Dad Arrested for Speaking Out Against Required Reading

amandaf6383

In the article, it explains that a father was arrested after speaking out against explicit sexual content in required reading at his daughter's school. What do you think? Was the arrest deserved? How would you feel if that was your child?

Discuss.

http://www.thedailysheeple.com/dad-arrested-for-speaking-up-about-pornographic-content-in-required-reading-for-9th-graders_052014

amandaf6383

The article is definitely biased but it's an interesting story.

nfp147

First, the headline is misleading. He wasn't arrested for speaking out against required reading, he was arrested for disrupting the meeting.  It's just a pet peeve I have with media; I see it every day.

Anywho, I don't think I would have a problem with my 14 year old reading that passage.  I mean, if you can show me a 14 year old who hasn't already read or watched (on TV or in a movie) something similar, I'd be surprised.

amandaf6383

I don't really have a problem with it, either. I do think that the school should've sent out notices but they also freely admitted that and apologized for their lack of consideration.

FutureMrsWright2012

I think the arrest was a little excessive (even if it was for disrupting the meeting and not for "speaking out" about the book, like NFP mentioned). I also would probably take issue with that being assigned reading for my (hypothetical) 9th grader, although I think the article gets a little silly with their conspiracy theories... A letter giving parent a heads up and opportunity to " opt out" if they don't feel it's appropriate for their child should have occurred. It didn't, and I'm sure the school won't be making that mistake again.

Apollo11235

I think I would want to be informed so that I could talk to my child about it, but I wouldn't want to opt out over that one page. I know I read some similar passages on the internet when I was a freshman or sophomore, and my parents weren't lucky enough to be informed so we could discuss it.

And the guy not only broke the rules and mouthed off to a cop trying to enforce them, but then he literally asked to be arrested. Way to go, dude.

LuckyAngel07

Holy hell! I never read anything that steamy for any school assignment, and I was in honors courses in high school. I would not be comfortable with my kid reading that. 

The guy should have been ejected from the meeting, but I think an arrest is getting a little ridiculous about things.

brij2006

Normally I would say whatever to the content and just let it be, but that was pretty raunchy for a freshman in High School.  There are ratings on movies for a reason, and you wouldn't see that in a PG-13 movie.  Which is what that age should be watching. However, if there was notice given that there was some explicit detail in this book, then I would've felt more comfortable (even if I didn't read it specifically).  It's the same as how the parents are notified beforehand about sex education or a detailed video in Health class.  This should have been treated the same.

Although this dad's reaction was a bit much.  Bringing it up to the school board was definitely an appropriate action, but he should have been more respectful with his approach and attack.

KonaCoffeeBean

The arrest seems a little silly to be, but not the removal from the room; he was not allowing the meeting to proceed. As for the book, I couldn't care less about my hypothetical fourteen year old reading one page of book with graphic sexual content, but that's me and not every parent. The school should have sent out a notice, and it took ownership of that mistake.

islandmonkey8

I think this is easily just a case of the school messing up. They've had this on the reading curriculum since 2007 and it hasn't been an issue before because they sent out notices. Clearly, just a notice probably would have prevented this from becoming an issue. 

I'm not sure where I stand on my 13-14 year old reading this, I think it would depend on how mature my 9th grader is.

As for him being arrested, well, don't mouth off to a cop.

GoodWolf

islandmonkey8 said:

I think this is easily just a case of the school messing up. They've had this on the reading curriculum since 2007 and it hasn't been an issue before because they sent out notices. Clearly, just a notice probably would have prevented this from becoming an issue. 

I'm not sure where I stand on my 13-14 year old reading this, I think it would depend on how mature my 9th grader is.

As for him being arrested, well, don't mouth off to a cop.

^Pretty much my thoughts. 

I wouldn't be overly excited about my 9th grader reading this but a notice from the school would have covered their bases, which it sounds like they forgot this year for whatever reason.

RockABye

Honestly? I probably would've been arrested to. I would be LIVID if I was not given prior notice to my child reading that and was not given the option to opt out. I don't care if the kids hear worse at school or with their friends, I believe it's inappropriate for the school to require that reading and not allow parents to opt out.

Sure, the guy should've handled it differently, but as one who gets very passionate when I'm upset about something, I could easily see myself mouthing off while trying to be heard, unfortunately.

cloudymeatballs

I totally agree here with RAB... I would have been escorted out as well. Yes he was being a little disruptive, but he has a right to say how he feels about this, being his child having to read this without his knowing. That is pretty steamy for a 9th grader to be reading. Too much and I would feel uncomfortable about my 14 year old reading that. The school really should have sent home a consent form. I think it is ridiculous how people are unable to speak up anymore these days... If people don't want to hear it then you are in the wrong. The man was upset. I would have gotten a little loud probably in that situation as well... Arrest is way much on this one...

MrsFreeman2010

I would be irate if my 9th grader was required to read that! The school way screwed up by not sending out a notice. I read that book in college and I remember blushing during that section. Since when has it become acceptable for teens to read and talk about sexually explicit stuff? They are teenagers, still children who need guidance. Not the excuse "well teens will be teens" or "they have heard about it already"

VadersValkyrie

My bigger concern is that Jodi Picoult is on a required reading list.  We (teachers) are supposed to be challenging students.  Picoult books are written at the fifth to sixth grade reading level.  If students in high school want to read Picoult recreation-ally (and many do), that's fine.  And then the parents can censor the books as they see fit.  But I don't need to teach Picoult.

poppies717

This story is fairly local to me, and I agree with PP: there's no way this passes for text complexity for 9th grade. Those who selected it should be ashamed, not because of the sexual content but because of the laughable choice of literature.