Back in January, when I wrote about the book banning issue in my district, I was very anxious about what the outcome would be. Frankly, I was scared to death that this book, Grendel, would be banned and thus open the door to more book banning in our schools. I am pleased to report, however, that Grendel will not be banned in our district. 

Defending this book was quite a process, actually. I, along with two other teachers, had to put together a lengthy report which included evidence of Grendel's literary value, lesson plans, and even support letters from parents and students. We then were called in front of a committee of community members and educators and were required to present our defense of Grendel. It was a very intense ordeal where we were questioned by each member on everything from the maturity level of the students who read Grendel to whether we thought the same goals could be accomplished with a less controversial book. We then left copies of the report with the committee and waited. It took over two weeks for the committee to make a decision and in a formal report give us their verdict. In the end, Grendel was found innocent on all charges. The decision then needed to go before the superintendent who also voted yes on keeping the book.

So, for now Grendel is still part of our 9th grade honors curriculum. The family who challenged the book has one more chance to bring it to the commissioner of education, but we are hoping they will take this decision as a sign that our district does not believe in book banning, nor does it appreciate a small fraction of the community trying to push its values on everyone else. I am so adamantly against book banning because it is such an ugly label to have associated with a school system. The term book banning makes one think of Nazi Germany or other closed minded totalitarian governments that control the minds of their people.  Also, as I said earlier, banning books just opens the door for more book banning.  If we ban modern classics like Grendel, who's to say that the saucy Miller's Tale of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales won't be next? 

This experience has been a great opportunity for all of us to learn a lesson about appreciating the freedoms we do have to teach certain book. As a result I plan to approach our district's librarians in recognizing the American Library Association's Banned Books Week in September of this year. This is a week long event in which school, local libraries, and teachers discuss the issues associated with book banning and the controversial books and authors that are often banned. I had heard of this before, but it wasn't until the issue was in my own backyard that I realized how important it is to address it in my own community. So, I urge all of you teachers out there to get involved with Banned Book Week this year. I believe that a major reason books still get banned today is because people misinterpret them. If we can get communities talking and sharing ideas about these books, it would disempower the myth that they are somehow dangerous, thus disempowering the book banners' arguments for banning them.

Thanks to all who posted supportive comments regarding this issue.  Justice has prevailed!