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There have been some “smart” and “thoughtful” people posting about this subject to 
LM_NET.  Even though I only have one of those two aforementioned characteristics, I 
will submit my experience.

Last year, we dealt with several book challenges, some going only to the informal 
“school personnel only” meetings---all the way to the “large room community/school 
board emotionally charged meeting.”  (The challenges continue this year, but, so 
far, with less fervor.  And, thanks to my administration, we have our challenge 
process well established.)

Thoughts:

The word “appropriate” is a “front” word, beyond which lies the whole gamut of 
human emotions.  I will not attempt to define the word “appropriate” and will leave 
that definition up to you.  Most of the book challenges in my district dealt with 
books that were “not appropriate” for middle school students, (grades 5-8), but 
rather should be moved to the high school, (grades 9-12).  (Would that type of 
move, in your mind, constitute a ban?)  

And here, also, is where the concept of “in loco parentis” falls apart.  When all 
of the books in a 5-8 school are intermingled within the same collection, some 
parents will believe their fifth grade children to be in grave danger.  The parents 
of eighth grade children may think and feel otherwise.  (Are we going to eventually 
end up with book collections specific to each grade?)  In fact, we had to 
eventually devise an elaborate system which gave parents decision-making power for 
the reading choices of their children.  In essence, we had to establish a “profile” 
for each student.  (Thank goodness for computerized book circulation systems that 
allow for us to create and monitor individual reading choices.)

It helps, when dealing with parents and emotionally charged book challenges, to not 
create an oppositional atmosphere.  Reach out to opponents; or, at least, attempt 
to empathize with them.  Respect their opinions and who they are, while at the same 
time maintaining your own standards, and, your own professional dignity.  

There is idealism and there is pragmatism.  They each have their value and their 
place in schools and in society.  We human beings are a blend of the two.  If you 
ever have to deal with book challenges, you may need to ask yourself to which side 
of that blend you gravitate.

thomas neil tomporowski
Perham High School  LMC
Prairie Wind Middle School LMC
Perham, MN , USA 56573
ttomporowski@perham.k12.mn.us
www.perham.k12.mn.us/phs/staff/ttomporowski

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