Book banning MO superintendent resigns.

[proud2BlibKansan]

REPUBLIC, Mo. • The superintendent of the Republic School District has resigned, three months after the school board voted against extending his contract.

The Springfield News Leader reported Wednesday that the Republic school board's earlier 4-3 decision against extending Vern Minor's contract would have allowed him to continue in the district until mid-2013. His resignation means he leave the district June 29.

The resignation was no surprise to board president Ken Knierim, who acknowledged that Minor has been a lightning rod for controversy since joining the district nearly four years ago. As the top official in the 5,000-student district, Minor received national attention last year over a decision to remove two award winning books from classrooms and library shelves.

The books, including Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse Five," were later returned to the library.


Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/book-banning-superintendent-resigns-from-southwest-missouri-district/article_e00b9a24-7363-11e1-bfef-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1qioErQ8G

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Same district where the girl was raped and forced to apologize to her attacker

And a parent who homeschools was the one who pushed this book banning.

[obamanut2012]

2. Are you serious?!

What say does that parent get to have in what the public school library carries?

I really feel sorry for school librarians. I mean that.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Yep

http://obsessivemovienerd.wordpress.com/2011/08/06/kurt-vonnegut-vs-wesley-scroggins/

He was interviewed on local TV here. I also heard he also either ran for school board or was actually on it at one time. He's a professor at a nearby PUBLICLY FUNDED university. Sounds like a loon.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. It is appropriate at some level for parent to have inputs...but that does not mean veto power

In my view it would be expanding what is carried, not limiting it, but if something truly inappropriate found its way into the stacks, I could see that too. Seems to me what it was would and should be the driver.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. If a parent doesn't approve of a book,

the parent has every right to not have THEIR OWN CHILD read that book. I have no problem with that. But that ONE parent has no right to dictate what MY children read.

I raised two boys. I didn't want them to play with guns. So I didn't buy them guns. But I never once went down to the local toy store and demanded they stop selling guns because I didn't want MY children to play with them. What OTHER parents allow their children to do is absolutely none of my business.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

16. Note I said input, not control

If a parent thinks something is inappropriate in a school setting, whatever it may be, they should have a method to raise it to an appropriate level. That is reasonable. If upon review it is upheld, they need to deal with it.

I have seen some very stupid parents and equally stupid credentialed staff, both on quests of their own making.

[MissMarple]

14. Just because you home school doesn't mean you can't complain to the public schools.

A person without any school age children can, as well. How the school board or district administration chooses to respond to them varies from district to district and how they view the issue. The school district is, however, bound by law and must face subsequent public reaction.

[Kali]

3. know wut I mean, Vern?

sounds like a very good riddance

[Son of Gob]

9. ...

[PCIntern]

6. It's sort-of funny...

When I saw your subject line, I thought that a book, which was banning the MO supt., had resigned. That sounded weird, so I said to myself I said "You're not reading this correctly. But why?" And then I realized that there were two reasons: first, I'm a dope, and second, I didn't place the hyphen in my brain to connect the two words.

It's like when I look at the machine and say to myself "Co-In-Star" rather than "Coin-star" for the change counters in the supermarket. I believe that's called bad "mental set".

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. LOL I do the same thing with those coin machines!

And hey, I teach reading so I definitely get the mental tricks your brain plays.

[Starry Messenger]

8. Good.

Geeze louise.

[longship]

10. This the country they want

Book banning (and burnings).
No gynecological healthcare for women.
No healthcare at all for those without financial means.
Jobs only for those who are deserving (meaning those not on unemployment)
Oh, and no more unemployment either.
No rights for non-white males.

...and so it goes
(quote Kurt Vonnegut Jr.)

[Iris]

12. What was the 2nd book?

They just mention Slaugtherhouse Five but not the other one.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Here:

REPUBLIC, Mo. — Two books have been banned from the libraries and curriculum at Republic High School after a parent complained that their content taught principles contrary to the Bible.

The district's school board voted Monday to remove Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse-Five" and Sarah Ockler's "Twenty Boy Summer," but to allow Laurie Halse Anderson's "Speak" to be used in the district's high school, The Springfield News-Leader reported.

http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-201_162-20085453.html

[Iris]

15. Thanks!

[barbtries]

18. thank you.

contrary to the bible. wow, imagine that. public school.

[barbtries]

17. good news

why did he want to ban the books anyway?

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. A parent complained

It was a college professor whose kids are homeschooled. He raised enough of a stick that the superintendent backed the banning.

[Ishoutandscream2]

19. When the story of this district banning Vonnegut

was posted here at DU, I went to the local library and checked out "Slaughterhouse 5". I have now read about 6 of his works, and I've become a big fan. So, to this fascist jerk, I would like to thank you for turning me on to a great American author. I probably would never had considered his works, but thanks to your book banning, I am a big fan of Vonnegut.

[dems_rightnow]

20. There's nothing like a good banning

To spur attention and draw sales sales to your book. I expect it's the best thing to ever happen to the author of "Twenty Boy Summer".