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SOLON -- Middle school teacher Sue Protheroe has come under
fire by a group of parents demanding she cease using stories
in her classroom that feature gay, lesbian or transgender
characters.
As part of her fairy tale curriculum, students in
Protheroe's eighth-grade language arts class read "Am I Blue?"
a short, fictional story by Bruce Coville that explores a
boy's confusion with his sexual identity and the gay fairy
godfather who helps him overcome homophobia at school.
Another short story, "In the time I Get," by Chris
Crutcher, is about a man who befriends a young man dying of
AIDS. Both books are intended to promote tolerance, Protheroe
said.
Seven people with children in the district have filed
complaints; one of whom has a child in Protheroe's class.
Criticisms for "Am I Blue" are that it has no instructional
value for her class, it is about controversial areas that
should be discussed within families, and it is not appropriate
for middle school-aged students. In addition, parents argue
the story promotes intolerance through use of slanderous and
racist terms, perpetuates gay stereotypes and promotes
homosexuality.
Other parents also have pointed out that while they have
little control over what messages their children are exposed
to in the mainstream media, they should have a say in the
classroom.
On Tuesday, Protheroe and those in opposition to the story
will speak before a nine-member material reconsideration
committee. The meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Solon High
School media center.
"My most significant concern is why, for material that is
controversial, was there no notification sent out to the
parents," said Doug Singkofer, a Solon parent who found out
about the material while at a flag football game where he
overheard his daughter discussing it with a friend.
"The material directly contradicts and undermines the
beliefs and teachings of our faith," Singkofer and his wife,
Lynne, wrote in a reconsideration form. "It introduces a very
adult and mature subject to an inappropriately young audience.
It is likely to introduce sexual confusion to a group of
children who are just becoming sexually aware."
The material has been used on and off for the last five
years in Protheroe's class as an example of a modern fairy
tale. Students have the option of being excused from reading
the stories but never before has a group asked that it be
removed entirely, Protheroe said. She said she is not
promoting the gay, lesbian or transgender lifestyle but trying
to teach respect and tolerance for all people.
Protheroe said the material, graded for those 12 and older,
is age appropriate because she sees intolerance as a problem
for gays, lesbians and transgendered youth. According to a
national school climate survey by the Gay, Lesbian and
Straight Education Network, about 84 percent of youth report
being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation,
she said.
"I'm trying to teach tolerance and respect for all people,"
Protheroe said of her goal with the roughly 95 students taking
her class. "And I can't do that and ignore a whole group of
people. Furthermore, I wouldn't present a curriculum that
ignored women or African-Americans or Hispanics. How can I
possible teach my students to embrace diversity if I
systematically exclude an entire group from my
literature?"
The issue is so sensitive that some parents fear appearing
bigoted or alienating friends and family. Meanwhile, Protheroe
said the issue has made her life very stressful, but she has
received a lot of support from fellow teachers and friends,
her husband, Jerry, and her two daughters.
Superintendent Brad Manard said in the six years he has
been with Solon, and the 17 years he has been a schools
superintendent, he has never seen material formally
challenged. The committee will have three options to later be
decided by the School Board: to remove the challenged material
from the school curriculum, to take no removal action, or to
agree on a limitation on the educational use of the
material.
"We have a policy to review challenged materials," Manard
said, "so we're allowing that policy to work itself through
and have a committee we believe will represent the community
well and make the appropriate decision."
Reach Deidre Bello at 339-7360 or
at dbello@press-citizen.com.
