Parent Concerned about School Reading, Encourages Parents to Stay Active
By: Monica Yantosh
Updated: September 27, 2012
The book in question is "The Glass Castle," a memoir by Jeanette Walls. The book contains material that Toni Vaughn is not comfortable with her sophomore daughter readings.
Vaughn says the books contains profanity and sexual situations. She herself has chosen to not read the book, but has read reviews online and heard from friends who have read the book. "I have been criticized for that, that I have to read it first, but its the same premise, we use reviews before we go see a movie," said Vaughn.
After reaching out to LISD, Vaughn's daughter was given an alternate assignment, something Dr. Lisa Leach with LISD says the district is happy to do.
"It's infrequent, but it's important there is a process when we have a concern, and I encourage any parent who does have a concern to communitcate with his or her child's principal," said Dr. Leach. She is the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum.
Vaughn is happy with how the district handled her request, but is frustrated parents don't have a larger role in which books are chosen for classes.
"The committee that approves these lists, are all inclusive to employees, there are no community representatives, no parent representatives, no student representatives," said Vaughn. This is something she would love to open a discussion to change.
Dr. Leach says educators play multiple roles. "The teachers and librarians are also themselves parents and generally parents in this school system, and so they're looking at it from a parents perspective as well," said Dr. Leach.
Vaughn hopes her concerns encourage other parents, especially those with older students, to stay active. "It's easy for us as our children move into the last few years of their education to give them that freedom, and we want to do that, but look into it, if it's alarming to you, have those conversations with your child, does this make you feel uncomfortable?" said Vaughn.
"Take those extra minutes, to read those syllabus, read those lists, really take a minute to see what's being handed to your children," said Vaughn.
LISD also says they will gladly take any concerns from parents at any time, and the LISD website includes information on how best to contact the district.
Vaughn says the books contains profanity and sexual situations. She herself has chosen to not read the book, but has read reviews online and heard from friends who have read the book. "I have been criticized for that, that I have to read it first, but its the same premise, we use reviews before we go see a movie," said Vaughn.
After reaching out to LISD, Vaughn's daughter was given an alternate assignment, something Dr. Lisa Leach with LISD says the district is happy to do.
"It's infrequent, but it's important there is a process when we have a concern, and I encourage any parent who does have a concern to communitcate with his or her child's principal," said Dr. Leach. She is the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum.
Vaughn is happy with how the district handled her request, but is frustrated parents don't have a larger role in which books are chosen for classes.
"The committee that approves these lists, are all inclusive to employees, there are no community representatives, no parent representatives, no student representatives," said Vaughn. This is something she would love to open a discussion to change.
Dr. Leach says educators play multiple roles. "The teachers and librarians are also themselves parents and generally parents in this school system, and so they're looking at it from a parents perspective as well," said Dr. Leach.
Vaughn hopes her concerns encourage other parents, especially those with older students, to stay active. "It's easy for us as our children move into the last few years of their education to give them that freedom, and we want to do that, but look into it, if it's alarming to you, have those conversations with your child, does this make you feel uncomfortable?" said Vaughn.
"Take those extra minutes, to read those syllabus, read those lists, really take a minute to see what's being handed to your children," said Vaughn.
LISD also says they will gladly take any concerns from parents at any time, and the LISD website includes information on how best to contact the district.
