Western Iowa district pulls book from classroom
Posted: Sunday, February 25, 2007
MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa (AP) -- A western Iowa school district has temporarily barred a book from being taught in classrooms after receiving complaints that the book uses racial slurs and profanity.
"Whale Talk," which has already been either banned or taken off reading lists in districts in Alabama and South Carolina, was being taught to sophomore English students at Missouri Valley High School.
Tom Micek, the district's superintendent, said a committee will review the book and decide if it should be permanently removed from district classrooms.
"I understand there is profane language in the book," he said, "but in the absence of reading the text and understanding the language in the context of the story it is premature of me to comment."
"Whale Talk," written by Chris Crutcher and published in 2001, is about a 17-year-old boy confronting his multicultural heritage while creating a swim team at a high school that has no pool.
The Missouri Valley district removed the book from the English class after a local pastor complained about its explicit language.
"The book seems innocuous enough when you look on the cover jacket," said the Rev. Nathan Slaughter. "It's about teaching tolerance. But it's filled with obscenities and tries to use negative things to teach the lesson."
"Whale Talk" is at least the second book removed from an Iowa classroom this school year. In November, the Carroll school district temporarily banned Peter Hedges' "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" before the school board overturned the superintendent's decision.
Crutcher's writings are not new to Iowans' scrutiny. In 2004, parents in Solon leveled complaints against two of his stories, arguing that they used racists terms, promoted homosexuality and perpetuated gay stereotypes. The school board voted to keep the two books.
More recently, "Whale Talk" has been removed from South Carolina's high school suggested reading list, and it was banned by the Limestone County school board in northern Alabama in March 2005.
Crutcher has defended his writing style on his Web site, saying he based "Whale Talk" on real-life situations.
"Probably the most offensive scene, taken out of context, would be on page 68 and 69 where a 4.5-year-old mixed-race girl is working in a play therapy session, mirroring what her life is like living with a racist stepfather and a mother who won't protect her," he said on his Web site. "In the course of her therapy she is taking the role of the offender, yelling out all the names that she herself endures on a daily basis."
The committee tasked with reviewing "Whale Talk" will include Micek and other school officials and community members. Members will read the book and recommend to the school board whether to ban the book.
Libby Riley, whose daughter has been reading the book in her English class, wants "Whale Talk" taken out.
"I especially object to the racial verbiage," she said. "I can hardly say those words, and I am not a minority person. I know they are trying to teach diversity, but that is not the way to do it."
Board members have also expressed concern that the book may not be appropriate for sophomores.
"We don't condone that kind of language, but we have a process in place to address the issue," said Mark Warner, a board member. "We have to have a chance to read it."
"Whale Talk," which has already been either banned or taken off reading lists in districts in Alabama and South Carolina, was being taught to sophomore English students at Missouri Valley High School.
Tom Micek, the district's superintendent, said a committee will review the book and decide if it should be permanently removed from district classrooms.
"I understand there is profane language in the book," he said, "but in the absence of reading the text and understanding the language in the context of the story it is premature of me to comment."
"Whale Talk," written by Chris Crutcher and published in 2001, is about a 17-year-old boy confronting his multicultural heritage while creating a swim team at a high school that has no pool.
The Missouri Valley district removed the book from the English class after a local pastor complained about its explicit language.
"The book seems innocuous enough when you look on the cover jacket," said the Rev. Nathan Slaughter. "It's about teaching tolerance. But it's filled with obscenities and tries to use negative things to teach the lesson."
"Whale Talk" is at least the second book removed from an Iowa classroom this school year. In November, the Carroll school district temporarily banned Peter Hedges' "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" before the school board overturned the superintendent's decision.
Crutcher's writings are not new to Iowans' scrutiny. In 2004, parents in Solon leveled complaints against two of his stories, arguing that they used racists terms, promoted homosexuality and perpetuated gay stereotypes. The school board voted to keep the two books.
More recently, "Whale Talk" has been removed from South Carolina's high school suggested reading list, and it was banned by the Limestone County school board in northern Alabama in March 2005.
Crutcher has defended his writing style on his Web site, saying he based "Whale Talk" on real-life situations.
"Probably the most offensive scene, taken out of context, would be on page 68 and 69 where a 4.5-year-old mixed-race girl is working in a play therapy session, mirroring what her life is like living with a racist stepfather and a mother who won't protect her," he said on his Web site. "In the course of her therapy she is taking the role of the offender, yelling out all the names that she herself endures on a daily basis."
The committee tasked with reviewing "Whale Talk" will include Micek and other school officials and community members. Members will read the book and recommend to the school board whether to ban the book.
Libby Riley, whose daughter has been reading the book in her English class, wants "Whale Talk" taken out.
"I especially object to the racial verbiage," she said. "I can hardly say those words, and I am not a minority person. I know they are trying to teach diversity, but that is not the way to do it."
Board members have also expressed concern that the book may not be appropriate for sophomores.
"We don't condone that kind of language, but we have a process in place to address the issue," said Mark Warner, a board member. "We have to have a chance to read it."
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BRAVO wrote on Sep 16, 2008 6:01 AM:
Instead of trying to remold our children into liberals, the schools should focus on academics. No wonder Japanese students are far surpassing American students. While they're busy learning high-level skills, our students are learning about "faggots," "niggers," and a kid who shits Bisquick and strawberry shampoo out his azz during school hours.
As a side note, I tried to submit this comment with the exact words found in the book, and received this message:
"Your name and/or comment contains inappropriate words, such as "azz".
Please edit your message and then resubmit.
I originally spelled "azz" the correct way.
What does that tell you? Wake up school districts, it's NOT appropriate and we parents don't appreciate you feeding our children garbage in the name of education. "
Chelsi T. wrote on Nov 28, 2007 11:49 AM: