Parent agrees book should be removed from list

To: Richland One School Board, Columbia, SC

Re: Required reading for district high schools

Dear Board Members,

I am writing this note in support of Pam Clark and her efforts to have a specific book, Song of Solomon (by Toni Morrison) removed from the District's high school required reading list. I suggest it be removed from any required or suggested reading list.

Six years ago, when my daughter was a 15-year-old sophomore at A.C. Flora, Song of Solomon was required reading. She brought it to me telling me she did not like reading the book. It was an offensive and uncomfortable read. I read through it and was shocked by the overtly graphic sexual dialogue and references. I called and spoke with her teacher, the head of the English Department, and asked him why he thought these young people needed to read it. Was it because the author is a Pulitzer Prize winner? He assured me that my daughter and her peers were already exposed to plenty of sexual matter, innuendo etc. through music, movies, television. That was a choice. This was not. Although it was too late to undo the exposure, he assured me he would never again assign that book to sophomores.

I wrote a letter reiterating our conversation and sent both him and the assistant principal (who was not familiar with the book) a copy. It made little difference.

Now, seniors are required to read it. I suggest all board members be required to read it.

In closing, I ask you to consider permanently removing Song of Solomon from all of District One's required reading lists. We lead by example.

Rebekah C. Rawl