After receiving
complaints from about 40 parents, a Maryland school
district has pulled a young-adult novel from its curriculum,
in part because of its references to homosexuality.
Harford County school superintendent Jacqueline Haas
made the decision to stop using Robert
Cormier’s The Chocolate War, about a boy
who is harassed in school, in class because of parents upset
at the novel’s profane language and homophobic slurs,
reports the Associated Press.
"This decision was a very difficult one," said
Mark M. Wolkow, president of the school board,
according to the AP. "I have every confidence in the
superintendent's process in making the decision."
The novel has received several awards and is
considered by educational experts to be
a realistic portrayal of the damaging effects of
bullying. It was taught in a new class this year called
Living in a Contemporary World, which was created to
help students make the transition from middle school
to high school.
However, at a school board meeting in the fall,
several parents expressed concern to school officials
over the book’s profanity, sexual content, and
gay references. Those complaints led to Haas's decision this week.
The book will still be available in school and
public libraries. (The Advocate)
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