A project of the National Coalition Against Censorship

CO-SPONSORED BY
American Booksellers for Free Expression
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Association of American Publishers

December 10, 2015

Ms. Cecilia Solorio, Board President
Etiwanda School District Board of Trustees
c/o Superintendent Shawn Judson Ed.D: shawn_judson@etiwandak12.ca.us
Etiwanda School District
6061 East Avenue
Etiwanda, CA 91739

Dear Ms. Solorio and the Etiwanda School District Board of Trustees,
As organizations dedicated to the freedom to read, the integrity of the public education system, and the
application of First Amendment law and principles in public institutions, we are writing to urge you accept
the Materials Review Committees recommendation to keep Todd Parrs The Family Book in Etiwanda
School District libraries and classrooms.
We understand that on September 11, a teacher read The Family Book to her T-K students at Etiwanda
Colony Elementary School as part of a Unit on Families. The book is in the districts school libraries and
has been included in the teachers lesson plans for the last two years. A parent, who was in the classroom
as a volunteer for the day, submitted a formal complaint, arguing that the book was not appropriate, and
shared his complaint at a September 24, 2015 Board meeting. A Materials Review Committee convened in
early October, and found that the book had significant pedagogical merit and recommended that it remain
available for parents, students, and staff as instructional material. The parent, unsatisfied with this result,
appealed the decision, and as such the Etiwanda School Board will make a final decision at its December
10 meeting.
The Family Book, by Todd Parr, which won the 2004 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award, is designed
to introduce young children (pre-kindergarten to grade 2) to the different types of families in the world,
and in their own community. According to School Library Journal, this concept book celebrating the
diversity of family groups is distinguished by its sense of fun. Publishers Weekly celebrated the book's
simple statements of tolerance and love.
When you consider your decision, we hope you will keep in mind that removing a book with such
established pedagogical merit in response to subjective complaints about its content would not only
disserve Etiwandas students, but would also raise serious First Amendment concerns. As the Supreme
Court has cautioned, Local school boards may not remove books from library shelves simply because
they dislike the ideas contained in those books and seek by their removal to prescribe what shall be
orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion. Boards of Education, Island Trees
Union Free School District No. 26 v. Pico, 457 U.S. 853, 872 (1982) (plurality opinion).
As the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) notes, while materials should be suited to the
maturity level of the students, it is important to weigh the value of the material as a whole, particularly
its relevance to educational objectives. Teachers, who have daily contact with students and make

supplemental instructional choices based on their professional training as well as on their familiarity with
the reading capacities and maturity level of students in their classes, are best prepared to make such
judgments.
We urge you to abide by Policy 1312.2 and base your decision on educational suitability, ensuring that it
not be influenced by a desire to suppress information or deny students access to ideas with which the
Board disagrees. Doing so is consistent with constitutional and educational principles and will serve the
interests of both the Etiwanda Public School District and its students.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,

Svetlana Mintcheva, Director of Programs

National Coalition Against Censorship

Chris Finan, Director

American Booksellers for Free Expression

Judy Platt, Director

Free Expression Advocacy
Association of American Publishers

Charles Brownstein, Executive Director

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Millie Davis, Director

Intellectual Freedom Center
National Council of Teachers of English

CC: David W. Long, President Pro Tempore

Brynna Cadman, Member
Cathline Fort, County Representative
Mondi M. Taylor, Clerk

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