GUIDELINES FOR RECONSIDERATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
I. Rationale.
A. The principles of intellectual freedom are inherent in the First Amendment of the Constitution. The freedom to read, the professional responsibility of the staff and the student's right of access to materials must be affirmed , except as pertains to the Manchester School District's Acceptable Internet Use Policy
The Freedom to Read propositions used in the selection process are:
It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the widest diversity of views and expressions, including those which are unorthodox or unpopular with the majority.
• Publishers, librarians and booksellers do not need to endorse every idea or presentation contained in the books they make available. It would conflict with the public interest for them to establish their own political, moral, or aesthetic views as a standard for determining what books should be published or circulated.
• It is contrary to the public interest for publishers or librarians to bar access to writings on the basis of the personal history or political affiliations of the author.
• There is no place in our society for efforts to coerce the taste of others, to confine adults to the reading matter deemed suitable for adolescents or to inhibit the efforts of writers to achieve artistic expression.
• It is not in the public interest to force a reader to accept with any expression the prejudgment of a label characterizing the book or author as subversive or dangerous.
• It is the responsibility of publishers and library media directors as guardians of the people's freedom to read, to contest encroachments upon that freedom by individuals or groups seeking to impose their own standards or tastes upon the community at large.
• It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians to give full meaning to the freedom to read by providing books that enrich the quality and diversity of thought and expression. By the exercise of this affirmative responsibility they can demonstrate that the answer to a bad book is a good one, the answer to a bad idea is a good one.* However, occasional objections to a selection will be made by the public despite the care taken to select valuable materials for student and teacher use and the qualifications of persons who select the materials.
In accordance with the American Library Association (ALA) "Resolution on Challenged Materials," the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) "Right to Read" and the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) "Academic Freedom" statements, challenged materials will remain available during the following process.
II. Procedure.
A. Complainant must request a conference with the staff member, teacher or library media professional concerned who will:
• Listen to and discuss the complaint.
• Provide the complainant with the opportunity to read, view, or listen to the complete work in question.
• Provide the complainant with the "Guidelines for Selection of Instructional Materials".
• Provide, if necessary, a further opportunity to discuss and resolve the complaint at this level.
B. If the issue is unresolved, the staff member:
• Gives the '"Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials" form to the complainant to be completed and returned to the principal.
• Immediately notifies the building level instructional coordinator/principal in writing of the complaint including a report of the conference.
B. Upon receipt of the completed Reconsideration Form the principal notifies the Superintendent and appoints a local review committee comprised of:
•Principal and/or representative.
• Library media professional assigned to the school.
•Person(s) involved in the original selection.
• Staff member(s) using the materials.
This committee reports to the principal in writing within ten (10) school days. The principal informs the complainant of the committee's decision in writing within three (3) school days after receipt of the committee report.
D. If the issue is still unresolved, the principal notifies the Superintendent by submitting a complete report within three (3) school days.
E. The Superintendent convenes a System-wide Instructional Materials Reconsideration Committee (SIMRC) within five (5) school days. SIMRC is comprised of:
• Superintendent and/or representative.
• Principal and/or representative.
• Library media professional assigned to the school.
• Person(s) involved in the original selection.
• Staff member(s) using the materials.
• Student representative on the secondary level.
• 0. Two (2) appropriate representatives from other schools.
SIMRC must submit a written report to the complainant and the Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) Committee of the Manchester Board of School Committee within a period of five (5) school days.
F. If the issue remains unresolved, the complainant appeals to the C&I Committee. At the ensuing meeting of the C&I Committee, the complainant and representatives of SIMRC will be present.
* Freedom to Read Statement adopted by the American Library Association 1/28/72, Revised 1/16/91, Revised 7/12/00,see Appendix.
This page last updated by J. Hannemann and K. Warren
01-Dec-2006