Thank You Letter from VLA to Accomack County School BoardEarlier this week, VLA President Keith Weimer sent the letter below to Dr. Ronnie E. Holden, Chair of the Accomack County School Board. For more background on this letter, please see the links below to news stories. December 12, 2016 Dr. Ronnie E. Holden, Chair Dear Dr. Holden, We agree that the novels are “treasures of American literature” and that the conscience and bravery in the books you mention continue to serve as important lessons for readers today as they did when the works were originally penned, in the case of Twain’s work, 132 years ago. Timeless works tie us with those who came before and serve as a bridge to those yet to come. We are heartened that your board entrusts those you hire with being able to convey the bigger “messages of literature,” something we see teachers, media specialists, and librarians across the country doing on a daily basis. We are glad to hear that the School Board is also reevaluating the policy and considering adding a new one that would “allow discretion on behalf of the superintendent to keep challenged books in schools while they are under review.” We support parents being actively involved in their children’s education and believe that great things happen when parents, teachers, librarians, and students work together to encourage intellectual rigor and diversity of thought. Thank you again for your clear and quick response to this issue. Sincerely, News Coverage |