ThomG Blogs School Books Hubbub

You’ll find ThomG’s excellent blow-by-blow coverage of last night’s CDA School Board meeting re: the text book controversy here ( SR story here ): 5:03 — Meeting just called to order. Full house, about 100 people. 5:06 — Edie brooks just said no duplicate comments— if someone states your views, just stand in support. 5:08 — Rosie Astorqia is reviewing the novels to be voted on, by grade level. 6th grade books— all recommended for approval by ad hoc committee. 5:14 — All 7th grade books recommended for approval. 8th grade books all for approval. 9th grade— all yes. 10th grade— all yes for approval. 11th grade— disagreement on Catcher in the Rye-i all other yes for approval. 12th grade books—all yes for approval by ad hoc committee. Lots of ad hoc committee votes are consistently 2 NO votes. 5:15 — Lots of high school students here. 5:22 — Public comments just begun.

5:30 — Next opponent of Brave New World has read 1/2 of book. Complaining about not being able to read excerpts from. Book— meeting is on ch 19—

5:33 — Yes to registration!!!! I’ll sign up for a

5:38 — Next speaker opposed to Brave New World—claims it is not about censorship, or book banning— against books with profanity and sexual content.

5:47 — Mary Jo Finney is whining about “sexually explicit, vulgar and profane” material.

5:54 — I’m sitting next to an anti. She was nice and cordial right up until I stood in support of a speaker who spoke in favor of Brave New World. Now shw sits turned with her back to me. So much for open-mindedness.

5:59 — Debbie Morris is now complaining about the procedurre used to select the ad hoc committee.now she says the school board has the right to suppress vulgar and profane language. She is a first ammendment supporter BUT this meeting is not applicable and rules need to be followed.

6:00 — Is anal retentive hyphenated?

6:17 — A book supporter just Godwined the topic:(
In response to an anti-book speaker talking about “good” kids and “good” books, she said Hitler, Mao and Pol Pot all thought they were doing good.

6:23 — Vieselmyer is speaking and wants to protect children from mental injury. Claims that internet pornography is the #1 problem in marriages— somehow he equates books with pornography. Now he is talking about Beastiality and Necrofeleology.

6:24 — You own ‘em Me, just like the moderates do in the Republican Party. We can’t deal with them. You use them to get elected. We’re gonna paint you all with their screed unless you ratchet them down.

6:25 — Al Hasell is against opt out policy because it singles out children. He is somehow comparing book choices with support for levys

6:25 — “somehow he equates books with pornography. Now he is talking about Beastiality and Necrofeleology.”—LOL, rational discourse. I love it.

6:27 — Thom is there any way you can make them see that they are walking examples of why allowing these books is necessary?

6:32 — Excellent point (Sisyphus)

6:35 — Public comment is over, Rosie Astorqia recommends all 26 novels be approved. Sid Fredrickson is defending his vote against Brave New World. Vern Newby wants a recess to compose his thoughts. 5 minute recess.

6:37 — I’m confused here, Thom. Are you reporting or editorializing? The whining remarks tend to make me believe you are showing a little bias, but I guess it’s ok as long as you are on the right … ‘er left side of the issue, right? (Sweet & Sour Herb)

6:44 — Herb, you don’t like my comments come and blog this yourself;)

7:07 — Hey Thomg; Thanks for doing this. I am on the edge of my seat. (Kevin Taylor)

7:21 — Herb made a good point re: editorializing and reporting. It’s good that Citizen Thom is giving a play by play for the masses but if he were in an official capacity as Reporter Thom there would not be the use of words like “whining” and “complaining”. Observing, stating etc. would be more neutral. (Good Point)

7:24 — And that was my whole point. Incidentally, I was just perusing my site meter when I noticed a visit from “Letcher, South Dakota.” Honestly. it’s real. what a great place that must be to live. (Sweet & Sour Herb)

Finale (from ThomG) — Good point, not to be contentious, but if you or Herb were cutting me a paycheck then you’d have a point, but as it is, both of you can “whine” all you want about how I “report” the happenings at a meeting I attend. If you feel offended by my commentary then by all means come to the meeting yourself and share your observations. ;) … (BTW, at least 90 other people at that meeting would probably agree that theses folks were whining.)