVE NOT BANNED THOSE BOOKS. EVEN THE BIBLE HAS VIOLENCE IN IT. IF YOU'RE GOING TO START BANNING LET'S START THERE AND MOVE FORWARD. AND SEX, YOU KNOW THERE'S SEX IN THE BIBLE. YOU KNOW, AND TO HIS POINT, I MEAN SOME OF THE SEX WAS NOT CONSENSUAL. WE CAN'T BOX OUR KIDS IN FROM LEARNING. THEY'RE GOING TO LEARN WHETHER WE GUIDE IT OR WHETHER YOU AS PARENTS GUIDE IT OR WHETHER THEIR PEERS GUIDE IT OR WHETHER THEY FIND IT ON TICKTOCK. THERE'S GOING TO

076GET IT. SO WHY NOT LET US HELP BE A PART OF THE ADULT CONVERSATION JUST AS PARENTS WANT TO BE? I CAN ASSURE YOU, PARENTS, ONCE YOUR CHILD GRADUATES AND WALKS ACROSS THAT STAGE AND GOES TO COLLEGE YOU WOULD LIKE, AS MY COLLEAGUE SAYS, SHE WOULD LIKE TO STILL HAVE HER DAUGHTER BE 13 BUT HER DAUGHTER IS NOT 13 AND AIN'T GOING TO BE 13 AGAIN. SO SHE HAS TO TRUST SHE'S GIVEN HER DAUGHTER THE FOUNDATION TO BE ABLE TO BE AN ADULT. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO HAVE IS THE FOUNDATION TO BE RESPONSIBLE, THINKING ADULTS. BECAUSE A 20-YEAR-OLD, I ASSURE YOU, IS NOT GOING TO CALL MUMMY AND ASK HER WHAT SHOULD SHE DO OR HE DO IF THEY ARE IN A TIGHT SITUATION. THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION. SO

077LET'S GIVE THEM ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF TOOLS AND I CALL FOR US TO MOVE THE MOTION. >> HOW DO YOU VOTE, THEN? NO, THE SUBSTITUTE DIDN'T GET A SECOND SO WE CAN TAKE THE VOTE. I DO HAVE A COMMENT. PAT. WINSTON, YES. KIM, YES. DEBORAH AND DINA YES SO THAT PASSES BY A 6 OF 6-2. WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE, WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT KLAXTON BECAUSE OF MY FATE AND BELIEF WE DON'T LEAVE CHILDREN HER AGE ALONE WITH MEN, EVER. YOU HAVE REMEMBER THAT, JILL? THE GYM TEACHER WAS A MAN AND SO SHE HAD AN OFFICE, I CALLED THE DISTRICT AND TALKED TO JILL, THIS WAS 15 YEARS, 17 YEARS AGO, THERE WAS NO ALTERNATIVE, THERE WAS NO FEMALE PE TEACHER, BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T LEAVE FEMALE CHILDREN THAT AGE

078ALONE WITH MEN, NOT EVEN THEIR FATHERS BECAUSE OF THE ABUSE THAT ALL CHILDREN SUFFER. SHE HAD TO SIT IN THE OFFICE AND I HAD TO TALK TO HER ABOUT IT AND SAY THIS IS JUST WHAT IT IS. WHETHER IT'S RATE OR FAIR OR SHE WAS ENTITLED TO HAVE PHYSICAL RECREATION YOU KNOW LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, YOU KNOW, WASN'T -- WERE THINGS WE HAD TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE THAT'S JUST HOW THINGS WERE AND PROBABLY STILL ARE. I WATCHED THE WOMAN TEAM THIS WEEKEND AND IT WAS INCREDIBLY GUT-WRENCHING WATCHING A SLAVE TRADER FONDLE BLACK WOMEN'S BREASTS THEY WERE PURCHASING. I WAS RATHER NOT WATCH THAT BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT PEOPLE DID AND WHAT PEOPLE WENT THROUGH BECAUSE IT GIVES US INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES TO INSTILL PERSISTENCE, PERSEVERANCE, DISCIPLINE AND TO STAY THE COURSE FOR THINGS THAT YOU

079BELIEVE IN. I ABHOR ANIMAL CRUELTY. I REMEMBER THE LAST ASPCA COMMERCIAL I WATCHED JUST THE OTHER DAY OR ST. JUDE'S, YOU NAME IT, AND THOSE THINGS TUG AT YOU. IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT'S GOING ON SO YOU CAN BE PART OF DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THESE THINGS. I GREW UP IN A VERY TRADITIONAL HOME, MY PARENTS NEVER USED PROFANITY, I WAS VERY UNCOMFORT WHEN OUR FIRST SPEAKER READ THAT READ. THAT'S NOT HOW I GREW UP. I COULDN'T HAVE READ THAT HERE, EVEN BEING ON THAT SIDE. THAT'S JUST HOW MY PARENTS WERE, CONSERVATIVE AND MODEST AND LOVING AND WONDERFUL. I ALSO DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS EARLY ON BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THOSE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE WE TRIED TO SHIELD US AT EVERY AGE FROM THAT. SO THAT HAS BEEN

080THE HARDEST PART OF PARENTING FOR ME WAS TO SIT IN DISCOMFORT TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT HURT AND I DISAGREE WITH AND THAT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. AND THE LAST THING I WILL SAY, AND I'M GLAD THERE'S AN ALTERNATIVE BECAUSE I THINK THERE SHOULD BE AND I RESPECT THAT. YOU KNOW, LINDA, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AMAZON REVIEWER WAS SAYING BUT IF YOU READ THE CAGED BIRD SINGS YOU WOULDN'T PROBABLY READ THAT REVIEW BECAUSE THAT IS BASED ON CHILD RAPE, THAT STORY. SO IF THERE IS AN AUTHOR YOU WANT TO LIFT UP, I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S AN ALTERNATIVE TO THIS. WITH THAT SAID, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> IS THERE A SECOND. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [MEETING ADJOURNED