School community talks ‘explicit’ books

Parents, teachers weigh in on debate



ON THE FRONT LINES—Conejo Valley English teachers participate in a discussion session surrounding core literature on Monday. DAWN MEGLI-THUNA/Acorn Newspapers

ON THE FRONT LINES—Conejo Valley English teachers participate in a discussion session surrounding core literature on Monday. DAWN MEGLI-THUNA/Acorn Newspapers

The Conejo Valley school board is forming an ad hoc committee to take a closer look at the district’s opt-out practices following a summerlong controversy over the approval of a book that school board president Mike Dunn labeled profane.

The board approved “The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian” for use in high school classes in August, but the 4-1 vote (with Dunn dissenting) did little to quell the debate over how Conejo Valley Unified School District officials should approach controversial core literature titles and the parents who don’t want their children reading them.

Trustees Sandee Everett and John Andersen said at the Aug. 17 meeting that they voted to approve the book based on the assurance from staff that discussions between educators and parents would help craft a clearer policy.

Until now, the district has relied on an unwritten policy whereby teachers provide students who wish to opt-out of a book with an alternate assignment. If an agreement cannot be reached with the teacher, the principal and ultimately the district becomes involved to resolve the situation.

At the first discussion session Sept. 25, 18 public speakers addressed the board during the standing-room-only meeting, with some arguing that the expertise of educators should not be second-guessed and others lobbying for increased parental involvement.

A panel of CVUSD English teachers was on hand to explain how they approach sensitive and sometimes graphic material contained in assigned literature.

Newbury Park High School teacher Jill Magnante said classroom instruction helps put “difficult material” into proper context for students. In 13 years of teaching, she said, she’s had only one pupil opt out of a book and the student was easily accommodated.

“We bear a great responsibility,” Magnante said of educators. “We don’t take that responsibility lightly.”

Principal Lou Lichtl, who’s been at the helm of Thousand Oaks High School for nine years, said he’s only seen a dozen parents opt their children out of material, and they were accommodated every time.

“Our teachers are very receptive,” he said.

Trustee Betsy Connolly said the teachers’ presentation affirmed her confidence in how they handle sensitive material and concerned parents.

“I’m more comfortable than I’ve ever been in my respect for the process,” she said.

But CVUSD parent Silas Nesheiwat said the district’s current opt-out practice needs to be improved. He said he’s opted both of his children out of books and the alternative assignment process as it stands now—which expects instructors to teach two separate books at the same time— doesn’t work well for students or educators.

“It’s my experience that sacrifices need to be made on both sides, and most times it’s disruptive to the student, his peers and also the teacher and the entire class,” he said.

Randy Smith, president of the Unified Association of Conejo Teachers, asked that an unreasonable burden not be placed on teachers by requiring them to teach multiple books simultaneously. He said teachers can be trusted to work sensitively with students.

“What (teachers) say matters,” he said.

Joanna Burns, chair of the English department at TOHS, said she’s not sure state law allows for a broader opt-out policy, or even the one the district is already practicing.

The state education code provides only three instances where parents have the legal right to withdraw their children from participation: comprehensive sex education, HIV/AIDS training and surveys related to health like the annual California Healthy Kids Survey.

She said the district’s existing practice goes beyond that.

Committee

Dunn announced near the end of the nearly four-hour Monday meeting that he would form a committee of two board members to take a closer look at the current policy. Under California Law, ad hoc committee meetings are not subject to the Brown Act, meaning they can take place in private, away from the public’s eyes.

In accordance with a framework put forth by Andersen, the committee will examine the opt-out process in four respects: providing notification to alert parents of books to be read along with information relating to its themes and content, developing an alternative assignment process that mitigates harassment against students who opt out of assignments, providing equal education time and rigor for all students and all books, and establishing a mechanism by which parents can become more involved in their children’s English and literature courses and books.

As board president, Dunn will have the ultimate say in which two board members are appointed to the committee. Superintendent Mark McLaughlin said he would consult with the district’s legal advisors to determine whether a committee or a subcommittee would be appropriate in this instance.

Connolly acknowledged the ideological split on the board—she and Pat Phelps are progressive while Dunn, Everett and Andersen are conservative—and said the committee should represent both sides of the spectrum. Dunn told board members who were interested in serving on the committee to email him.

The committee will be formed at a later meeting after it has been added to the agenda.