Published Tuesday, April 20, 1999 After more than two hours of discussion Monday night with about 50 parents, teachers and students, the school board voted unanimously to uphold the original policy and keep the book in the curriculum.
"I'm disappointed when people in authority have a chance to make a decision to do something good for our children, but for the sake of literature, etc., they choose not to ruffle any feathers," said parent Philip Ames, who had appealed to the board to remove the book.
"This was no easy decision," said board President the Rev. Donald P. Wilson. "We try to recognize that there is disturbing language, but we affirm the students' right to read or not to read the assignment, knowing that another book would be provided that was acceptable."
After a prayer to open the meeting, Ames explained why he objected to the novel. "My daughter brought this book home, and after looking through it, I realized that it was not appropriate for being in a classroom," he said.
He cited 173 instances of profanity in the 105-page book.
"It's like trash in, trash out," Ames said, explaining his concerns about the effect the book would have on students.
His daughter, and two other girls, chose to read "The Red Badge of Courage" by Stephen Crane as an alternate assignment in Thomas Munnell's American literature class. Munnell responded to Ames' concerns by citing Steinbeck's numerous writing awards, including the Pulitzer prize for "The Grapes of Wrath," the Nobel prize for lifetime achievements and the Drama Critic's Circle Award in 1938 for "Of Mice and Men" in play form.
"He wrote about social injustices of those times, which makes it a relevant text for the American literature class," said Munnell, who has taught in the district for 23 years.
The class curriculum also includes such classics as "The Scarlet Letter," "Ethan Frome," "The Crucible," "Our Town" and "The Glass Menagerie."
Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" and Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," along with "Of Mice and Men," were on a list of challenged books that Ames gave to board members.
"I can't understand that because it's called good literature, it supersedes morals," said Ames.
He said kids would be interested in the book because of the profanity; words normally not allowed in school according to the student handbook.
"If you used that same profanity in the school halls that is in that book, a student would be in trouble," Ames said.
He also objected to the quality of education his daughter and the other two students received because they left the classroom at times and they had less time with the teacher who concentrated on the larger group.
Two-thirds of the room applauded Ames several times.
But other students from Munnell's class defended the novel.
"If you don't teach your kids about drugs and the real world, what happens?" asked sophomore Ryan Gatewood. "The world isn't a sugar-coated apple dumpling. Maybe we shouldn't learn about the Holocaust and the Civil War either. If you don't learn about things that are bad, you'll have a real wake-up call when you get into the world."
"It's a parent's right if they don't want their kid to read the book, but it's not their right to deny others," added sophomore Dane Gearhart.
Half a dozen residents stressed the importance of morals and family values, urging the board to make a stand.
"You're teaching my kids things I don't teach them at home," said resident John Alexander.
Throughout the meeting, school board members kept reiterating that any student unhappy with the text could choose an alternate.
