Since I wrote a book a decade ago called “The Language Police,” I can’t pretend to be shocked that a book was pulled, removed, or censored by the Chicago Public Schools.
Jersey Jazxman sums up the controversy here.
It is no consolation, perhaps, to know that school boards–state and local–have been censoring books for many years. So have publishers of tests and textbooks. Most people would be shocked to know about the topics, words, and images that are routinely banned from the tender eyes of children, most of whom see far worse in their lives or on TV or video games every day.
The only surprise is that CPS would do this so brazenly and stupidly.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Apparently CPS rethought the directive:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-cps-promises-explanation-after-graphic-novel-pulled-20130315,0,1828297.story
The first 2 paragraphs of this longer story read as follows:
“Chicago Public Schools chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett is asking principals to disregard an earlier order to pull the graphic novel “Persepolis” out of schools by the end of today, but she asked that schools stop teaching the book to 7th-graders.
In a letter sent to principals this morning, Byrd-Bennett said the book, which is included in the district’s curriculum for 7th-graders, may not be appropriate for that age group. The district released images from the book, including a page that depicted a man being whipped, burned with an iron and urinated on. The book is an autobiographical account of author Marjane Satrapi’s childhood in Iran.”
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Oh please. They “rethought” the directive to remove it from libraries only because there’s a law against that. So the book is still available in school libraries, just not in the classroom. Only problem with that is that most Chicago Public schools don’t have libraries. Oops.
Also, this came up at Lane Tech, which is a *high school*. The book is supposedly banned at the seventh grade level. Lane Tech doesn’t have seventh grade.
Why can’t you just admit that the whole thing is full of sh-, I mean crap? Why must you always defend the rheephormers?
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Dienne, I didn’t think I was defending anyone. I was describing a response. Seems to be that the people who challenged this decision should be pleased that they (the challengers) had an impact. I was not defending the initial decision.
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When doesn’t he?
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Actually yes, Lane Tech does has a 7th grade. They have the Lane Tech Academic Center. It is a new program for 7th and 8th graders that was started in 2011. They have it at Whitney Young as well. You must test into the program and then you attend the high school from 7th-12th grade.
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Joe,
Aren’t you concerned that Byrd-Bennett as CPS CEO gets to unilaterally and individually decide what book a 7th grade teacher gets to teach or what a 7th grade student gets to read? This is aside from the original memo (you can read it at fredklonsky.com) that directed principals to remove every copy of Persepolis from their school library (although 160 Chicago schools have no library), from every classroom and from the hands of students. Byrd-Bennett got caught and embarrassed and is now trying to walk it back. But the question remains: What kind of public school system allows one person to decide what books our children are allowed to read?
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Fred, what is the process by which these decisions are made in CPS? What do you think the process should be? I’m not prepared to criticize until I have more facts. It looks like your challenge did have a positive impact.
The Trib story (and I’m not saying I believe everything in a paper either) says that some CPS teachers protested use of the book.
Having spent more than a decade as an urban public school teacher and administrator and serving as a PTA president in that district, plus writing a long running newspaper column, I’ve seen a lot of challenges about books from teachers, families, community groups and students.
Getting the challenge process is important. So I’d like to learn more about what you, Fred, and others think.
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Joe,
Like most things in schools, I believe that these kinds of issues are negotiable within a context – a process negotiated between teachers in the classroom, students and parents and administrators. For years I have worked in a public school district in which we struggled to have teacher voice represented on curriculum committees. Often these turned out be be no more than a front for administrative decision-making. But in this case, after a bungled bureaucratic decision, the CEO issued a directive. Her PR spokesperson then even went so far as to deny that the original directive ever was issued. Even though we have it in print. The fact that teacher push back caused the administration to walk back makes this fiasco no better. What would you have done as an administrator? Wouldn’t the issue of what is worth knowing and teaching be something that was examined and determined by teachers, students and the school community rather than ordered by “the buck-stops-here” CEOs?
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Fred, my preferences are:
A. Decisions on such issues be made by a teacher, admin. family committee at elem level
B. Decisions on such issues be made by a tacher, admin, family, student committee at secondary level.
C. Families and faculty be allowed to choose among public schools with different approaches. What might be acceptable at one school might not be ok at another school.
Also, the state should have some broad guidelines so local school committee could not screen out books that show info about various communities (ie schools can’t say we only will use books that depict white people, or native Am people or ….)
I am not in favor of a state approved list but am in favor a a few limited guidelines from the state as mentioned above.
Reactions welcome.
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What did you think of the process I laid out below?
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I can give you a list of books in middle school libraries and classrooms more descriptive and colorful than that. Check out The Absolute True Diary of a Part-time Indian. The boys read it cover to cover and they LOVE it! If that is the guideline for banning then BB is going to be very, very busy!
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Nate,
“Rethought the directive”, ha, ha, ha,
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I applaud Jersey Jazzman for this:
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I liked that too. I also liked CTU’s statement saying that they understand why CPS feels the need to ban the book.
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My guess —– The Diary of Anne Frank will be removed also —–
Marge Borchert
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Ya, that’s old. They need to replace it with somethng new and exciting like The Diary of Arne Duncan
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Which we could all read in two minutes…..Arne played basketball with Barack.
Arne got a big job. Arne sucked at it. End of Arne’s diary.
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Linda — subtitle: Slam Duncan
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Linda, your version of the uncensored life of Duncan has been approved for the common core. Please note, it should be taught over several days to bring out the nuances.
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This is really a story about the common core. The book is not appropriate as a text for 7th grade. It is not the only one on the Common Core list. Schools are buying them, sometimes because they are mandated by the chosen curriculum, and then they realize they are not age appropriate.
You can thank Coleman for this mess.
Of course it should be in the library, but that doesn’t mean it should be taught to 11 year olds.
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Why is it not appropriate as a seventh grade text?
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I enjoyed this book but I agree it is not appropriate for seventh grade. There are so many excellent books for this grade level and it is the responsibility of parents and teachers to select the best ones. Of course the books should still be available in the school and public libraries.
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What exactly is inappropriate about it? The handful of swear words, which every seventh grader has heard multiple times? The one-panel “torture” scene? The fact that it teaches kids, especially girls, to stand up to authority for what they believe in? If anything, wouldn’t you want kids reading that and discussing issues and concerns in an open classroom, rather than reading it on their own and having it kick around in their heads unmonitored?
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The book has adult subject matter and requires a certain amount of background knowledge. In my opinion, it’s a book designed for an adult audience. It isn’t the best book choice for a whole class but it’s fine if the individual child chooses to read it. The practice of forcing adult-level books on children can destroy their interest in reading.
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With respect, I have to disagree in general. In my experience, kids lose interest when they’re held back from more mature content on the basis that they’re not ready for it. It was right about seventh grade that I and several of my peers suddenly got into reading because we learned about the Holocaust for the first time. We read everything we could get our hands on, adult content or not. If anything, we didn’t like the stuff that whitewashed the horror to make it “more appropriate” for our age.
Yes, the book does require background knowledge. That’s one of the reasons why it’s probably better taught as a class reading assignment so that teachers can make sure that students have such knowledge.
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Rats, posted too soon. I should add, that of course it should be up to the teacher whether or not to teach the book. Making teachers include it for a class that may not be ready would be just as bad as denying teachers the freedom to teach it if they feel it is appropriate for their class. I would agree that the book may not be appropriate for all seventh graders. But I think it’s dismissive and disrespectful to say that it’s not appropriate for seventh graders in general.
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Yes, I do agree with you that the decision should be left with the teacher. I also agree that some seventh graders would be mature enough to read this book. Although I really enjoyed these books, I wouldn’t even think of suggesting them to my twelve-year-old granddaughter, so I guess I’m basing my opinion on my experiences as a parent/grandparent and teacher. I HAVE given my granddaughter and grandson (aged nine) books on the Holocaust, though, because there are many books written by children and for children on this subject. I also took them to the Holocaust Museum in DC but stayed with the section designed for children.
The bottom line: There are much better books for seventh graders than Persepolis I and II but that’s just my opinion. If you teach middle school, perhaps your opinion is better than mine.
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Linda Johnson: this sort of discussion can be very messy and inconclusive but I think you hit the nail on the head [sorry for bringing hammers into the discussion!] when you state “Yes, I do agree with you that the decision should be left with the teacher.”
That is, of course, if one trusts the professional judgment of teachers. On the other hand, if teachers are overpaid, underworked lazy union thugs who aren’t ‘real’ professionals in the first place, by training and inclination unable to evaluate, calibrate and adjust to the students in front of them—then your point is moot.
Again, to be clear: I agree with you and Dienne, not with the hypothetical I pose.
🙂
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Hi Carol, Can you help me with this?
I know the book is on a curriculum given to the CPS teachers, and that the curriculum has the words “Common Core” on it, but that’s as far as I can trace the relationship. I don’t see Persepolis in the “Exemplars,” for example. So, which list is it on?
Or am I just missing it in the exemplars?
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You know, you may be correct. I really was just quoting the story. And i should have checked myself. What is happening though is that states are selecting vendors for approved curriculum. You must then buy their recommended texts. Example– NY approved Expeditionary Learning. There are two books that a district was forced to buy when the adopted the curriculum that they are quite upset about. My guess, this was a city or state approved common core curriculum.
When my school adopts a book, we give it great thought to make sure that it matches the values of our families, more or less, is developmentally appropriate, and most of is high quality reading connected with the curriculum we write.
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Thanks. You’ve been such a thoughtful commenter on the CCS. I don’t know yet if this Chicago unit plan was homemade or purchased, but I find it weird that people are purchasing curricula and recommended texts. It all reminds me of seed companies owning patents on particular seeds.
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Isn’t Gates involved with that too? He is so busy ruining, oops saving, the world.
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It’s in the CPS 7th grade Literary Framework Toolset bottom of p. 11.
Click to access Toolset_Seventh_Grade_v1.0.pdf
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In my experience, banning a book makes it all the more appealing to many students. So ban away!
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Oh yes definitely! That’s one way to get kids to read. 🙂
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The American Library Association has excellent information on the topic of banned and challenged books. It also has a fine library “Bill of Rights.” The link below is a good place to start for those interested in this topic.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/aboutbannedbooks
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Thanks, Middle school teacher. What do you think the process should be of challenging and removing books from a school library or a curriculum? That’s not a disagreement with you or the libraries, it’s an honest question.
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Actually, the Chicago Public Schools does have (had) a policy for challenging a book. Most school libraries do. Their policy is here under letter E. http://policy.cps.k12.il.us/documents/604.7.pdf
Anyone filing a complaint must fill out a form in writing. There is a process to see if the book is appropriate for the library. The process takes several weeks and the review committee has to actually read the book before a decision is made.
Apparently CPS took down the complaint form so it’s hard to tell if the policy is still in effect.
CPS did not follow their own school policies when ordering the books taken out of the libraries.
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I do not believe books should be censored or removed from school or public libraries. The link below is to a policy statement by the ALA on the right of minors to have access to all types of material in the library. I am happy to see a student hooked on a book, and I don’t really care what it is. Free reading is just that…free reading. Currently some of my 8th graders are reading Twilight, The Hunger Games, and the Bluford High series. Other popular authors right now are Sarah Dessen, Mike Lupica, James Patterson, Joan Harlow, Peg Kehret…and so many others. One of my students reads military history. Another is into The Kite Runner. One girl has discovered the escapist joy of Nancy Drew. Several like graphic novels.
When it comes to books chosen to be part of a curriculum, I like a good mix of fiction, memoir/biography, poetry, drama, and nonfiction. I do not believe all teachers should have to teach the same thing at the same time in the same way. The one concern I have for “whole class books” is that they are good enough to engage everyone for the weeks we spend on them. Choices that my middle schoolers love include The Outsiders and Of Mice and Men.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/freeaccesslibraries
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I usually started 7th grade with THE OUTSIDERS. The Steinbeck I find too fakey and tendentious, although the notion of having a piece of land is worthwhile. TREASURE ISLAND, THE HOBBIT, A CHRISTMAS CAROL (those were the days when it wasn’t verboten to mention the majority world religion). Lots of good stuff, but PERSEPOLIS would not be an inappropriate choice, even for 7th grade, considering the relativistic cant that flies around the world these days passing for thought.
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I did not have this book in my classroom library. I just ordered two copies. Thanks for the recommendation CPS.
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When I was a high school student Lord of the Flies , Old Man and the Sea, Light in the Forest and Call of the Wild were banned so when I became a teacher back in the day, and had some choice, of course I read those books with my students. Recently books were pulled from my classroom. Like Water for Chocolate was approved for Spanish but not English and even though the district office approved Kite Runner, the principal saw the movie and pulled the book as we were reading the last chapter. Now of course, no literature in the classroom. Some say literature is allowed , but I was at the meetings when the informational text policy was ordered. If you read ERWC, you will see a cabal of “teachers” and “college professors” wrote the new curriclum
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Let’s make sure we graduate compliant non-thinkers. Our education system is going down hill faster than can be believed. This looks more than just Common Core craziness.
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My problem with books like this is that they’re designed more to indoctrinate children into vilifying official enemies than thinking about repression. Mind you, I have a number of friends who left Iran after the Shah fell — people who struggled against his rule while they lived there, one of whom was in jail for her activities. Books about what happened after Khomeini returned are certainly legitimate, but at a time when the US and Israel are clamoring for war with Iran, they aren’t appropriate.
I don’t think it should be banned, but if I were a teacher, it would not be on my reading list.
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If you voted for Obama, you approved the “let’s not offend Iran by pointing out the religious fanatic terrorist regime there” ethos.
Nothing could be more important for a seventh grader to learn about than the nature of repressive regimes and their policy of censorship.
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“Repressive regime and their policy of censorship.” You mean here in Chicago with Rahm, right?
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Fred Klonsky: I follow your blog. Thank you for so many informative postings.
For those who haven’t visited his blog and would like a graphic [i.e., visual] comment on the subject, I refer you to this link:
🙂
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Thank you.
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Hello — If a book isn’t published by ” PEER” son it shall be ban ished from the Kingdom of King Rham Emmanuel.
Marge Borchert
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My uncle, Dr. Harry Stansbury, was involved in a famous textbook controversy in West Virginia in 1974-1975. Here’s an article about that: http://www.wvgazette.com/Opinion/OpEdCommentaries/201201150030. I remember being proud of his stand during that time.
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“Yes to decency and morality in family and state! I consign to the flames the writings of Heinrich Mann, Ernst Gläser, Erich Kästner and Marjane Satrapi.”
Byrd- Bennett………….with apologies to Joseph Goebbels
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The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a wonderful example of how books feed the soul. You’ll be happy to know it was first published in Australia and was later published in the U.S. by Knoff — don’t think that Pearson Publishing owns any rights. Oh— that ‘s because this book feeds the soul and is suitable for 7th grade readers!!
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