Kaffir Boy update

[Jan Peterson <Jpetearf@AOL.COM>]

Thanks to all of you who responded to my request for Kaffir Boy information.
 Our school board voted 4-2 to retain the book with optional reading for
those students who's parents object to the book.  A reasonable solution, I
think.    Some of you asked me to share the responses which I received.  You
will find them below.  Thanks again for your help!

Jan Peterson
St. Michael-Albertville SH
Albertville, MN
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Jan,
I do have the book but have not had problems with it.  You should get the
February issue of the English Journal - it's a theme issue on censorship.
Good luck

Elaine Woods
ewoods@servtech.com
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Jan, Sorry to hear that the book burners are giving you a hard time. I
have copies of the book in my high school library, but none of the
teachers have it as required reading. Interestingly enough, the book was
donated to me by a social science program affiliated with California
State University, Chico. I'm sorry I can't think of the name of the
group offhand, since it was a few years ago. You might also look at the
State Framework for Social Science in Californa to see if it is on a
recommended reading list, or perhaps your state has an equivalent
document. Good luck!

Mike Genga
Paradise High School
Paradise, CA
mgenga@earthlink.net
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We are a high school of 1900 students in grades 10,11 and 12.  We have had
both Kaffir Boy and Kaffir Boy in America in our collection for years.  We
have not had a complaint
about either.
Linda Brake
Evergreen High School
Vancouver, Washington
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Jan,
My school faced a formal challenge last year with this title.  We, too,
have a very small but very insistent conservative faction in the
community.  The person challenging the book was offended by the passage in
which Mathabane recounts boys prostituting themselves to older men.  Our
Media Advisory Committee voted unanimously to retain the title, and the
challenger did not take it to the system level.  The book is used as
supplemental reading and is also on the Accelerated Reader list, which is
heavily used at my site.  Our American Literature teachers also have it on
a suggested reading list for regional authors (even though Mathabane is
obviously from Africa, he now makes his home in Kernersville, NC, which is
about 10 miles from here).

THis very vocal group was also instrumental in the challenge of "THe Old
Gringo", a book on the International Baccalaureate World Literature
reading list at my school (you may have seen the article in the January 97
issue of "School Library Journal"), and in the recent challenge of "THe
Color Purple" and "Native Son" at our sister school, Northwest Guilford
High School.  These challenges went all the way to our school board, which
fortunately refused to bow to intense pressure and kept the titles.

However, I feel that this is only the beginning.  We must continue to
fight these attempts, even though it is physically and emotionally
draining.  Anything I can do to assist you, please let me know.  I can fax
you a copy of our report and the materials we used, if you think that
would be of any help.  Let me know.

Susan S. Cannady
Media Specialist
Grimsley High School
Greensboro, NC 27408
Phone: 910.370.8136
Fax:   910.370.8139
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Jan,
     We have KAFFIR BOY in our collection, and we have never had a
problem with it.

Good luck!
Sherry Ogburn
sogburn@tenet.edu
Langham Creek HS
Houston, TX
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We have Kaffir Boy and Kaffir Boy in America in our 1,600 pupil high school.
We have never had a complaint and many young adults read this
book...primarily for information about interracial marriages.  It has been
recommended to students by students and I believe it has appeared on ALA's
best book lists.
Karen Gockley
Essex High School
Essex Jct., VT 05672
kgockley@ejhs.k12.vt.us
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Jan:
        This particular title is not the issue.  We both know that EVERY
book CAN (and in some ways should) raise individual objections.  We also
know these good people have temporarily forgotten that to be a functional
society we need to trust our SELVES enough to share, with an understanding
that we are all (thankfully) different.
        The immmediate problem you seem to need to address is the fact that
your board MUST understand its responsibility to not knuckle under to
irrational terrorist acts.  Or we all lose.  We lose our freedom.  We lose
society.  We lose libraries.
        Simply.
        When I trust myself (admittedly not yet often enough), I make it a
point to grin at individuals acting out of fear, rather than Reason, and
happily ask, "And what other terrorist acts have you been contemplating,
lately?"  Then I walk away, in order to give learning a chance to happen.
If they pursue me, they indicate a desire to know how they assault
themselves and their world.  A reassuring hand to the shoulder--while still
smiling--is sometimes all it takes, and THEY supply the Reason.

        For what it's worth.

        Have fun!
        Take care.  Thank you for knowing to care.
        I wish you well.

Jeffrey E. Kirkpatrick
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        The individual or institution which fails to honor and support
viable libraries is simply not credible.  For, a library, as a society, is
people, sharing in trust, for their mutual benefit and edification.  The
naive who fail libraries fail themselves.
        'Nuff said.
Jeffrey E. Kirkpatrick, teacher/learner
jeffkirk@sni.net
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Hello, Jan.  We have _Kaffir Boy_ in our library (gr. 9-12), and we have
had no challenges. However, the majority of our students are not avid
readers.  If they are assigned volunteer reading, they select the *quick*
books or science fiction.  I don't know if that particular one is on the
AP reading list or not, but some of the recommended ones (_Beloved_,
_Their Eyes Were Watching God_, and some others) are pretty "plain
spoken," and they haven't yet been challenged, either.

Betty
                                .----.
Betty Hamilton, LRS             |    |                701 Cub Drive
bhamilt@tenet.edu           ____|*    ~~~~~~.         Brownfield TX 79316
Brownfield High School      \               |         (806) 637-4523
                             \_/\        . /
                                  \     {
                                    \  }
                                      ~
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Jan,
Another defense of Kaffir Boy that occured to me after I wrote last week.
The new Inquiry graduation standards from the State Department emphasize
the use of primary sources - and this book is a wonderful example!

Priscilla Berg
Totino-Grace
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I am sorry to hear of your problems with Kaffir Boy.  It is in the library
as well as a required text for our sophomore honors English course.  There
was a controversy with the book in another town in Connecticut a few months
ago, and our school board was aware of it.  Fortunately, they did not join
in and question its use at our school.

This book has been used in our school several years ago for a literary book
discussion lead by a local college professor.  From that experience, it was
included into the curriculum.
I would be interested in hearing the responses you receive.  Good luck!

Marie Shaw
East Lyme H. S.
East Lyme, CT
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.95.970311080633.5371A-100000@weaver>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
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Dear Jan,
        In the fall of 1994 our Global Studies teacher assigned Kaffir Boy as
one of the books she wanted her 9th grade honors students to read.  A couple
of parents objected to the book.  I wrote a letter to our principal in
support
of the book and of the teacher.  I would gladly send you a copy if you want.
The final solution to the
parental objection was that our teacher has made Kaffir Boy an optional
choice
for her honors students.  We have 2 copies in the library, and could
circulate
many more when she gives the assignment.  The students enjoy the book, and
even recommend it to their peers.  Good luck with this one.  Let me know if I
can help you.

Jane E. Wheeler
Librarian
James I. O'Neill High School
Highland Falls, NY