Parents of first-grade girl angered by children's book about gay princes

Star Tribune ^ | March 18, 2004 | Associated Press

[wallcrawlr]

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- The parents of a first-grader are fuming over the book their daughter brought home from the school library: a children's story about a prince whose true love turns out to be another prince.

Michael Hartsell said he and his wife, Tonya, couldn't believe it when Prince Bertie, the leading character in ``King & King,'' waves off a bevy of eligible princes before falling for Prince Lee.

The book ends with the princes marrying and sharing a kiss.

``I was flabbergasted,'' Hartsell said. ``My child is not old enough to understand something like that, especially when it is not in our beliefs.''

The 32-page book by Linda De Haan and Stern Nijland was published in March 2002 by Tricycle Press, the children's division of Ten Speed Press of Berkeley, Calif. A follow-up, ``King & King & Family,'' was recently published.

The publisher's Web site lists the books as intended for readers age 6 and up.

Barbara Hawley, librarian and media coordinator at Freeman Elementary School, said the book has been on the library's shelves since early last year.

``What might be inappropriate for one family, in another family is a totally acceptable thing,'' said Elizabeth Miars, Freeman's principal.

Hawley said she couldn't comment on the book because she hadn't seen it. She declined to say whether she knowingly selected a book on gay marriage.

The Hartsells said they are keeping the book until they get assurances it won't be circulated. But Hawley said all county schools have a committee that reviews books after their appropriateness is questioned, and the Hartsells must make a written complaint and return the book for review.

The Hartsells said they intend to file such a complaint and are considering transferring their daughter.

[17th Miss Regt]

Or maybe insert some new ones?

I was thinking about inserting the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.

[bondjamesbond]

The Hartsells said they intend to file such a complaint and are considering transferring their daughter...

They have not already done this? It was a mistake to trust their precious child to the tender mercies of the Berkeley School Board in the first place. They should correct this error as soon as possilbe.

[bondjamesbond]

There are two Catholic elementary schools in Berkeley, CA.

School of the Madeleine

St. Joseph the Worker

These parents should quit whining and pick one!

[T.Smith]

The book was from Berkeley, the family is from North Carolina.

[bondjamesbond]

Ooops. They are not in Berkeley. Where did I get that idea? Oh well, I am sure the same is true of whatever community they are in.

[jtminton]

Thank God for the NEA and teacher's unions. /sarc

[agrarianlady]

Principal - Ms. Elizabeth Miars emiars@nhcs.k12.nc.us
Assistant Principal - Mr. Macy McRae mmcrae@nhcs.k12.nc.us
2601 Princess Place Drive
Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
Phone: (910)251-6011
Fax: (910)251-6013
Freeman Email Address: freeman@nhcs.k12.nc.us
Media Center Coordinator : Ms. Barbara Hawley
bhawley@nhcs.k12.nc.us


That comment about 'what might not be appropriate for one parent is fine for another' (blah blah blah) really gets me. It's a total cop-out.

So why not put in books on making bombs and methamphetamine? (Just an example) Hmmm? Surely there can be standards the majority of Wilmington would accept and not. Good grief.

I just bet you you won't find that many Bible stories at that school's library.

[Future Snake Eater]

...but at least they got the shirts right.

Ha! They are thimply fab-u-luth!

[Future Snake Eater]

LOL! That is classic...if not a little disturbing b/c you may be right in a few years...

[wbill]

I made it a point to read books that were 'banned' by my highschool. Uncut versions of CAtcher in the Rye, Brave New World, etc.

Didn't see what was so wrong with them. Expanded my horizons a great deal, too.

However, "Heather has 2 Mommies" has no place in 1st grade. How about a more apt book like "Daddy's Gay and Depressed" or "Uncle Jim caught syphillis at the bathhouse"? If you're going to talk about homosexuality, let's talk about all the pieces of it.....not just the 'happy' side of it.

Fred Reed wrote an excellent column on gay marriage awhile back. (www.fredoneverything.net) He stated that if 2 men can marry, why not a man and a sheep? Or a man and a blowup doll? Then we can have books like "Billy's Mommy lives in the barn" and "Billy's Mommy Softens when Hot".

When rational people talk about the idea of gay marriage being acceptable, I feel like I'm in the theater of the absurd. What's next?

[agrarianlady]

Hold it. This woman is putting books on the shelves of the elementary school library without knowing their content? (Like the title was not enough of a hint?) She is either grossly incompetent (in which case she should be fired) or a terrible liar. ....she is lying! Librarian's get a review of all books before they are recieved!!!!

Somebody ordered the book, for crying out loud. It just didn't magically appear on the shelf.

I feel like writing an e-mail to the librarian and rather honestly telling her exactly what these two 'princes' do with their various body parts and how dangerous it is.

[GraceCoolidge]

This story is kind of depressing. To me, definitely underscores the need to keep tabs on everything my children are doing, reading, etc. Even if you can get this out of the public schools, no doubt it also is in the public library. It helps to remind me of the importance of taking an active role in teaching one's children... and to do it early. While I certainly did plan to instruct them in morality, including homosexuality, I didn't realize I would need to have it well underway by age 6. I didn't think a six year old needed to know so much about a parent's sex life of any variety...

[ASA Vet]

Thank you for not falling in line by using the PC cover word "gay" instead of the correct term.

[madprof98]

When and if the courts legalize gay marriage nationwide (which may be very soon), this sort of stuff will be the norm in public elementary schools. If it isn't so right away, lawsuits will be filed to make it happen. I don't see that as an alarmist prediction either; it's just the logical consequence of what is happening today.

[KantianBurke]

SICK SICK SICK!!! Remind me never to have kids!! How parents can raise normal children these days is beyond me.

[dagoofyfoot]

The room mate bears an uncanny resemblence to Bill Clinton.


ROTFLMAO!!!


Man! some of you Freepers don't miss a trick!

[sasafras]

These parents are taking the first step but they need to get some backbone and take their kid out of public school. It seems to me to many parents, especially parents with conservative values, dont inquire or dont care what goes on in public schools.

[Lady Eileen]

Remind me never to have kids!!

Children are a blessing from the Lord...don't let this darkness in our culture discourage you.

[Landru]

"People should simply check books like this out of the library, then "keep" them for a very long time."

Actually, not a bad idea.

The motive behind such an act surelty c/would be argued a "Hate Crime" by an ambitious DA I'm sure, especially a homosexual DA.

One day that kind of action will fall under the jurisdiction of Homeland Security, defined by several volumes, too.

...will be found in, "Domestic Library Terrorism"

[Lady Eileen]

These parents are taking the first step but they need to get some backbone and take their kid out of public school.

Exactly.