BE Drama Club takes audience on a journey to Oz
Diiin Haskell (as the Lion) & Sophia Pellerin (as Dorothy)
By Abigail Scott
May, 2024
Bonny Eagle was taken over the rainbow this past Mother’s Day weekend when Bonny Eagle Drama Club put on the musical production of The Wizard of Oz. This musical was directed by Mx. Marianne Pillsbury.
“I’ve been wanting to direct a production of The Wizard of Oz since I was 10 years old growing up in South Portland,” Mx. Pillsbury wrote in the Director's note on page 2 of the program.
The classic story, based on the novel by L. Frank Baum, follows the journey of Dorothy and her dog Toto on their way to find the wizard. After a tornado hits Dorothy’s hometown in Kansas she is brought to the magical land of Oz. They encounter many friends along the way that help bring them to find their way back home to Kansas.
Dorothy, played by Freshman Sophia Pellierin, did a fantastic job at only her second Drama Club production of her career. She has a strong career ahead as she was able to capture an in-depth storyline and her vocals took the audience away. All actors were so strong and beautiful in their roles, but who stood out most was Dillin Haskell, who played the Lion. He portrayed the role so well that it felt like he was the real Bert Lahr, who was the original Lion in the movie, made back in 1939. A shout out to all of the actors and actresses for the hard work as it was clearly shown the time they dedicated to their roles.
With a powerful musical production taken on in a short amount of time, from March to the production being performed on May 10 and May 11. When talking to Taylor Farwell the day before the production, one of the members of the stagecraft department, she reflected on the musical; “It is stressful right now, we have so much to do but I have hope everything will pull through.” The Drama Club, stagecraft, and production crew were to pull through and were able to create a magical performance for all who were watching. The audience was enchanted. The sets that felt just like we were taken to Oz. Although restricted by a strict budget, that does not hold the stage crew back from making beautiful sets. The rich colors and props used for each scene, an audience favorite was the fog machine which created an illusion and was able to be used for various different scenes. The yellow brick road trailing into the alley of seats in the audience, as the characters walked off to find the wizard.
New this year for the musical was a band ensemble. The group was made up of some Bonny Eagle Alums and their friends, as well as Mrs. Kennedy, Ms. Raymond, and Mr. Thomas, the Bonny Eagle Band and Chorus middle and high school teachers. This music was able to create a more movie-like feel and be able to support the strong singing from the cast. I hope to see this ensemble come back for other musicals.
Overall, this musical was a delight to go to. One of my favorite scenes is when Dorothy finally defeats the Wicked Witch of the West, and when Dorothy throws water on her to kill her. The fog machine was able to create the idea that she really disappeared into thin air. Although, it was hard to pick just one scene to be my favorite. As a senior, I am sad to not be able to go to another BEHS Drama club production but I am happy that this is last one was such a success.
May, 2024
Bonny Eagle was taken over the rainbow this past Mother’s Day weekend when Bonny Eagle Drama Club put on the musical production of The Wizard of Oz. This musical was directed by Mx. Marianne Pillsbury.
“I’ve been wanting to direct a production of The Wizard of Oz since I was 10 years old growing up in South Portland,” Mx. Pillsbury wrote in the Director's note on page 2 of the program.
The classic story, based on the novel by L. Frank Baum, follows the journey of Dorothy and her dog Toto on their way to find the wizard. After a tornado hits Dorothy’s hometown in Kansas she is brought to the magical land of Oz. They encounter many friends along the way that help bring them to find their way back home to Kansas.
Dorothy, played by Freshman Sophia Pellierin, did a fantastic job at only her second Drama Club production of her career. She has a strong career ahead as she was able to capture an in-depth storyline and her vocals took the audience away. All actors were so strong and beautiful in their roles, but who stood out most was Dillin Haskell, who played the Lion. He portrayed the role so well that it felt like he was the real Bert Lahr, who was the original Lion in the movie, made back in 1939. A shout out to all of the actors and actresses for the hard work as it was clearly shown the time they dedicated to their roles.
With a powerful musical production taken on in a short amount of time, from March to the production being performed on May 10 and May 11. When talking to Taylor Farwell the day before the production, one of the members of the stagecraft department, she reflected on the musical; “It is stressful right now, we have so much to do but I have hope everything will pull through.” The Drama Club, stagecraft, and production crew were to pull through and were able to create a magical performance for all who were watching. The audience was enchanted. The sets that felt just like we were taken to Oz. Although restricted by a strict budget, that does not hold the stage crew back from making beautiful sets. The rich colors and props used for each scene, an audience favorite was the fog machine which created an illusion and was able to be used for various different scenes. The yellow brick road trailing into the alley of seats in the audience, as the characters walked off to find the wizard.
New this year for the musical was a band ensemble. The group was made up of some Bonny Eagle Alums and their friends, as well as Mrs. Kennedy, Ms. Raymond, and Mr. Thomas, the Bonny Eagle Band and Chorus middle and high school teachers. This music was able to create a more movie-like feel and be able to support the strong singing from the cast. I hope to see this ensemble come back for other musicals.
Overall, this musical was a delight to go to. One of my favorite scenes is when Dorothy finally defeats the Wicked Witch of the West, and when Dorothy throws water on her to kill her. The fog machine was able to create the idea that she really disappeared into thin air. Although, it was hard to pick just one scene to be my favorite. As a senior, I am sad to not be able to go to another BEHS Drama club production but I am happy that this is last one was such a success.
Girls Tennis Team Earns Sportsmanship Award
Coach John Pelletier, Madelyn Stevens, Xochitl Pope, Lily Daigle, Madison Bradley, Sophia Gaudiano, Abigail Scott, Desirare Chaisson, Coach Pal Covie
Almost, Maine makes successful return
FROM STAFF REPORTS
November, 2023
When Mr. Joshua Conley was a student at BEHS in the mid-2000's, he was part of the highly successful production of Almost, Maine, under the direction of longtime drama director Mr. Rick Osann. This fall, Mr. Conley, now a chemistry teacher at the high school, jumped at the chance to direct the play. And once again, the show was a resounding success.
Each of the nine vignettes in the play features two quintessential Mainers who are grappling with loneliness or searching to come to terms with some aspect of love. Stage manager Lucy Burke directed a crew of more than 20 with the help of Ms. Marianne Pillsbury's Stagecraft class. The result was a fast-moving play that the audience seemed to enjoy immensely.
"It was really fun to dive back into this work to prepare for the show," Mr. Conley wrote in the Director's Note on page 2 of the program. "This show makes me happy; this show makes me sad; this show makes me appreciate the place that I call home:Maine."
November, 2023
When Mr. Joshua Conley was a student at BEHS in the mid-2000's, he was part of the highly successful production of Almost, Maine, under the direction of longtime drama director Mr. Rick Osann. This fall, Mr. Conley, now a chemistry teacher at the high school, jumped at the chance to direct the play. And once again, the show was a resounding success.
Each of the nine vignettes in the play features two quintessential Mainers who are grappling with loneliness or searching to come to terms with some aspect of love. Stage manager Lucy Burke directed a crew of more than 20 with the help of Ms. Marianne Pillsbury's Stagecraft class. The result was a fast-moving play that the audience seemed to enjoy immensely.
"It was really fun to dive back into this work to prepare for the show," Mr. Conley wrote in the Director's Note on page 2 of the program. "This show makes me happy; this show makes me sad; this show makes me appreciate the place that I call home:Maine."
The Eagle Times staff meets the press
BY BOSTON NOBILE
November 2023\
Recently, the Eagle Times reporters and Mr. Dan Murphy's journalism class embarked on a unique journey to explore the inner workings of the Portland Press Herald. This exclusive tour provided an opportunity for new ideas, techniques, and answers to questions made by our reporters. The Portland Press Herald, a prominent daily newspaper based in Portland, Maine, has long been recognized for its commitment to journalistic integrity and community engagement. As the Eagle Times team stepped into the editorial board meeting, they were quickly introduced to the executive editor, Steve Greenlee, along with the other editors of the various sections found in their newspaper as they discussed stories for the next day's paper.
One of the tour's highlights was seeing the printing stations as Jeff Hewitt, the press manager, gave us a chance to look at some of the papers being printed right before our eyes. Not only does the Portland Press Herald print its own papers, but it also publishes papers in Lewiston, Bangor, Augusta, and all of the Eagle Times editions.
After such a unique day, the group went to OTTO's pizza for lunch before returning to Bonny Eagle High School for the rest of the day.The Eagle Times' tour of the Portland Press Herald not only offered a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of a renowned news organization but also exemplified the push for the continued growth and success of the journalism industry.
November 2023\
Recently, the Eagle Times reporters and Mr. Dan Murphy's journalism class embarked on a unique journey to explore the inner workings of the Portland Press Herald. This exclusive tour provided an opportunity for new ideas, techniques, and answers to questions made by our reporters. The Portland Press Herald, a prominent daily newspaper based in Portland, Maine, has long been recognized for its commitment to journalistic integrity and community engagement. As the Eagle Times team stepped into the editorial board meeting, they were quickly introduced to the executive editor, Steve Greenlee, along with the other editors of the various sections found in their newspaper as they discussed stories for the next day's paper.
One of the tour's highlights was seeing the printing stations as Jeff Hewitt, the press manager, gave us a chance to look at some of the papers being printed right before our eyes. Not only does the Portland Press Herald print its own papers, but it also publishes papers in Lewiston, Bangor, Augusta, and all of the Eagle Times editions.
After such a unique day, the group went to OTTO's pizza for lunch before returning to Bonny Eagle High School for the rest of the day.The Eagle Times' tour of the Portland Press Herald not only offered a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of a renowned news organization but also exemplified the push for the continued growth and success of the journalism industry.
Bonny Eagle school spirit isn't dead. It just needs a jumpstart
Pep rallies were a big deal back when Mr. Conley was a student at BEHS. Staff photo
BY JOSEPH GREENE
May 2023
Recently Bonny Eagle has seen a decline in attendance at sporting events. Students would rather stay home than go out and support their teams. This recently has had teachers and students at Bonny Eagle questioning if school spirit is still alive? We for one believe it is, but some students believe otherwise.
“I do not have school spirit. I come to school to learn and that's it,” stated junior Malayna Hawxwell. Many other students interviewed at Bonny Eagle share the same feelings. They don’t think attending after-school activities is a good use of their time anymore. Teachers, however, share a different feeling. Mrs. Meaghan McCrea, an English teacher, stated, “I do have school spirit and I do believe it still exists. I find it in the heads of the student sections, in kids like Brody Ernst." She then goes on to cite COVID as the main reason that it has died down.
Principal Greg Applestein agrees with that assessment. However, he says, “as we continue to move out of this COVID stage, more students will get out and go to these events and support their teams.”
Mr. Applestein has been the principal at Bonny Eagle for two years now. He claims that “the support and spirit shown at [the playoff basketball game when Bonny Eagle played Thornton Academy] was probably the second most students I've seen at a school event ever. Everyone had joined together for a common goal."
Mr. Thomas Noonan, a Bonny Eagle English teacher, agrees that COVID did have a big effect on school spirit. Befor then, he said, “The 2019 championship football game against Thornton Academy was the best display of school spirit I ever experienced. Students tailgated and drank non-alcoholic juice out of red Solo cups for the game. It was fantastic.” He hopes to see a return to that level of spirit in the near future.
Personally, I believe school spirit is alive and will soon be thriving again. While COVID did have an impact on how we express it, I still think students truly do love this school. We are unique. We are one school, but we are five towns. Where others see school spirit dying down, I see students who need a way to express it. Simple things like learning school songs from the band and going to games with friends would go a long way toward restoring spirit.
It's best expressed by our school mascot, the Scotsman, in our anthem, “March on for the Bonny Eagle Scots. Cheer for our team.”
May 2023
Recently Bonny Eagle has seen a decline in attendance at sporting events. Students would rather stay home than go out and support their teams. This recently has had teachers and students at Bonny Eagle questioning if school spirit is still alive? We for one believe it is, but some students believe otherwise.
“I do not have school spirit. I come to school to learn and that's it,” stated junior Malayna Hawxwell. Many other students interviewed at Bonny Eagle share the same feelings. They don’t think attending after-school activities is a good use of their time anymore. Teachers, however, share a different feeling. Mrs. Meaghan McCrea, an English teacher, stated, “I do have school spirit and I do believe it still exists. I find it in the heads of the student sections, in kids like Brody Ernst." She then goes on to cite COVID as the main reason that it has died down.
Principal Greg Applestein agrees with that assessment. However, he says, “as we continue to move out of this COVID stage, more students will get out and go to these events and support their teams.”
Mr. Applestein has been the principal at Bonny Eagle for two years now. He claims that “the support and spirit shown at [the playoff basketball game when Bonny Eagle played Thornton Academy] was probably the second most students I've seen at a school event ever. Everyone had joined together for a common goal."
Mr. Thomas Noonan, a Bonny Eagle English teacher, agrees that COVID did have a big effect on school spirit. Befor then, he said, “The 2019 championship football game against Thornton Academy was the best display of school spirit I ever experienced. Students tailgated and drank non-alcoholic juice out of red Solo cups for the game. It was fantastic.” He hopes to see a return to that level of spirit in the near future.
Personally, I believe school spirit is alive and will soon be thriving again. While COVID did have an impact on how we express it, I still think students truly do love this school. We are unique. We are one school, but we are five towns. Where others see school spirit dying down, I see students who need a way to express it. Simple things like learning school songs from the band and going to games with friends would go a long way toward restoring spirit.
It's best expressed by our school mascot, the Scotsman, in our anthem, “March on for the Bonny Eagle Scots. Cheer for our team.”
Taylor Swift concert at Gillette did not disappoint this BE senior
Amelia McAvoy's search for tickets was worth the effort. Staff photo
BY AMELIA MCAVOY
May, 2023
After selling out stadiums across the country and causing mass hysteria with her ticket sales, there is no doubt that Taylor Swift is the most popular artist in the world right now. Certainly, no other artists have caused people to spend tens of thousands of dollars to attend their concerts.
Despite being a huge Taylor Swift fan, I was unable to acquire tickets when they first went on sale. With resold tickets costing a minimum of $1,000 a piece, I believed I would never be able to see the Eras Tour, but, with less than an hour to go before the show started, I managed to get my hands on some last minute tickets. Although it cost a lot of money and caused me a lot of anxiety, every dollar, every tear, was worth it for a concert of this caliber.
It began on our almost four hours car ride to Foxborough, which is typically only a two hour drive from my house. As we approached the last mile to the stadium, we still did not have tickets. Luckily, this final stretch took us around forty minutes, giving my father ample time to search for tickets. While our car crawled along at 5 mph, my entire family frantically searched every ticket site, waiting for the moment prices would drop as time ticked away until the show. Just as we approached the parking lot of Gillette Stadium, my father finally came across tickets that weren’t horrifically priced and we were in. I was one of the lucky fans that would be able to see Taylor Swift live.
For a glorious 3.5 hours, I listened to Swift take a 44 song tour of all of the albums she ever made. From one of our surprise acoustic songs, “Invisible,” which she wrote at 13 to the three albums she has written since the Covid-19 pandemic, I was able to see the entire body of work that has made Swift that star she is today. My favorite song throughout the night was Swift’s collaboration with one of the opening artists, Phoebe Bridgers. The duet, titled “Nothing New,” had no large performance, just the two singers on stage with their guitars, yet it was such a special moment. Not only does this song mean a lot to me personally, but Swift and Bridger’s voices sound beautiful together, especially live. Besides “Nothing New,” my highlight of the concert was the very first set of songs from the album Lover. Because these songs were performed at the beginning of the show, the energy was high among the crowd. Lover is also a particularly upbeat and colorful album. The lyrics were fun to scream along to and Swift filled the stage with bright colors to complement the tone of the album.
If a marathon of songs from all of her different albums isn’t enough to entice you, Swift proved she isn’t just an artist, but also a performer. Each song had elaborately choreographed dance moves and visuals to accompany it played on the jumbotron. Additionally, the wrist bands given to concert attendees contained colored flashlights that changed colors with the songs. The Eras Tour isn’t any concert; it’s an experience.
While I am by no means a seasoned concert-goer, I feel I can confidently say this was the best concert of my life. The setlist is a comprehensive catalog of Swift’s most beloved songs, including a majority of my personal favorites. The dancing is phenomenal and makes for an amazing show. The energy is infectious; there is nothing more exciting than screaming along and dancing to Taylor Swift songs surrounded by thousands of other fans.
On the day of my concert it was pouring rain, but that somehow only made the concert more enjoyable. Bundled up in a raincoat with rain splashing in my face and getting in my eyes, the music only seemed more vibrant. Although many may think rain ruins a concert, “rain shows” are particularly revered in the music community. After my show, I can see why.
Taylor Swift has faced a lot of criticism throughout her career, but it would be difficult not to admire her ability to perform for almost four hours every weekend for five months straight, even in a downpour, singing decade old songs. The Eras Tour is certain to go down in history as an iconic concert and I feel quite fortunate to have experienced it firsthand.
May, 2023
After selling out stadiums across the country and causing mass hysteria with her ticket sales, there is no doubt that Taylor Swift is the most popular artist in the world right now. Certainly, no other artists have caused people to spend tens of thousands of dollars to attend their concerts.
Despite being a huge Taylor Swift fan, I was unable to acquire tickets when they first went on sale. With resold tickets costing a minimum of $1,000 a piece, I believed I would never be able to see the Eras Tour, but, with less than an hour to go before the show started, I managed to get my hands on some last minute tickets. Although it cost a lot of money and caused me a lot of anxiety, every dollar, every tear, was worth it for a concert of this caliber.
It began on our almost four hours car ride to Foxborough, which is typically only a two hour drive from my house. As we approached the last mile to the stadium, we still did not have tickets. Luckily, this final stretch took us around forty minutes, giving my father ample time to search for tickets. While our car crawled along at 5 mph, my entire family frantically searched every ticket site, waiting for the moment prices would drop as time ticked away until the show. Just as we approached the parking lot of Gillette Stadium, my father finally came across tickets that weren’t horrifically priced and we were in. I was one of the lucky fans that would be able to see Taylor Swift live.
For a glorious 3.5 hours, I listened to Swift take a 44 song tour of all of the albums she ever made. From one of our surprise acoustic songs, “Invisible,” which she wrote at 13 to the three albums she has written since the Covid-19 pandemic, I was able to see the entire body of work that has made Swift that star she is today. My favorite song throughout the night was Swift’s collaboration with one of the opening artists, Phoebe Bridgers. The duet, titled “Nothing New,” had no large performance, just the two singers on stage with their guitars, yet it was such a special moment. Not only does this song mean a lot to me personally, but Swift and Bridger’s voices sound beautiful together, especially live. Besides “Nothing New,” my highlight of the concert was the very first set of songs from the album Lover. Because these songs were performed at the beginning of the show, the energy was high among the crowd. Lover is also a particularly upbeat and colorful album. The lyrics were fun to scream along to and Swift filled the stage with bright colors to complement the tone of the album.
If a marathon of songs from all of her different albums isn’t enough to entice you, Swift proved she isn’t just an artist, but also a performer. Each song had elaborately choreographed dance moves and visuals to accompany it played on the jumbotron. Additionally, the wrist bands given to concert attendees contained colored flashlights that changed colors with the songs. The Eras Tour isn’t any concert; it’s an experience.
While I am by no means a seasoned concert-goer, I feel I can confidently say this was the best concert of my life. The setlist is a comprehensive catalog of Swift’s most beloved songs, including a majority of my personal favorites. The dancing is phenomenal and makes for an amazing show. The energy is infectious; there is nothing more exciting than screaming along and dancing to Taylor Swift songs surrounded by thousands of other fans.
On the day of my concert it was pouring rain, but that somehow only made the concert more enjoyable. Bundled up in a raincoat with rain splashing in my face and getting in my eyes, the music only seemed more vibrant. Although many may think rain ruins a concert, “rain shows” are particularly revered in the music community. After my show, I can see why.
Taylor Swift has faced a lot of criticism throughout her career, but it would be difficult not to admire her ability to perform for almost four hours every weekend for five months straight, even in a downpour, singing decade old songs. The Eras Tour is certain to go down in history as an iconic concert and I feel quite fortunate to have experienced it firsthand.
Eight challenged books removed by school board before review
Two of the eight books removed from MSAD6 after community members complained about their content. Staff photo
BY AMELIA MCAVOY
May, 2023
Last fall, despite some parents’ objections, the MSAD6 school board followed its long-standing policy of allowing two challenged books, Gender Queer and It’s Perfectly Normal to remain in the libraries throughout the challenge process. The books were subsequently ruled to be appropriate for middle and high school readers.
But the school board voted 7-3 to suspend that policy and remove eight books from circulation following a meeting on April 3, durng which members of the community read passages from the books they found objectionable. Those eight books will undergo a review by MSAD6 Superintendent, Clay Gleason. a review that may not be completed before the end of the school year.
The board’s Policy IJJ outlines the selection of instructional materials for Maine school districts, including the procedure for challenged material. Per policy, those with complaints must fill out a Citizen’s Challenge to Education Media Form and the superintendent will form a committee to review the material. Committees will include one administrator, one library media specialist, one classroom teacher, the department head of the subject in which the material is being challenged, and two community members. The policy specifically states that “no material shall be removed from use until the Committee has made a final decision.”
The April 3 meeting left many members of the community wondering how the books could be removed from shelves before they were officially reviewed. In the follow up meeting on April 10, one member of the community addressed the board, saying they “should not be allowed to throw [policy] aside whenever it is convenient.”
Another added that “we expect informed, critical thinking from our students and we expect them to follow the rules, yet the board did neither.” Many called for the board to rescind their vote that removed the books without review.
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Nathan Carlow, explained that the board can suspend policy if it “believes doing so is necessary for the safe and prudent operation of the schools.” After listening to excerpts from the eight challenged books, the board “exercised its discretion to direct the Superintendent to review them, and to have them temporarily removed until the review is complete.”
The board decision followed the events of the meeting on April 3, which included several parents, community members, and other concerned citizens reading explicit excerpts from novels found in the middle and high school libraries to showcase the inappropriate nature of some of these books.
These titles included The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, a popular book among teens and adults told from a dog’s perspective, and Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera. a graphic novel about a Puerto Rican girl struggling with her identity.
One mother in the community stated she doesn’t “think our children should have ready [access to] literature that is accessible without parental guidance or parental supervision.”
Julie Anderson, a member of the Board of Directors, shared her personal opinion that “not only are the books trash, but they’re such low quality for the brain that they teach nothing that helps students to grow their brains in a positive, healthy way.”
However, one voice was noticeably missing from the discussion: the student voice. Nora Roulliard, a senior at the high school and a student representative on the Board of Directors, believes that it is the parent voices that are being listened to rather than the students. Not only are many blind to the issue, but to stand in front of the board and make a statement is “terrifying.”
Roulliard feels that the issue is deeply important to students as the removal of library material sets a dangerous precedent, “limiting access to other viewpoints and other opinions, things that kids are going to need in the future.” She also believes that the challenged books are not all what they are being portrayed.
“I think these books have deeper themes that are being ignored because of a couple of explicit sentences,” she says. Plus, she adds, “most of what I’ve heard I’ve already been exposed to through social media.”
For parents and students that want to share their opinions on the contentious debate, the issue will be returned to on May 1st when the Board of Directors will meet again to discuss its next steps pertaining to the challenged material.
May, 2023
Last fall, despite some parents’ objections, the MSAD6 school board followed its long-standing policy of allowing two challenged books, Gender Queer and It’s Perfectly Normal to remain in the libraries throughout the challenge process. The books were subsequently ruled to be appropriate for middle and high school readers.
But the school board voted 7-3 to suspend that policy and remove eight books from circulation following a meeting on April 3, durng which members of the community read passages from the books they found objectionable. Those eight books will undergo a review by MSAD6 Superintendent, Clay Gleason. a review that may not be completed before the end of the school year.
The board’s Policy IJJ outlines the selection of instructional materials for Maine school districts, including the procedure for challenged material. Per policy, those with complaints must fill out a Citizen’s Challenge to Education Media Form and the superintendent will form a committee to review the material. Committees will include one administrator, one library media specialist, one classroom teacher, the department head of the subject in which the material is being challenged, and two community members. The policy specifically states that “no material shall be removed from use until the Committee has made a final decision.”
The April 3 meeting left many members of the community wondering how the books could be removed from shelves before they were officially reviewed. In the follow up meeting on April 10, one member of the community addressed the board, saying they “should not be allowed to throw [policy] aside whenever it is convenient.”
Another added that “we expect informed, critical thinking from our students and we expect them to follow the rules, yet the board did neither.” Many called for the board to rescind their vote that removed the books without review.
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Nathan Carlow, explained that the board can suspend policy if it “believes doing so is necessary for the safe and prudent operation of the schools.” After listening to excerpts from the eight challenged books, the board “exercised its discretion to direct the Superintendent to review them, and to have them temporarily removed until the review is complete.”
The board decision followed the events of the meeting on April 3, which included several parents, community members, and other concerned citizens reading explicit excerpts from novels found in the middle and high school libraries to showcase the inappropriate nature of some of these books.
These titles included The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, a popular book among teens and adults told from a dog’s perspective, and Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera. a graphic novel about a Puerto Rican girl struggling with her identity.
One mother in the community stated she doesn’t “think our children should have ready [access to] literature that is accessible without parental guidance or parental supervision.”
Julie Anderson, a member of the Board of Directors, shared her personal opinion that “not only are the books trash, but they’re such low quality for the brain that they teach nothing that helps students to grow their brains in a positive, healthy way.”
However, one voice was noticeably missing from the discussion: the student voice. Nora Roulliard, a senior at the high school and a student representative on the Board of Directors, believes that it is the parent voices that are being listened to rather than the students. Not only are many blind to the issue, but to stand in front of the board and make a statement is “terrifying.”
Roulliard feels that the issue is deeply important to students as the removal of library material sets a dangerous precedent, “limiting access to other viewpoints and other opinions, things that kids are going to need in the future.” She also believes that the challenged books are not all what they are being portrayed.
“I think these books have deeper themes that are being ignored because of a couple of explicit sentences,” she says. Plus, she adds, “most of what I’ve heard I’ve already been exposed to through social media.”
For parents and students that want to share their opinions on the contentious debate, the issue will be returned to on May 1st when the Board of Directors will meet again to discuss its next steps pertaining to the challenged material.