BOOK BAN HASTY CLIFFORD OK; SO IS DISNEY.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer LAKE LOS ANGELES Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. - Wilsona School District trustees, who last month removed 23 books including the latest ``Harry Potter'' from a list recommended for a school library, plan to bring some of the axed books back for approval. Trustees indicated that these books, such as three bilingual bi·lin·gual adj. 1. a. Using or able to use two languages, especially with equal or nearly equal fluency. b. ``Clifford the Big Red Dog'' books and ``Disney's Christmas Storybook sto·ry·book n. A book containing a collection of stories, usually for children. adj. Occurring in or resembling the style or content of a storybook: storybook characters; a storybook romance. ,'' were not objectionable, but were nevertheless lumped in with the rejected books. Board member Marlene Olivares explained at Thursday's meeting that there was a three-day weekend before the Feb. 16 meeting, and there was not enough time to check out all the books. ``When it came time to say which were acceptable and which ones weren't, they picked a bloc of books that had Clifford and Disney, that they really had no problem with, but they were in the same group that they did have concerns about,'' trustee Maurice Kunkel said. When the board unanimously rejected the books at the February meeting, they directed Superintendent Ned McNabb to develop library book-selection guidelines guidelines, n.pl a set of standards, criteria, or specifications to be used or followed in the performance of certain tasks. . ``I really think the next time this comes up, the Clifford and Disney books will be approved, and guidelines will be laid down on some books that some had concerns about,'' Kunkel said. The board voted Feb. 16 to remove the 23 books from a list of 68 that had been recommended by a parent-teacher committee for the Vista San Gabriel San Gabriel (săn gā`brēəl), city (1990 pop. 37,120), Los Angeles co., SW Calif.; inc. 1913. Fabric, furniture, paper products, tools, and aircraft parts are manufactured. Elementary School elementary school: see school. library. The list had been forwarded for board approval. Trustees said one rejected book contained an unsavory hero who was a bad role model for children; another was about a warlock, which they said was inappropriate; and others were books with which they were unfamiliar and didn't know whether they promoted good character or conflicted with textbooks. McNabb said once the guidelines are approved, the Clifford and Disney books will be brought back for approval. McNabb said Olivares said the board should have first set aside the entire 68-book list, resolved their concerns, and then brought the matter up for board consideration. Olivares declined Friday to comment. At Thursday's meeting, board member Linda Poirier, who is a new trustee, said she did not realize the vote was being taken and would have voted against removing the books, McNabb said. The board rejection upset some parents and surprised school officials. Five people Thursday, including one student, spoke against the board's decision to remove the 23 books, which included ``Harry Potter A potter is someone who makes pottery. Potter may also refer to: People
n. One that is named after another. [From the phrase for the name's sake.] namesake Noun character was described in reviews as a boy-genius anti-hero anti-hero, principal character of a modern literary or dramatic work who lacks the attributes of the traditional protagonist or hero. The anti-hero's lack of courage, honesty, or grace, his weaknesses and confusion, often reflect modern man's ambivalence toward and criminal mastermind. ``Many parents and teachers have read these books. I trust the teachers at this school to make a good decision,'' parent Danielle Sweeney said. Kunkel said board members have received positive feedback from residents who said trustees did the right thing. ``But those people are the silent minority or majority that don't stand up because that other contingent has been vocal about their feelings,'' Kunkel said. Kunkel said the board wants books that ``build character by looking at the bright side and are anti-witchcraft and anti-criminality.'' Karen Maeshiro, (661) 267-5744 karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com |
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