25 signatures reached
To: Dr. Del Burns, Interim Superintendent, Orange County Schools
Don't Ban Books or Punish Teachers For Teaching Tolerance
Schools should teach tolerance, not hate. Teachers who teach respect for diversity should be supported, not forced out. Please support Omar Currie and don't ban "King and King" or any other book that helps our kids learn to respect each other.
Why is this important?
After a third grader tearfully recounted how his classmate had called him gay, Efland, NC teacher Omar Currie decided to read the class "King and King," a story about two princes who fall in love, as a way of teaching his students about respect for difference.
The harsh reaction and the brouhaha that ensued left Omar feeling so unsafe and unsupported that he and his assistant principal both resigned.
That reaction, combined with strict new district rules about which books can be read in class, will have a chilling effect on other teachers who want to discuss tolerance and diversity.
And according to press reports, the district is considering banning the book outright! Imagine the message this sends to gay students, teachers and staff!
Schools should teach tolerance, not hate. Teachers who teach respect for diversity should be supported, not forced out. The Orange County schools should support Omar Currie, stand up to hate, and refuse to ban "King and King" or any other book that helps our kids learn.
The harsh reaction and the brouhaha that ensued left Omar feeling so unsafe and unsupported that he and his assistant principal both resigned.
That reaction, combined with strict new district rules about which books can be read in class, will have a chilling effect on other teachers who want to discuss tolerance and diversity.
And according to press reports, the district is considering banning the book outright! Imagine the message this sends to gay students, teachers and staff!
Schools should teach tolerance, not hate. Teachers who teach respect for diversity should be supported, not forced out. The Orange County schools should support Omar Currie, stand up to hate, and refuse to ban "King and King" or any other book that helps our kids learn.