We’re in a tricky position today in America’s schools. While we as teachers feel a moral responsibility to provide our students with literature that both reflects their own experiences and opens their eyes to the perspectives of others, sometimes parents or other community members voice objections to the books that we find so valuable.
I know that our days are filled with so many other tasks that we hardly get time to sit down and breathe, much less prepare for an unexpected challenge to the book you’ve been planning on teaching for months. But when you get the call, there are some concrete steps you can take to advocate for your book and communicate best with all parties involved. Hopefully you’ll never have to face this situation, but you’ll feel better knowing you’ve got a plan in place.
Depending on your situation, here are some steps you can take:
When a parent challenges a book for their child:
Step #1 - If you are comfortable, ask to speak to the parent one-on-one.
Unfortunately, there have been times we’ve been blindsided with a book challenge because a concerned parent complains directly to an administrator (or even a school board member!). If any progress is going to be made, you need to be able to speak directly to the parent to understand their concerns and to make sure you are also able to contribute to the discussion. If you think the parent will be able to have a calm discussion, we’ve had the best results in a simple phone call to that parent. If you are concerned that emotions will be high, your administrator can sit in on the phone call or meeting.
Step #2 - Let the parent lead the discussion.
Often, a parent just wants their concerns to be heard. Try to remember that the parent is probably motivated out of a legitimate concern for their child, even if you may disagree with the cause. Allow the parent to list the reasons they are worried about the book without argument.
Step #3 - Ask questions.
Has the parent read the book in question, or have they only heard about it or read online summaries? Does their child have any trauma related to the content of the book that you need to be aware of? Does the content of the book conflict with the religious beliefs of the family? Does the parent have certain rules they abide by when choosing what to allow their children to watch on television or in the movies? Are there books that they can suggest that they would like to replace this book with? Is their child aware the parent is raising these concerns with the book? Again, asking these questions in a calm, non-argumentative way can allow you to truly understand the parent’s perspective and their concerns for the child, and allows them to feel heard.
Step #4 - Reassure the parent of your intentions.
As often as possible, remind the parent that you are on their side in that you both want the best academic outcome for their child. The child will not be punished in school because the parent has raised this concern. This is an appropriate time to explain to the parent why you have chosen the book. What are its merits? Why is it worth reading? How have students in the past reacted positively to the book?
Step #5 - Invite the parent to read with their child.
Sometimes parents agree to allow their child to continue reading the book in class, and they decide to borrow a copy for themselves so they are able to have conversations about the book when they are at home with the child. In our experiences, this has never lead to more criticism of the book; instead, it has strengthened the parent’s relationship with their child, and helped the parent understand the book’s merits.
Step #6 - If all else fails, and you need to find a replacement book, go easy on yourself.
You might not be able to find a book that has all the qualities you love about the one that is being challenged… but that’s okay! Students can learn and strengthen their reading skills using any quality piece of literature. Pick a book of a similar length and difficulty level, and hopefully one that shares a theme with the one you’re reading as a whole class. Your student will be fine!
If you’re looking for an all-in-one workbook that a student can use as an independent study assignment for ANY NOVEL, we’ve got you covered! Print out the entire workbook at once, or use the pages as individual handouts. Students will practice goal-setting, reading strategies, analyze characterization, plot, symbolism, archetypes of fiction, journaling, and creative writing.
When a parent, community member, or administrator challenges a book for the entire class or school:
This situation is a bit different. The challenge might be motivated by something more political or wide-reaching.
Step #1 - If you have an administrator to back you up, ask them to speak on behalf of you.
When a book challenge becomes a public issue, you could become a target. It’s your administration’s job to represent the district’s interests to the community, and unfortunately in some situations like these, being the face of the issue can become dangerous for you.
Step #2 - Come prepared.
If the administration is unfamiliar with the book and its merits, provide all the information they will need. Search for previously published rationales for challenged books. NCTE has a searchable database of rationales here that is currently available to members, but due to a grant will soon be available to anyone! In addition, you can write an email to request a rationale. Directions are at the bottom of the page here.
Prepare yourself for future challenges:
Step #1 - Set up a meeting with your department head and administrators to make a game plan.
Nobody likes being blindsided with an issue like this. If you anticipate that one of your books might face a challenge, bring it up with a trusted administrator ahead of time. Come prepared with a rationale and some thoughts about what steps you’d like to take if the book is challenged.
Step #2 - Send home a letter.
Brittany and I created a letter with the help of our principal that we send home to parents of our pre-AP students each year. We wanted to emphasize the how the ideals of College Board are reflected in our novel choices. By sending this letter home right away, and asking parents to acknowledge the expectations of the course or bring up their concerns right away, I think we’ve managed to avoid some potential problems. If you’d like to use this letter to help draft your own, you can find it here.
Step #3 - Write a rationale.
If you cannot find a rationale, write one– or even better, have your students write one! Guidelines and example rationales can be found here. You’ll feel better knowing you have these rationales in your back pocket!
I'll let Virginia Woolf close out this post with some words of wisdom. Just know that we support you and will always fight for access to diverse and representative texts!
Keep reading!
~Jamie
"Lock up your libraries if you like, but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind." Virginia Woolf
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