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Michigan School Board To Take Up Book Ban Request

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TRAVERSE CITY (WWJ/AP) - Parents of a student at Traverse City West Senior High School are asking school officials to have a book banned.

Heather and Jeff Campbell recently complained about “The Glass Castle,” and the Traverse City Area Public Schools Board of Education is set to weigh in on the matter next week.

Jeannette Walls’ memoir includes explicit language and references to child molestation, adolescent sexual exploits and violence. It was assigned to the Campbells’ daughter over the summer as part of a freshman honors English course.

The Campbells want the book banned from ninth, tenth and eleventh grade curricula.

“I just think we need to use some common sense when it comes to our kids,” Heather Campbell told the Traverse City Record-Eagle. “We believe there is no purpose reasonable to warrant exposing young students to this resource.”

But parents like Billie Jo Clark, who plans to have her 9th grade son read “The Glass Castle,” say the book offers more than just an engaging story.

“It’s a book about overcoming the most incredible obstacles in your life,” Clark told the Traverse City Record-Eagle. “It is a book about forgiveness. I think the book had a lot of great, resonating things.”

Clark acknowledged, however, that not all ninth graders may be ready for the book.

TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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  • http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/12/11/michigan-school-board-rejects-book-ban-request/ Michigan School Board Rejects Book Ban Request « CBS Detroit

    [...] and the Traverse City Area Public Schools Board of Education weighed in on the matter on Monday. The board rejected a recommendation to remove the book from a freshman honors English course summer reading list. [...]

  • http://localdetroitnews.com/news/michigan-school-board-rejects-book-ban-request/ Michigan School Board Rejects Book Ban Request | Local Detroit News

    [...] and the Traverse City Area Public Schools Board of Education weighed in on the matter on Monday. The board rejected a recommendation to remove the book from a freshman honors English course summer reading [...]

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