FARMINGTON—There has been a lot of discussion in the Davis School District about books/novels with some delicate topics (not sensitive material, that is prohibited) being used in the classroom. In the July 21 school board meeting, there were some differing opinions among board members about what the board and teacher's role is and what should fall on the parents.

The discussion was centered around a business item, Instructional Materials, and whether language should be added that teachers should send out an email or otherwise let parents know in advance that they will be covering a book that might have some touchy content. 

“So this instructional material is a whole novel, ‘The Fault in Our Stars,’ recommended for grades 10 and above,” said Board member Julie Powell. “The original committee that reviewed it, in the notes they suggested that we approve but include a parent warning because there is some kind of risqué content in there and I would highly suggest that. I don’t know if I need to make a motion for that.”

“Well l agree with that,” said Board President Brigit Gerrard. “I had taken note of that and thought a lot about that. I think we could take a motion to approve that and add that wording, right? Mr. (TJ) Strain (Teaching & Learning Department Director) is that something we need to add because it was in the notes?”

“I think this is always a suggestion, good practice, whatever novel is being read,” said Strain. “We’re just trying to get our teachers to just send a note home to say, ‘hey, we’re about to read this,’ whether that’s in a disclosure or the unit they’re on to say ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ is coming up.”

Strain said he didn’t think it needed to be a formal recommendation. “But we continue to recommend that to our teachers just for good practice, just to keep parents in the loop.”

Just to clarify there are no sensitive materials in the book, said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Logan Toone. “Sensitive materials would prohibit it from use in schools. There’s no sensitive materials and an approval with a board directive to include some kind of letter home would be abnormal.”

Typically, those instructional recommendations flow through the process that TJ outlined, he said. “Certainly, that’s the board’s prerogative, but it would be pretty out of the ordinary considering the nature of the board’s role in approving instructional materials.” 

“That’s because it is general practice anyway, right?” said Gerrard. 

“Yes, usually they either put it in their syllabus or their beginning of the year materials,” said Strain. “I’ve known some teachers that will send an email home just saying, ‘Hey, next month or next week we’re going to start our unit on ‘The Fault of the Stars.’ Here’s what the book is about. Here are some great discussion points that you can have with your student.”

“I think we should just stick with the syllabus,” said board member Michelle Barber. “I keep hearing that it puts it all on the parents to read the syllabus but that’s really who should have the responsibility of looking through this.”

“Me as a parent, if it’s just put in the general syllabus I’m not going to read it,” said Powell. “Chances are I’m not going to read it. But if sometimes a teacher will email me and say ‘Hey, in this book we’re going to be covering this, let me know if you want an alternative.’ That’s the type of thing I think parents would appreciate and that’s what I would encourage because it’s just really micromanaging to read every child’s syllabus.”

Especially in secondary school, she said. “They have like eight classes each and if you have multiple kids (that’s a lot).”

“I think it could be said by us requiring this, then we’re micromanaging, telling teachers that in addition to the syllabus you have to do this, when really it’s up to the parents,” said Board member Emily Price. “I know it’s a lot of work and I agree, especially with secondary students because they have more classes. I feel like our teachers are doing a good job notifying parents.”

“I want to make sure that we’re clear,” said Superintendent Dr. Dan Linford. “We do expect parents to read syllabuses and we don’t consider it micromanaging to read eight syllabi. If nothing else, read the English. So as an English teacher for seven years, I always communicated home. Most of it was in the syllabus or in the disclosure statements. That’s how teachers are trained.”

Ultimately, the board unanimously approved Instructional Materials.