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Schools restrict book on penguin with two dads
A children's book about penguins was pulled recently from general circulation at Loudoun County elementary Schools.
The award-winning book, "And Tango Makes Three" tells the true story of two male Chinstrap Penguins in New York's Central Park Zoo who raised an egg together.
A parent at Sugarland Elementary in Sterling raised concerns about the book within the last few months, said Wayde Byard, public information officer for Loudoun County Public Schools.
The parent filed a complaint with the principal, who reviewed the book and deemed it to be appropriate for children.
The parent then appealed that decision, and a district-level committee made up of a parent, a teacher, a school librarian and administrators reviewed the book. They ruled it was acceptable for general circulation.
Superintendent Edgar Hatrick III had final say, though, and decided to override that decision.
"Every child might not be ready for that," Byard said. "They might not be mature enough to deal with that subject matter."
The book remains on shelves at middle and high schools in the county, but it has now been removed from general circulation at the 11 elementary schools that carry it.
In those libraries, parents and teachers can request the book to read with students.
David Weintraub, president of Equality Loudoun, a local gay and lesbian rights group, said the parent who made the complaint about the book has not been prevented from expressing his or her beliefs about family. Therefore, he said, why should this person prevent a book from being accessible to others who might have a different idea about family?
"Loudoun County Public Schools serve children from all kinds of families, including families with two moms or two dads," he said in a written statement. "The Administration and School Board need to remember that when confronted with this sort of book challenge. Dr. Hatrick needs to explain why he thought this book was inappropriate for circulation."
Weintraub posted a blog about the subject on his Web site, www.equalityloudoun.org.
"And Tango Makes Three," written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson was released in 2005. In 2006 it was named an American Library Association Notable Children's Book.
It was also one of the most challenged books of 2006, according to the ALA.
Byard said there is no way to know for sure how long it has been on school shelves in Loudoun, but said it could have been "awhile."
In the book, male penguins Roy and Silo team up to care for another pair's egg. As a family, they hatch and raise a chick named Tango.
Dr. Hatrick rides again!!! When several levels of oversight groups, suposedly approved by Hatrick, decide the book is ok, he steps in and over rules. DictatoR Hatrick and his bugdet need to be shown the door....
Posted by BTO
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We are entitled to an explanation from Dr. Hatrick, particularly in light of these written criteria for book selection published on the school district's website: e. To provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues in order that students may develop under guidance the practice of critical reading, viewing, listening, and thinking f. To provide materials that realistically represent our pluralistic society and reflect the contributions made by various groups and individuals to our American heritage g. To place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice to assure a comprehensive media collection of high quality appropriate for the students who use it
Posted by David
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How did one bumpkin of a parent force his/her ignorant ideas on an entire school system? Hmmmm, the answer is one brain dead administrator who is clearly in a job beyond his capabilities. Hatrick you are an embarassment and need to go.
Posted by oneredpony
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I was furious when I read this article. I am so sick and tired of narrow minded people who seem to feel that their holier than thou attitude should extend to the rest of us and our children. Dr. Hatrick is so completely wrong on this one - I would love to hear his justification. The amount of time and energy that is spent in LCPS with equity training and trying to teach our children to embrace diversity and differences is a sham when he turns around and does this. This was a true story about friggin penguins! And people are going to turn this around and make it about "gay penguins"? Are you serious? How about the old adage of "it takes a village....?" How about the example of working together for a single goal? Isn't this what we want from our children - kindness, compassion and an attitude where they don't always come first? I worked for the school system for many years but I have left - mostly because I feel as if the ADMIN of LCPS is out of touch and way too worried about the politically right answer. This just proves it.
Posted by ofr2hlp
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Oh CALM DOWN people. The book is still available to any parent or teacher upon request. Let the individual decide what he or she wants for his/her young child.
Posted by jsinsterling
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This was so stupid the article has been Farked, so now we have international attention given to this issue with some religious right nutcase able to take a really good book off the shelves of our schools. The parents last name didn't happen to be Black did it?
See fark.com
Posted by datdamwuf
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What people object to, js, is an individual making that decision for every child.
There is no way for a parent or child to know that the book is there, and a teacher will be afraid to use it. It might as well not be there at all.
Once we allow a parent to have a book removed because it contains an idea they disagree with, where's the stopping point?
If your child reads something you disagree with, talk to your child. Tell them what you believe and why you disagree with it. That's what the rest of us do.
Posted by David
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Dear Loudoun County Residents. When will you accept that Hatrick does what Hatrick wants to do when he wants to do it! He is accountable to no one. He has brought you budgets that are driving average tax payers out of the county. His staff is as arrogant as he is. They believe they are the the most important thing in the entire county. Overpaid and underworked but they have the highest salaries of county employees. When is the last time we saw a honorable accounting of all expenses. Forget what they are asking for, let's see the line by line spending for the last five years. Do not accept "We need it to be the best." Best at what? Intolerance for race differences, sex differneces, abilitiy to read and accept that all things are not white, conservative, male and republican? Worst yet, the board of supervisors, the school board and county residents let him get away with it! What does that say about us?
Posted by DandeWithTheWolf
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"Forget what they are asking for, let's see the line by line spending for the last five years"
THE most important sentence in the last offering.
We need enough people to call for THAT ONE THING, and it can be made to happen, whether Hatrick wants it or not.
Ask your county officials and your General Assebly representatives for
LINE BY LINE SPENDING for the school district and administration.
Pennsylvania already has EVERY CHECK written by certain School Districts online...for public inspection.
If they had a whole county srutenizing every expense, this would stop.
Posted by 10feettallandBulletproof
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The process for challenging books is flawed, and needs to be fixed. Under no circumstances should a single individual be empowered to overrule a review committee made up of professionals and community members. The community won't stand for it. This was a huge blunder.
Posted by David
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