District 41 Calls for Stronger Language in Notification Letters; Plans to Revisit 'Perks'

In the future, when administrators at Glen Ellyn District 41 notify parents about school issues - or what students are studying - it may consider using clearer more strongly worded language in its correspondence.

The District 41 Board of Education met Tuesday night and during its meeting, it held a heated discussion related to the district’s recent decision to remove the Stephen Chbosky novel “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” from Hadley Junior High School. At its next June board meeting it is expected to reconsider its ban of the book, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The board discussed the district’s Reconsideration Committee’s suggestion that the district use notification letters throughout the school year to alert parents, engage them and make them aware what their children are reading in school, the Tribune reported. A few board members took issue with the proposed language in the notification letters and suggested the district should be more blunt and to the point rather than “soft.”  

The board voted on the issue late last month after Hadley parents Jen and Brian Bradfield submitted their request to have the book removed after their daughter stopped reading it because of its disturbing content, including references to bestiality and coupons for free oral sex, Glen Ellyn Patch reported.

"We can’t even describe to you how hurt we are that this was allowed, or recommended to her," Jen Bradfield had told the board.

The Reconsideration Committee recommended that the book be reinstated, but the board by a vote of 4-2, with one member not present, voted against the recommendation.

Students at Hadley asked the board to reconsider and a petition was created, which sought to have the board reinstate the book.

At Tuesday night’s meeting Board President Sam Black raised concerns related to the lack of policy and procedures related to supplemental reading materials, the Tribune reported. Though, Black does not believe the book belongs in the school, he suggested in future teachers should categorize books for parental review.

A vote is expected June 10, which will address the notification letters and possible reinstatement of the book.

Read more of the Chicago Tribune’s story.