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'Alaska' to remain in Depew classes
By John J. Hopkins Times
Depew High School juniors still have the option to read the "young adult" novel Looking for Alaska following a 6-0 decision by the Depew Board of Education to approve the book as part of its 11th grade English Regents curriculum.
Tuesday's decision was based on a district committee's unanimous recommendation that the book is appropriate for eleventh grade classroom instruction.
The coming-of-age novel, written by John Green, came under fire in January by a handful of parents who objected to its liberal use of unseemly language and a twopage passage that includes a brief graphic sex demonstration.
In a letter to the Depew community, Green defended the passage, noting that it is meant to sit in stark contrast to a simple kiss a few pages later that is ultimately more rewarding to the 16-year-old main character.
According to a district handout, the committee analyzed the rationale, objectives and instructional strategies to be used with the book. It listed five major reasons why committee members concluded that Looking for Alaska is appropriate for high school students.
"The committee struggled with the various sensitive issues that have been raised by community members and truly respects the opinions that have been presented in regards to this novel," the district handout states. "Ultimately they felt that since book choice is available to parents and students that an appropriate alternative is available."
John Knowles' A Separate Peace is the optional reading material.
The committee reported that the novel is intellectually challenging, complex in theme and characters and appropriate for and about their age group. It was also determined that the book teaches students to think critically about life choices and the consequences associated with each decision.
Other conclusions include: English classes will allow analysis and evaluation of controversial issues; the author's intent to challenge students on life lessons and teen angst scenarios designed to prompt teens to ask important questions about life.
The seven-member committee consisted of district employees, including the English department chairperson and eleventh grade English teachers.
Before the book was approved, nearly one dozen parents, students and community members addressed the school board about the controversy. Each speaker was provided with three minutes to talk.
Reverend Nelson McCall of Hillview Baptist Church told the board that it, along with district teachers and staff are viewed as "moral agents" of the community.
"By saying it's okay to study this type of thing, aren't you approving the book's content," McCall said, "not only the things that are acceptable, but the things that are not?"
Many parents and students voiced their support for the book, stating that too much emphasis has been placed on the passages that have come under fire.
Mary Dudkowski agreed that parents should be concerned about the welfare of their children, but added she found nothing perverted or offensive about the book.
"It is my place to decide what my child can and cannot read," Dudkowski said. "I am appalled that anyone can contradict my judgement and the judgement of other parents who granted permis- sion for our children to read this book. To all opposed, you have successfully brought unnecessary attention to this book and as a result, more than ever, students are interested in reading Looking for Alaska."
Charlene Stanton pointed out that other novels read in district classes contain passages of lust, incest and murder.
For example, in Antigone, the son kills his father, marries his mother and they have two children. Murder is a major subject in Shakespeare's works, and in classics such as Of Mice and Men and The Telltale Heart.
As for the language, Stanton said it "is no different than what you would hear at a football game on a Friday night at Depew."
Gabrielle Miller, whose vocal protest sparked the controversy, used her allotted time to clarify her position, which she said was muddied by the public.
"I was never asking for this book to be burned or banned from the earth as some people have said," Miller stated. "I am not attempting to be a parent to any other child. I pay school taxes, which allows me, as a stakeholder, to express my opinion ... it is my right as a person that I can bring up a concern or a question that I have of anything that goes on in this school district to the board."
Depew High School students Steve Bukowski, Terry Balsavage, Colleen McKenna and Mike Robertson spoke in favor of the novel and suggested that conclusions about its content should not be made based on a few pages and words.
According to the district, there are 160 students who attend English 11 classes.
Statistics provided by the district indicate that as of February 28 Depew received 137 responses from parents who support their child reading the novel, and three who did not want their child to read the book. Twenty parents did not reply.
Board Trustee Diane Benczkowski, who at earlier meetings appeared to support residents opposing the book, did not attend Tuesday's meeting.
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