Stratford School District families question books

Advisory committee will determine at the end of June if the teacher’s free reads are appropriate for students

Two Stratford School District families have filed formal complaints with the school district wanting 14 books they say contain vulgar language and sexual references removed from a teacher’s classroom.

The teacher, who has not been named, brought personal books from home into the classroom, which are not part of the curriculum. They are also not library books owned by the school district. The teacher placed the books in a free read section in the classroom, where both sixth and 10th grade students are taught.

Students are allowed to check the books out and take them home to read if they wish. Some parents discovered that their children were reading books they deemed inappropriate for their ages which were checked out of the teacher’s classroom.

The list of 14 books in this teacher’s classroom that the two families are questioning include “An Ember in the Ashes Series” which is about romantic fantasy in an alternative universe; “If I Stay” which is about a teenager in a coma; “Where She Went” which is about fame, loss and enduring love; “Love in English” which is about English as a second language, immigration and romance; “City of Ashes” and “City of Bones” which are fantasy series in an urban setting; “Eleanor & Park” which is a 1980’s romance; “Everything, everything” which is about a sick teenager risking it all to truly live; “Speak” which is about rape; “The Hate U Give” which is about a police shooting of an unarmed Black teenager; “The One Memory of Flora Banks” which is about a teenager who can’t make new memories; “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” which is a coming- of-age classic with sex, drugs and abuse; “Turtles All the Way Down” which is about metal illness and first love and “Welcome to the Monkey House” which is a collection of short stories.

The two families followed Stratford School District board policy 8710 to present their initial complaints to Janeen LaBorde, Stratford middle/ high school principal. LaBorde and the teacher decided to move the books in the classroom where only the 10th graders would be able to access them if they wish. The matter, however, was still not resolved because the parents want the books removed from the classroom. The two families then proceeded with a written appeal to Dr. Nathan Lehman, Stratford schools superintendent.

Stratford School District’s lawyer told Lehman the school district didn’t break any laws or policies by having the books in the classroom. Stratford School District board policy 3330 states parents may inspect, upon request, any instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum for students. In addition, parents may deny their child’s participation in certain school district educational programs or activities. However, board policy 3330 also states parents do not have the right to deny access to any learning materials to other parents’ children.

Lehman has appointed an advisory committee of nine members consisting of Stratford teachers Rachel Bargender, Curt Schmidt and Jo Lappe; school librarian Wanda Grewe; community members Lisa Frombach, Terrie Kitchner and Shelly Weis and Stratford Board of Education members Kitty Guyer and Tyler Skaya. Guyer was nominated as chairperson of the advisory committee when it met last. Schmidt was not at the meeting.

The advisory committee decided each member will read a minimum of three out of the 14 books in question, or each member may read all 14 books if they wish, before its next meeting at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 26. Advisory committee members will write down why they want to keep or not keep each book in the classroom. The advisory committee will then discuss the books at the June 26 meeting and vote on whether or not to keep each of the 14 books. A majority decision wins for each book.