An odd and controversial book that our daughter has to read for 11th grade English...

[ancianita]

74. Why not write a letter of complaint to the principal, school board and PTSA.The National Council of

Teachers of English (the official national organization for English and Language Arts teachers) has clear guidelines for helping parents "opt out" of readings they believe are detrimental to their child's development.

You should write this letter because, first, you have the legal right in all states to determine the content of your child's learning; and second, the teacher has the professional responsibility to give you other choices that develop your child's reading, writing and thinking ability without the undesired content of his/her choice.

This was a very bad decision by this teacher, an unprofessional decision, and s/he should have to be 'called on the carpet' before his/her superiors and the public. S/he should never teach this text again.

You should help other parents avoid this problem by expecting the English Dept.and PTSA to jointly draw up with an approved list of grade level readings that parents, generally, find intellectually relevant to college prep curricula.

I've had 35 years in the high school classroom; I've also held a publicly elected position in my Local School Council, a governing body for my high school; so I'm sure about your legal and parental rights regarding your child's curriculum.