NEW EXCELLENCE Revealed

Who is New Excellence?
What is your agenda?
Shouldn't other parents get to decide what their students should read?
Aren't you taking these passages out of context?
Why do you say teachers don't want to notify parents or get their permission?
Why did you say author Robin Cody intended the book for adults?
Who does your web site?
Where does the content for your web site come from?
Are you connected to right wing religious organizations?
What's next to go, Shakespeare, Steinbeck, Romeo and Julliet, Catcher in the Rye, The Odysey, The Bible?
Why is there interest from churches?
Why has there been media coverage on this issue?
What next?

WHO IS NEW EXCELLENCE?

A group of parents who have students in the North Clackamas School District who are concerned about two books containing explicit sexual language and other objectionable references.

WHAT IS YOUR AGENDA?

We believe that the books Ricochet River and Rats Saw God are not appropriate reading material in classrooms. We believe the school district needs to establish standards to review current materials to remove those which fall below the standards, and to evaluate proposed materials before they enter the classroom. And as a last alternative, we believe objectionable reading material should require an “Opt-In” parental consent form which thoroughly informs the parent of the objectionable language and requires a parental signature in order for the student to participate (consensual “Opt-In” rather than permission slip “Opt-Out”). Alternative reading material and lesson plan must be provided to students who “Opt-Out” providing an equally enriching educational opportunity.

SHOULDN'T OTHER PARENTS GET TO DECIDE WHAT THEIR STUDENTS SHOULD READ?

Absolutely. Parents ultimately have the right to determine whether their student should participate. And while we may disagree on the appropriateness of the explicit sexual content, we can all agree that parents should be made fully aware of the content (not just notified) AND their consent should be required in order for their student to participate. That's how it is handled in sex education classes. That's how it should be handled when books contain explicit sexual references.

AREN’T YOU TAKING THESE PASSAGES OUT OF CONTEXT?

Actually, we are putting them into the context of a public school with students reading books which contain objectionable language without notification of or consent from parents. When we read the books and saw the passages, we were shocked. Other parents we shared the books with were shocked. Even school board members were shocked when we read the passages at a school board meeting. It wasn’t the language itself that shocked us, it was the context – this language is contained in books being taught in our classrooms – without parental notification or consent.

WHY DO YOU SAY TEACHERS DON'T WANT TO NOTIFY PARENTS OR GET THEIR PERMISSION?

Just take a look at the track record.

• Two years ago, we brought this book to the attention of the English department at Clackamas High School. We met with the administration regarding the language in the book. We were given assurances that the book would only be used with parental permission. Yet permission slips were not sent to parents.
• Teachers who use the book at Clackamas High School testified that they knew the book was controversial and that some parents might object. That's why they tell students not to select it if their parents might object. However, the teachers made no attempt to notify the parent.
• Ricochet River was not included on a list of reading materials sent home with students on a "Team Agreement" which required the signature of both the student AND the parent.
• Ricochet River was not displayed at the open house, although other books were.
• At the public hearing, teachers described parental consent as "de facto censorship" because they may be reluctant to use a novel that requires so much "administration". Since when is getting parental consent censorship? We have termed this "consent"-sorship - as it is a parent's right (not a teacher's right) to decide whether their student should read objectionable material, such as the sexually explicit passages found in Ricochet River.
• It is important to note that the school has no problem requiring parental consent or signatures regarding the parent student handbook, the Team Agreement (in the very class that Ricochet River is used), to attend field trips or retreats and a number of other activities. Why is it all of a suddent too hard to administer when it comes to parental consent for their students to read books containing sexually explicit language?

WHY DID YOU SAY AUTHOR ROBIN CODY INTENDED THE BOOK FOR ADULTS?

Here’s what the Oregonian said:
“- The man who wrote Ricochet River took the latest complaint in stride. "The book gets challenged all the time," Robin Cody said last week. Cody intended the book for adults, but it hit a nerve with teenagers and teachers because of its local setting and timeless themes. "It's temporarily out of print, but we're going to bring it back and make it more appropriate for high school kids," he said.”

Cody confirmed this at the public hearing when he said he wrote the book for his contemporaries (adults). He also appeared on a Newschannel 6 news interview and said the book was originally written for adults.

WHO DOES YOUR WEB SITE?

We do, using the personal site builder on our residential Comcast account, which explains the long web address. If you’d like us to design a web site for you, send an email.

WHERE DOES THE CONTENT FROM YOUR SITE COME FROM?

Most of it is from internet searches and accessing case law, federal codes and Oregon revised statutes. We’ve also contacted the State Attorney General’s Office and the State Board of Education. We referenced publications such as the North Clackamas School District Code of Conduct for Student Behavior, the Clackamas High School Parent Student Handbook and materials sent home from classrooms.

ARE YOU CONNECTED TO RIGHT WING RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS?

No. We do not belong to any such organization, nor is any such organization sponsoring, financially supporting, endorsing or influencing us in any way. We just believe that there should be a standard regarding what is appropriate reading material in our classrooms, and we believe both Ricochet River and Rats Saw God are not appropriate because of the explicit sex contained in the books.

WHAT’S NEXT TO GO, SHAKESPEARE, STEINBECK, ROMEO AND JULIET, CATCHER IN THE RYE, THE ODYSEY, THE BIBLE?

No. We're concerned about two books – Ricochet River and Rats Saw God and the specific explicit sexual language they contain. Both are recently published, so only time will tell whether they or their authors achieve the same status as these other book titles and authors. But if other selections introduced into the system contain passages that are as sexually explicit as what Ricochet River and Rats Saw God have, then, we would object to them as well.

WHY IS THERE INTEREST FROM CHURCHES?

We contacted local churches regarding this issue, knowing there were parents who would be concerned about the language we also object to. Churches are a good place to find families. We felt it was important to get the word out to as many people as possible and asked churches to include it in their church bulletins. Some did, some didn’t. One minister became quite upset that we would even question the teachers or the superintendent regarding this issue. We’re pretty sure our message wasn’t included in that church bulletin.

WHY HAS THERE BEEN MEDIA COVERAGE ON THIS ISSUE?

We contacted them. We sent out releases to all the TV stations, the Oregonian and the Clackamas Review. We appreciate the coverage that KATU-TV, KOIN-TV, The Clackams Review and the Oregonian provided – we think it is an important issue which deserves reporting. We appeared on local radio talk programs including Lars Larson (KXL – AM 750) and Georgene Rice (KPDQ – FM 93.7). We have also contacted other talk shows both local and national about this issue, and are willing to speak to all media about our views on this matter.

WHAT NEXT?

The District Review Committee is reviewing Rats Saw God, with a recommendation pending.
The School Board has retained "Ricochet River" with "notification" of parents, but has not defined what "notification" means.