Superintendent Wants to Keep Controversial Book on Middle School Shelves

Last month, the Clarke County School Board asked Superintendent Phil Lanoue to reconsider a decision he had made about a middle school book that has profanity in it. Chad and Beth Lowrey, parents of 7th grader at Burney Lyons Harris Middle School, had asked that the book be removed. Lanoue supported administrators who wanted the book to be available to students, saying the parents could opt out if they didn't want their child to read the book.

Today, Lanoue sent a letter to the parents of middle school children in the county. This is what the letter says: 

Dear Members of the Clarke County Middle School Community:

I have received numerous requests to know my decision to reconsider the book appeal from the June School Board regular meeting. To keep you informed, please find below my decision on this matter.

Sincerely,
Philip D. Lanoue, Ph.D.
Superintendent

'In accordance with the Board of Education’s action at its meeting on June 13, 2013 requiring me to revisit this matter, I have again reviewed the information presented to the Board in the appeal package as well as the comments and concerns made by all parties regarding this matter.
I maintain the position that the one paragraph does not overpower the other literary elements that this book can offer our students. My final decision is that the novel And the Earth Did Not Devour Him will remain as a novel in the media center available to students and may be used as an option in support of the middle school curriculum. '