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refuses to sell fundraiser chocolate bars

state to permit students to take state-

at an all-boys Catholic school was chal-

funded courses on the Bible. Proponents

lenged again when Lutheran minister

of the legislation argued that knowing

Timothy Gordish called for its removal

the Bible is essential for understanding

from the freshman reading list at Salmon

much of Western civilization. "The

High School. After initially pulling the

biggest misconception is that this teach-

book, in May the Salmon School Board

es the Bible when, in fact, it uses the Bible

reviewed the decision and reinstated The

as the primary text to teach a course in

Chocolate War, despite serious misgivings.

history and literature influenced by the

"I consider myself a pretty tough guy, but

Bible," said a spokesperson for the bill's

after reading this I had a sick feeling

sponsor, Sen. Tommie Williams (R). A

inside," said board Chairman Jim Bob

People for the American Way lawyer,

Infanger. Still, the board seemed to agree

however, pointed out that by using terms

with parent Chris Swersey, who thought

such as Old and New Testament, which

Gordish's moral objections to the book

she said showed a Protestant slant, the

were not sufficient grounds to ban it.

curriculum was biased before it had even

been created.97

"There are people other than clergymen

who can talk about morality," Swersey

said.99

Hawaii

Multiculturalism

· Honolulu--Last year, Hawaii found itself

Illinois

embroiled in controversy as legislators

Freedom of Expression

· Libertyville--With the rise of MySpace.com

worked to implement a state core cur-

riculum. Proponents of the curriculum

and other Internet outlets for young peo-

argued that it was key to helping the

ple to post information, pictures, and sto-

state's students learn what they needed

ries about themselves and their friends,

to be successful. Opponents, however,

teachers and parents have become increas-

charged that a core curriculum, espe-

ingly concerned about kids endangering

cially patterned after the work of "cul-

themselves or celebrating bad behavior on

tural literacy" guru E.D. Hirsch Jr.

the Web. In May, Community High

would be a failure. They asserted that it

School District 128 became the first dis-

would be too rigid and not equally

trict in Illinois to punish students for post-

accessible to students from all racial,

ings that indicate they've participated in

ethnic, linguistic, and financial back-

"illegal or inappropriate behavior."

grounds. "The core curriculum being

Not surprisingly, some students dis-

shilled by self-proclaimed `curriculum

agreed with the new policy. "It's called

experts' like E.D. Hirsch Jr.," University

`MySpace' for a reason, not `What-I-do-

of Hawaii education professor Paul

at-school Space," said high school senior

Deering wrote, "is nothing more than

Katy Bauschke. Some civil liberties

`The Greatest Hits of the Dead White

groups agreed. "I think this is a huge

Guys Society.'"98

overstepping of schools' authority into

the rights and privacy of students," Alex

Koroknay-Palicz, executive director of

Idaho

the National Youth Rights Association,

Book Banning

· Salmon--According to the American

told the Chicago Tribune. However, at least

some parents saw things differently. "If

Library Association, The Chocolate War, by

the students are posting it on a public

Robert Cormier, is the fourth most chal-

domain, it is open for anyone to read,"

lenged book in the country. In March the

said Cheryl Chrysler, president of the

profanity-laced book about a teen who

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