Posted on 08/25/2011 1:56:10 PM PDT by Borges
The Albemarle County School Board voted Thursday night to remove Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “A Study in Scarlet” from sixth-grade reading lists. A parent of a Henley Middle School student originally challenged the book in May on the grounds that it is derogatory toward Mormons.
Thursday’s vote was the culmination of the work of a committee commissioned to study the book and two discussions by board members.
Board member Diantha McKiel, of the Jack Jouett District, said it was important to note that the school system has a history of reconsidering books.
“Sometimes we have declared books age inappropriate, sometimes we have decided that they should stay where they are,” she said.
More than 20 former Henley students turned out to oppose the book’s removal from the lists. Rising Western Albemarle High School ninth-grader Quinn Legallo-Malone spoke during public comment to oppose removal of the book. He called the work “the best book I have read so far.”
The board based its decision on the recommendation of a committee commissioned to study the Victorian work. In its report, the committee concluded that the book was not age-appropriate for sixth-graders.
In her comments to the board, Brette Stevenson, the Henley parent who first complained about the book in May, said the work was not suitable as an introduction to mystery and deductive reasoning.
“‘A Study in Scarlet’ has been used to introduce students to the mystery genre and into the character of Sherlock Holmes. This is our young students’ first inaccurate introduction to an American religion,” Stevenson told the board.
Stevenson suggested replacing the book with Doyle’s fifth novel, “The Hound of the Baskervilles, which, she said, is a better introduction to mystery.
Legallo-Malone said he was disappointed the book was being removed from lists, but was happy that it was being considered for use at a higher grade level.
“It’s not what I had hoped for, but I guess they did what’s best,” Legallo-Malone said. “I was capable of reading it in sixth grade. I think it was a good challenge. I’m upset that they’re removing it.”
Legallo-Malone said he was looking forward to reading the book again, should it be added to a high-school reading list.
“I hope I’ll see it again, definitely,” he said.
Stevenson was pleased with the outcome.
“I think the process worked,” she said.
But they are OK that Sherlock was a functioning drug addict?
Hmmm....and what will PETA say about The Hound of the Baskervilles?
They better get rid of all Mark Twain’s stuff also. He had no use for Mormons.
yeah, a cokehead that liked guns and smoked. all else he needs is a pit bull and an SUV to make him a liberal’s nightmare.
Whiskey Tango
I wonder what that parent would think of the Mormon threads here on FR?
Just btw, the four novellas are: A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Valley of Fear. Valley of Fear **almost** made it to full novel status, being easily the longest of the four.
I think the functioning part negates the drug addict part.
(I actually had a friend complaining about this with the recent update of the Sherlock Holmes stories. I loved shutting down his rant with the original text.)
So, “The Case of the Hijacked Hijab” is still ok, then?
You forget: Sherlock also lived with his best friend (wink, wink), Dr. Watson.
Seriously, though. How can these stupid people deny young people the total joy of the Sherlock Holmes series? I can remember devouring them when I was young. This country is going to...the hounds.
Only the names have been changed to protect the guilty.
"Oceania is ruled by a political party called simply The Party. The individual is always subordinated to the state, and it is in part this philosophy which allows the Party to manipulate and control humanity. In the Ministry of Truth, protagonist Winston Smith is a civil servant responsible for perpetuating the Party's propaganda by revising historical records to render the Party omniscient and always correct, yet his meager existence disillusions him to the point of seeking rebellion against Big Brother."
Sixth grade is 11 to 12 year olds.
My 11-year-old was bored with “Little Women” and picked “Hound of the Baskervilles” instead.
Better than “Twilight” in my opinion.
“Seriously, though. How can these stupid people deny young people the total joy of the Sherlock Holmes series? I can remember devouring them when I was young. This country is going to...the hounds.”
Perhaps you confused religious prigs with dogs?
Shocking, I say!
What did a dog do to you to have you conflate canids with religious nutters?
/sarc
I wonder how many books are on their shelves that are derogatory towards Christians. Or conservatives. Or family values.
Censorship is something I’ve never liked, even if it’s something I disagree with.
“Legallo-Malone said he was looking forward to reading the book again, should it be added to a high-school reading list. “
this kid hasn’t figured out that he can read books that aren’t on the approved list. they have libraries and bookstores full of them. sounds like a good little order-follower.
seriously, are they teaching kids that it is against the rules to read books not on the school approved list???
Certainly some of the discussion gives that impression. No library, no bookstore, no free online texts ... no unassigned reading at all.
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