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Class-assigned book irks Cortez parents
Re-1 school board discusses content
The Cortez Journal
A book assigned in an English class to a Cortez high school student was offensive, vulgar and demeaning, a parent told the Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1 Board of Education meeting Tuesday night, and she suggested a parental review committee to guide the selection of required reading.
One of the first items on the agenda dealt with parental concerns regarding the Montezuma-Cortez High School English Department’s required reading list.
Terry and Jacque Cook told the board they were deeply disturbed when their 15-year-old son brought home the book Plainsong by Kent Haruf for an English assignment.
After reading portions of the book, the couple felt the subject matter was explicit, vulgar, obscene and inappropriate, Jacque Cook said.
Of particular concern to the Cooks were passages with foul language and graphic sexual content.
The Cooks were adamant they were not at the meeting to attack an individual teacher or school.
“We are very big supporters of the school district,” Terry Cook said. “But an assignment like this demeans people like Jacque and myself who teach our kids values.
“We have tried to not make this a personal issue but feel it is a matter that is of such importance to the moral fiber of our community.”
The couple told the board they felt there was a lack of oversight in the selection of books students are required to read.
“My concerns are the policy,” Jacque Cook said. “There should be some sort of safety net, or parental oversight. A parent review board might be a good idea.”
Paul Koops, the school’s English department chairman, spoke to the board in defense of the book and the department’s selection policy.
“We publish our reading lists; they are public,” he said. “We believe this book is particularly important to this area. It celebrates what we are. I’m sorry it offends some, but if you look at the book in its entirety, you will see it is a marvelous work.”
Jackie Fisher, board president, advised the Cooks to take the issue back to the school level.
“I appreciate the fact you feel strongly about this,” Fisher said. “Go back to the building level. If you do not find satisfaction, follow the chain of command and come back to us, please.”
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