Free Speech Groups Win Massachusetts School Fight

NEW YORK, NY, Jan. 9, 2007 -- The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) welcomed a Massachusetts school district’s decision to overrule its book review committee by retaining a controversial book from six-grade classes. The book, So Far from the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins, which has been taught at Dover-Sherborn Regional Schools in Massachusetts for thirteen years without incident, was criticized by parents who claimed that the book portrays Koreans in an unfavorable light and presents an unbalanced account of historical events. The Dover-Sherborn School Committee voted on Jan. 2 to retain the book and to provide additional historical background in the class sessions that address the book. “The School Committee made a wise decision that addressed complaints about So Far From the Bamboo Curtain without resorting to censorship.” ABFFE President Chris Finan said. “We are delighted that sixth graders in the Dover-Sherborn schools will continue to be able to read a wonderful book.”

In a letter addressed to the school superintendent and the school committee, ABFFE, NCAC and other free speech groups protested the proposed removal of the novel. The letter stated that Far from the Bamboo Grove was the latest in a series of important novels that had been challenged for its racially-sensitive themes. The best way to address these issues is to use the books as an opportunity to educate students about the harmful realities of racism. The groups also wrote that the removal of the book from classrooms would violate the district’s own book review policies. To read the full letter, click here.

In addition to ABFFE and NCAC, the letter was signed by the ACLU of Massachusetts, the Association of Booksellers for Children, Peacefire.org, Feminists for Free Expression, Eight Cousins Bookstore in Falmouth, Brenda Bowen, Editor-in-Chief at Hyperion Books for Children and Amy Adler, Professor at NYU School of Law.