Superintendent apologizes for pulling book (students staged protest!)

[Rose Siding]

Norwood chief hadn't read novel or board's policy

Norwood Schools Superintendent Bob Conder apologized to students, parents, staff and residents Friday for pulling about two dozen copies of the book Bless Me, Ultima from a freshman English class.

But 15-20 students still staged an all-day sit-in in the school gym, taking turns reading from the book, which has been recommended by first lady Laura Bush and was selected last year for Mesa County's community-read project, to protest Conder's actions.

"We stayed all day to prove the point and say it won't happen again," said freshman Skyler Hollinbech, 15. "It was a violation of our rights."

Conder said none of the students who demonstrated would be punished or counted as absent from class, and he offered to personally pay for repurchasing the books if a new committee to review content approves the book's reinstatement....

http://www.insidedenver.com/drmn/state/article/0,1299,DRMN_21_3525385,00.html

[sarcasmo]

1. Good to see the teenagers sit in for their rights, all is not lost.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. God Bless our kids.

It's peer pressure that is waking up my daughter. I haven't really tried to indoctrinate her with my politics, and instead allowed her to find her own way and develop at her own pace, but obviously she absorbs some things by osmosis. Mostly when I start yelling at the television, she picks up things.

However, I have always done my best to bite my tongue when she says something that is in direct contradiction to my own politics. I only really corrected her in front of her friends when she used the "N" word. Since then, her awareness has grown. She says that she almost lost it when a white girl heard a popular radio song sung by black children which has the chorus saying that they can be anything they want to be. The white girl said, "Blacks can't grow up to be anything they want to be." Well, my daughter gave it to her good.

Then, another time, she had to pick a side to debate on the prayer in school issue. She picked the side of prayer in school and I said nothing. When she came back, she said that in mid-debate she convinced herself that it was the wrong position. She had only selected it because she thought it would be easy to research.

But the coup de grace came this week when they had to debate the gay marriage issue. She had picked the gay marriage side of the issue. I told her and her debate partner about Texas vs. Lawrence. Well, after the debate she told me about the Republican kids in the classroom. She said that they're always disrespectful of others, very loud and obnoxious to the teachers and insulting. I asked her if her class was predominately Republican leaning and she said yes. I told her that the only way to deal with that is to move.

Unfortuntely, because she's in the minority, she says she keeps her opinions to herself, unless she has to share them for a class project. I know that's not true, because she told the daughter of the Dittohead that she's sick of America, hates America and wants to go live in Europe. I knew it was frustration. I told her that she should always love this country, but recognize that the Republicans were turning it into an intolerant society, and that perhaps one day, she could enjoy her "American" freedom easier in Europe, than she could in this country.

But, she is awakening, and I'm glad that she is taking the time to hone her opinions.

[Hissyspit]

3. I believe it was Calvin of 'Calvin and Hobbes' fame who said...

"Sometimes I think grown-ups only ACT like they know what they're doing"

[mediaman007]

4. How novel (pardon the pun): have a committee review books!

But Superintendent Bob Conder has had his 15 minutes of fame and he blew it. Instead of thoughtful, courageous leadership, Condor (sic) chose the irrational, reactionary course. Like all well-meaning people, a little time puts everything into persepective. Unfortunately, the books are gone.

[Hissyspit]

5. Deleted by Author

Deleted for redundancy

[frictionlessO]

6. and if that had been a Hillary recomended book? They would've

gassed 'em!

Im still glad they protested however, the more people that protest the less of a bad name it gives our protesters. Also just belligerently tossing books is wrong, the superintendent should know that. (didnt he see Footloose!:)

[Kimber Scott]

7. From what I read yesterday, they took the books, gave them to the

parents who had originally bitched about the content so the parents could throw them away. I was shocked. Who are these people and what country do they think this is? Goddamned idiots. And this is what our forefathers fought and died for? This is why we have people "bringing freedom to Iraq" as we speak? "Oh, we didn't burn them, we just threw them away" they said. Maybe these people should move somewhere they'll feel more comfortable - like China, or North Korea. Bastards.

[noamnety]

8. As a taxpayer

I have an issue with supplies being bought from taxpayer money, and then thrown away. That seems like an ethics issue.

If the books were given to the parents as an intermediary step (I haven't seen that), I'm pretty sure that's flat out against the law. A school official can't just give school property to individuals.

[noamnety]

12. oops, too late to edit

I see now the article does say he gave the books to the complaining parents. Yep, I believe that's illegal to just give stuff that was bought with tax payer money to private individuals, no matter what they planned to do with it.

[salin]

9. A period of book banning in the seventies started, I believe, in

Indiana... in my liberal enclave of the state the books weren't banned but were put on a parental permission list. Happened when I was a freshman in highschool. I made it my personal mission to read those books, and before I got caught up in being a bit of a social butterfly with less time to read books (okay I had a superficial period in high school) I had read 'In Cold Blood' and 'Dracula'. I would have not known or cared about either book were it not for that parental permission policy and the 'list' of books pulled back in the library requiring permission. I know I wasn't alone. Quickest way to get a bunch of kids who may not read that much to go out and read specific books is to try to take those books away from them. Almost makes those books some sort of 'sacred' or coveted objects that MUST be sought.

[ixion]

10. book banning is bad, m'kay

even if recommended by a noodle head.

[ucmike]

11. after the 1st amendment poll earlier this week it's nice

to see some kids stand up and show that they understand their rights and that they are worth fighting for. also goes to show that common sense can counter knee jerk reactionism and conservative panic.

[struggle4progress]

13. kick for direct action

[High Plains]

14. What a weenie!

One kid's parents complained, and he not only caves in, but takes the books and gives them to the complaining parents, who then demonstrate their respect for literature by throwing them in the trash!?!?!?!

I know the Asinine School Administrator's Hall of Fame must be getting pretty crowded in these days of zero tolerance and a predatory right wing, but I guess we'll have to make room for this guy.

And good for those students who stuck up for literature