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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1979-06-13, Page 7At Pad with a HAND-CRAFTED IN CANADA Since 1906 See our wide selection of Brigham pipes Et accessories YOUNG'S THE BRUSSELS POST, JUNE 13, 1979 — • Board tells citizens books approved BY JEFF SEDDON The Huron County board of education stood its ground Monday afternoon telling the Concerned Citizen's Group of Huron county English literature texts had been approved according to board policy and that was that. In a clash with about 15 members of the group, trustees defended board procedures used to approve, a list of 22 English books and told the parents no changes would be made to the list. The board's approval of the list of books was sandwiched between a brief presented by the citizen's group expressing its dissatisfaction of the board's handling of the issue and a 15 minute question period after the board meeting. The presentation of the brief went smoothly but the question period turned into an angry exchange between parents and trustees. The brief, presented by Burt Greidanus, told the board the parents were con- cerned with the morals and ethics in the school system. The parents felt little had been. about complaints made to the board and that the new board policy used to approve testbooks shifted responsibility. "We wish to express our complete dissatisfaction over the board's handling of this issue up until now and demand that the board change its stand and follow the guidelines as set down in the "Education Act," the group stated it its brief. The parents felt some of the 22 novels approved by the board contained "explicit language.", The group requested trustees "read these books before voting here today and to schedule a meeting with a delegation of Concerned Citizens to discuss the differences and come to a mutual understanding in the best interests of our schools". The brief was presented at the outset of the board session and board chairman John Elliott urged any trustees with anything to say to the concerned group say it. Elliott reminded the board that it would be voting on approval of the texts during the meeting and this would be the only opportunity trustees would have to discuss the issue with the parents prior to that vote. Trustees remained silent. No one asked Greidinaus to expand on the views of the concerned parents and no one made any attempt support or oppose the views of the parents. Despite its unified stand in support of its policy after the meeting some trustees were unhappy about the manner in which they were being asked to vote on the textbooks. When it came time to vote on the novels some trustees felt the board had not had enough time to check out the novels. Seaforth trustee John. Henderson told the board he thought approval of the texts was given in August. He said he understood the two month period between the submission of the list of novels by teachers and the approval of the board was to allow trustees to look the books over. "Don't we get a chance to look at them?" he asked. Elliott explained that according to the new board policy , approved two months ago, board approval was to be given at the June session.He said teachers had been asked to submit a list of texts to principals along with rationale explaining why the novels were chosen and what educational benefits they had. That list of novels was taken to a speCial day long session of the education committee which was open to the public and advertised. At that education committee approved novels and recommended to the board that its approval also be given. W Ingham trustee Bert Morin told the board trustees had had ample time to sit down with teachers and review the books but added that because trustees had not understood the policy the matter could be tabled until the board's August meeting. Goderich trustee Dorothy Wallace said she could support a motion to table the books if trustees would give her a guarantee they would read all the books. "If anyone thinks I'm going to, sit down and read 22 books between now and next month you can forget it," said separate school trustee Eugene Frayne,. "We've got to go on the recommendations, of the teachers that's why I made the motion to approve the books." The motion to table the decision was defeated and trustees approved the novels by a 13.3 margin. Clinton trustee Dorothy Williams told the board she had one more novel she wanted to check and had to vote against approval. She was joined by Gower and Henderson. Members of the concerned citizens groups waited until the end of the board session to ask trustees to justify their decision. Grace Austin told the board the some of the novels it had approved used the name of God in a disrespectful way aginst the beliefs of the community the board repre.sented. Eugene Frayne, trustess fox separate school supporters, launched a tirade against the book controversy after it became apparent the !matter was going to con- Itinue, Frayne said the board tried to be fair in its dealings for and against the novels adding he had "not changed his positon hardly one bit since the day I came here." He told the board he didn't approve of literature that was "abusive or lowered the dignity of man" adding "it's not my job to study every book and say this is what the people of Huron County should be reading". "When my car is broken I go to a garage, when I'm sick I go to a doctor, when my tooth aches I go to a dentist and when I want good food I go to a farmer," said Frayne. "And when I want my kids educated I go to someone that is trained to do that." He said he was doing his best as a trustee and was criticized for banning books and for not banning books.; He said he had been told he had no morals or ethics for not banning some novels. (Continued on Page 16) • Variety. 887-6224, Bruttolt. • *PM • .. . • 1.