LM_NET: Library Media Networking
- Subject: FW: challenge of Yolonda's Genius
- From: Barbara McElfish <3mcelfish@INTEGRITYOL.COM>
- Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 18:30:05 -0700
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Dear Colleagues,
I thought you might find the letters from Carol Fenner interesting re: the
challenge we had of her book, Yolanda's Genius...Along with her letters, I had 9
replies from my lm_net friends and appreciate the support of this wonderful
group. BTW, the book was defended and remains in circulation.
Barbara McElfish
Librarian, Mirror Lake Elementary
Federal Way, Washington 98003
3mcelfish@integrityol.com
"If only one person out of a hundred and fifty million should continue on as a
reader, he would be the one worth saving." -- E.B. White
----------
From: "Carol Fenner Williams" <fenwms@iserv.net>
To: 3mcelfish@integrityol.com
Subject: challenge of Yolonda's Genius
Date: Mon, Jun 7, 1999, 8:33 AM
Dear Ms. McElfish (what a great name! May I use it some day? Is it Scottish?)
I am preparing some information about Yolonda's Genius to assit you in defending
the book in the challenge process (and perhaps assit you in defending other
books). Of course I wish you had read the book in a "sitdown/read for reading's
sake" instead of "skimming" for storyline. But I am grateful you found the time
to accomplish even that. I rather suspect that the principal to whom the
challenge was presented has not read the book. Some years ago a principal
called me to discuss my upcoming visit for which the school had been planning to
order a bunch of Randall's Wall for children to purchase. He asked me, rather
shamefacedly, if I minded that they change the book to A Summer of Horses since
one of the teachers had pointed out some objectionable words and other teachers
had panicked. I was surprised. Randall's Wall, of all my books, has gotten the
most marvelous reviews. He said the school millage was up for vote and he
didn't want to give any parent reason to vote it down. I reluctantly agreed to
come anyway. Imagine my surprise when I arrived to find piles of Randall's Wall
for sale and very few of the horse book. I questioned the principal who laughed
and told me he had hoped I would forget he was the principal who had objected.
"I read the book," he said, "and I couldn't find anything objectionable." I
think, Ms. McElfish, that this happens often. People run scared and do the
easiest thing which is often not the best thing.
Can you possibly be more specific about the objections? The language one could
refer to several places; teachers reading aloud automatically skip over words
they don't want to have to explain or don't like using themselves. I did myself
when reading to a church group at a Baptist Summer Camp. I was testing the
scene where Yolonda beats up the drug pushers. I said, "I won't say the word,
but do you think Yolonda did?" "Yes," they chorused seriously. Kids reading
alone usually find the story more credible and undestand exactly why Yolonda had
to use tough language with the drug pushers. I am not going to avoid using
language or occurrances commonplace to schoolplaces. To do so is as dishonest
as stating that they aren't there. Of course the objections could be to the
words Yolonda finds in the dictionary. I am more concerned that someone is
objecting to Yolonda as a person. Her "strong-willed defiance" is as much a
part of her character as her love for her little brother and her respect for her
great teacher, Mr. Johnkoski. Were there any specific passages or references
that bugged your principal or the school librarian?
Would you prefer I email my response (probably tomorrow) or send it by the snail
with copies to others? My email is fenwms@iserv.net and I look forward to
hearing from you. Carol Fenner
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<TITLE>FW: challenge of Yolonda's Genius</TITLE>
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Dear Colleagues,<BR>
I thought you might find the letters from Carol Fenner interesting re: the =
challenge we had of her book, Yolanda's Genius...Along with her letters, I h=
ad 9 replies from my lm_net friends and appreciate the support of this wonde=
rful group. BTW, the book was defended and remains in circulation.<BR>
<BR>
Barbara McElfish<BR>
Librarian, Mirror Lake Elementary<BR>
Federal Way, Washington 98003<BR>
3mcelfish@integrityol.com<BR>
"If only one person out of a hundred and fifty million should continue=
on as a reader, he would be the one worth saving." -- E.B. White=
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
----------<BR>
From: "Carol Fenner Williams" <fenwms@iserv.net><BR>
To: 3mcelfish@integrityol.com<BR>
Subject: challenge of Yolonda's Genius<BR>
Date: Mon, Jun 7, 1999, 8:33 AM<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE>Dear Ms. McElfish (what a great name! May I use it some day? &n=
bsp;Is it Scottish?) I am preparing some information about Yolonda's G=
enius to assit you in defending the book in the challenge process (and perha=
ps assit you in defending other books). Of course I wish you had read =
the book in a "sitdown/read for reading's sake" instead of "s=
kimming" for storyline. But I am grateful you found the time to a=
ccomplish even that. I rather suspect that the principal to whom the c=
hallenge was presented has not read the book. Some years ago a princip=
al called me to discuss my upcoming visit for which the school had been plan=
ning to order a bunch of <I>Randall's Wall</I> for children to purchase. &nb=
sp;He asked me, rather shamefacedly, if I minded that they change the book t=
o <I>A Summer of Horses </I> since one of the teachers had pointed out =
some objectionable words and other teachers had panicked. I was surpri=
sed. <I>Randall's Wall, </I>of all my books, has gotten the most marve=
lous reviews. He said the school millage was up for vote and he didn't=
want to give any parent reason to vote it down. I reluctantly agreed =
to come anyway. Imagine my surprise when I arrived to find piles of <I=
>Randall's Wall </I>for sale and very few of the horse book. I questio=
ned the principal who laughed and told me he had hoped I would forget he was=
the principal who had objected. "I read the book," he said,=
"and I couldn't find anything objectionable." I think=
, Ms. McElfish, that this happens often. People run scared and do the =
easiest thing which is often not the best thing.<BR>
<BR>
Can you possibly be more specific about the objections? The language =
one could refer to several places; teachers reading aloud automatically skip=
over words they don't want to have to explain or don't like using themselve=
s. I did myself when reading to a church group at a Baptist Summer Cam=
p. I was testing the scene where Yolonda beats up the drug pushers. &n=
bsp; I said, "I won't say the word, but do you think Yolonda did?&=
quot; "Yes," they chorused seriously. Kids reading alo=
ne usually find the story more credible and undestand exactly why Yolonda ha=
d to use tough language with the drug pushers. I am not going to avoid=
using language or occurrances commonplace to schoolplaces. To do so i=
s as dishonest as stating that they aren't there. Of course the object=
ions could be to the words Yolonda finds in the dictionary. I am more =
concerned that someone is objecting to Yolonda as a person. Her "=
strong-willed defiance" is as much a part of her character as her love =
for her little brother and her respect for her great teacher, Mr. Johnkoski.=
Were there any specific passages or references that bugged your=
principal or the school librarian? <BR>
Would you prefer I email my response (probably tomorrow) or send it by the =
snail with copies to others? My email is <FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF"><U>fenw=
ms@iserv.net</U></FONT> and I look forward to hearing from you. =
Carol Fenner <BR>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
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