'Go Ask Alice' ban draws reaction

Responsible parent

I read with interest the recent article about the Berkeley County School District's decision to remove the book titled "Go Ask Alice" from its list of acceptable instructional materials.

I applaud the parent who complained. She took responsibility for her child's education. I applaud Berkeley County for acting on the parent's request and not dismissing the parent as some crazy person who does not understand things. But my questions are: Why did this book get into the system in the first place? Where was the oversight by the superintendent, the principals and the teachers?

Do those in the Berkeley education system rely on the advice of others and not use their own abilities to determine what is appropriate for school children?

What are Berkeley County citizens paying the school personnel for — to sit back and let others make decisions for them?

If that is the case, staff members are extremely overpaid. If that is not the case, they should be reprimanded for not doing their jobs correctly. It should start with the superintendent because everything in the school district is his responsibility, and if he will not do his job, he owes the people of Berkeley County a significant rebate from his paycheck.

JAY SCHAEFER

Gross Avenue

Moncks Corner

Troubling decision

I found the Feb. 23 article about Berkeley County School District pulling the book titled "Go Ask Alice" from its curriculum troubling for two reasons.

First, it is a concern that one parent who is offended by the required reading in a public school can prevent other students from the opportunity to read it.

I have always expected my children to be taught about all aspects of the real world in public school, including what happens to young women who run away and get involved in sex and drugs. I do agree that it may have been inappropriate to make the girl read the book aloud in front of the class.

Second, I'm upset about this issue because I have recently been through a similar situation with the Charleston County School District.

My son brought home a permission slip that was distributed to sixth graders at C.E. Williams Middle School requesting permission for him to participate in a "Life Skills" program taught by Heritage Community Service.

The permission slip was preceded by a letter from the principal explaining that Heritage, a faith-based organization, teaches an "Abstinence Until Marriage Program." The letter went to great lengths to explain that this "Life Skills" program had nothing to do with sex education.

When I was finally allowed to review the material from this course, which was not easy to get access to, I found the manual was full of references to abstaining from sex until marriage, sexually transmitted diseases and virginity. These sixth graders have not yet been given a proper sex education course and most don't even know what those words mean.

It was clear to me that the focus of the course was not life skills but abstinence from sex until marriage. I complained to the Charleston County School District, and they asked the principal about the course. The principal was clearly not aware of what was in the manual. However, the course is still being taught despite my complaints.

This seems like a clear double standard by our educational leaders. Why is it that all someone has to do is say "faith" and people assume the person is right?

I am a Christian, but I am also an American. I think it is a shame that a country founded on the idea of religious freedom allows closed-minded religious zealots to dictate what our children are being taught in public schools. If I wanted my children to only learn my religious beliefs and not be exposed to anything that was not consistent with them, I would send my children to a religious school.

CAROLE S. BAKER

Wolk Drive

Charleston

Education gaps

"Go Ask Alice" is the reason for the state of English usage in our schools. Correct grammar and handwriting are not taught.

The only thing that matters in the education (indoctrination) system is group-think, diversity and tolerance (for everyone except Christians).

LYNDA DENARO

North Highway 52

Moncks Corner