I’m a parent of three students who attend Tillamook school district. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been following the process the district has used to review the book How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez. (*See below for the Pioneer’s book review.) I attended the committee meeting where the book was reviewed. The committee voted 4-3 to “not retain the book” as part of the 10th grade honors curriculum even though the book has been evaluated and approved by the state board of education and it aligns with Oregon curriculum standards illustrating diverse perspectives (i.e., the immigrant experience and girls’/women’s experience).
I was unsettled by the review committee meeting. It didn’t seem to me like the process was fair or balanced. I’ve identified 2-3 instances where the district violated its own policies by incorrectly appointing members to the review committee and not properly seeking input when establishing the review process for this book.
These policies exist to ensure a fair and balanced process without giving too much power to one person or one perspective (e.g., checks and balances). When we are faced with complex and difficult decisions, it’s vitally important that we trust the process. Based on what I have observed, I do not have trust in the process that has been used.
After the meeting, I read the book. It’s a complex and mature story. At its core, is a father who is desperately trying to protect his four daughters. His “protection” is well-meaning and rooted in love, but its impact is often harmful. The father chooses to remove choice and autonomy from his daughters because he feels it is in their best interest. His protection is at times controlling and emotionally abusive. It contributes to many of the emotional challenges his daughters face well into their adulthood.
As I’ve observed the process used to review this book, well-meaning people have said things like “I want to protect,” “I don’t want to trigger/hurt someone” as justification for removing the book from the curriculum. I wonder if we can learn some lessons from this 30-year-old awarding winning literature. What if taking away choice and autonomy isn’t really protecting? What if giving our 15- and 16-year-old students opportunities to learn and talk about difficult things with us is the better path? Trauma informed practices don’t advocate for removal of content but rather scaffolding and choice.
What if we have a real conversation about how to teach difficult subject matter using guardrails and strong teaching practices? I urge our board to table the vote on whether or not to retain this book until after a more thorough review process has been conducted, one that follows district policy this time, and includes a deeper consideration of the material and how it might be used in the classroom.
The school board will vote on Monday August 12 in the Tillamook School District Office. The meeting starts at 5:30. There is still time to influence their decision.
Nikki Brown
Tillamook