7/29/2019 Letter in Defense of "Alice" Books in Missouri

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February 15, 2013

John Maddux, President

Dallas County R-I School Board309 W. Commercial StreetBuffalo, MO 65622

Dear Mr. Maddux,

As organizations concerned with defending the freedom to read, we are writing in

response to recent efforts to remove Phyllis Reynolds Naylors classicAlice series fromthe Buffalo Prairie Middle School library. We understand that these books have comeunder challenge recently because of objections to their content. This is not a permissible

ground for removal of a book from the school library, as we discuss in more detail below.

We also have significant concerns about the procedure employed by the district inhandling the challenge.

It is our understanding that, per the Dallas County R-I School District policy, the books

are currently being evaluated by a reconsideration committee, and that the board mayconsider the challenge at a meeting on February 18, 2013, even though the issue is not onthe agenda. We are concerned at this apparent lack of openness and transparency, the

failure to notify interested members of the community of the boards deliberations, as wellas the potential for conflicts of interest if those involved in the challenge, or members of

their family, are also involved in the decision to retain or remove the books.

The challenge is particularly troubling in that it seeks to remove the books from the schoollibrary. No child is required to read these books. Parents who object to them can enforcetheir own rules and standards about what their own children can read. They cannot,

however, impose their view on others by denying the option to other students whose

parents do not object to the books.

Nor should members of the school board or any school official seek to restrict student

access to materials because of their personal, subjective objections to the contents of the

books. We urge you to follow your own policy, specifically to [p]lace principle abovepersonal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials of the highestquality in order to assure a comprehensive collection appropriate for the users of the

library. (District Policy IIAC-R). The policy, in any event, merely reflects the boardsobligation under the constitutional.

School officials are bound by constitutional considerations, including a duty not to

suppress unpopular or controversial ideas and language. The Supreme Court has cautioned

7/29/2019 Letter in Defense of "Alice" Books in Missouri

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that, "[l]ocal school boards may not remove books from library shelves simply because

they dislike the ideas contained in those books and seek by their removal to prescribewhat shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion."

Board of Education v. Pico, 457 U.S. 853, 872 (1982)(plurality opinion). Thisconstitutional duty applies with particular force in the school library, which, unlike theclassroom, has "a special role...as a place where students may freely and voluntarily

explore diverse topics." Campbell v. St. Tammany Parish School Board, 64 F. 3d 184, 190(5th Cir. 1995).

The Alice series is a highly regarded chronicle of the life of a young girl, from early

childhood through high school that has been read by generations of students, who attest tothe books literary value and their engaging, and often moving, stories. Literature like thishelps prepare students for the future by providing opportunities to explore life through the

eyes of another, including the difficult issues they, or someone they know, will surelyencounter in life. There is simply no educationally-sound justification for depriving thestudents of your district of the opportunity to explore these books, which have inspired somany young readers. Their removal would set a dangerous precedent: if books are

removed simply because they contain material someone considers offensive orobjectionable, the library would be stripped of a great deal of valuable literature.

Individual freedom, democracy, and a good education all depend upon protecting the right

to read, inquire, question and think for ourselves.

If we can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Joan Bertin

Executive Director

National Coalition Against Censorship

Charles Brownstein

Executive Director

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Judith Platt

Director, Free Expression Advocacy

Association of American Publishers

Chris Finan

President

American Booksellers Foundation for Free

Expression

Kent Williamson

Executive Director

National Council of Teachers of English