GEN:Challenge of YM by principal

["Gloria R. Young" <gyoung@BADGER.TDS.NET>]

Friends,
I have been stewing about this for about three weeks, and finally decided
to bring it to you. What do I do?
I found the December issue of YM in my mailbox with this message written
across the front in ink:
Gloria, When did we start this subscription again?  Tom (building princ.)

Background: About 6 years ago a parent challenged YM in our k-8 library.
The magazine survived the challenge that went through our selection
policy procedure right to the School Board.  The committee that first
heard the challenge voted unanimously to keep the magazine, restricted to
the gr. 7-8 shelf, as it had been.
 The Board, under intense pressure-at least 30 parents showed up at the
meeting--upheld that decision. I have continued our subscription since
that time.

My response to the principal's message was a handwritten note reminding
him of the challenge and the board's action. He e-mailed me back saying,
yes, but I thought we agreed to drop the subscription after that year.

Why would I have agreed to drop that subscription when the Board
basically directed me to keep it?

I know where this came from.  Our school secretary, who sorts the mail,
has a 7th grade daughter who regularly checks out YM.  (The father is a
minister.) The secretary questioned me about the appropriateness of the
mag. in our library.  I described the challenge, and defended the
presence of the mag.  I also explained her right to restrict her daughter
from checking it out.  No, she didn't want to do that.  The very next
issue comes to me defaced by the principal!

I know that YM has become more adult in its content, but so have 7th and
8th graders!  I think this magazine is still a source of accurate
information that the kids will read and believe.  I just do not know how
far I can stick my neck out.  Is a fight worth it?  I'm pretty alone out
there!

 And--What do I do with this scribbled-on magazine?  I'm tempted to go
buya new copy!

Thanks for your interest and advice.

Gloria Young, LMS
Pittsville Schools
Pittsville, WI
gyoung@badger.tds.net

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