East Penn School District

‘Prep,’ ‘Acid Test,’ Challenged in East Penn Before

Formal challenges were filed against 'The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test' in 2007 and 'Prep' in 2011 using established East Penn School District policy.

The current controversy surrounding two books on the Emmaus High School summer reading lists is not a first for the East Penn School District. Some board members expected to vote Sept. 24 on a motion to eliminate Tom Wolfe’s “Acid Test,” which is on the 10th grade summer reading list, and “Prep,” a 9th-grade selection written by Curtis Sittenfeld, as summer reading options. However, Board President Charles Ballard dismissed the motion for procedural reasons without giving the board a chance to discuss it. The main thrust of Ballard’s dismissal came from the fact that the books were not challenged under a formal district procedure known as Policy 109. Until that happened, he said, the board, in Ballard’s view, should not make any …

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East Penn School District

How Did ‘Porn’ Get on Emmaus Summer Reading List?

Two parents ask East Penn Board of School Directors at Monday night's meeting how 'pornographic' books wound up on Emmaus High School's Optional Summer Reading List.

Two Emmaus High School parents came before the East Penn Board of School Directors Monday night to ask the board what it is going to do about the “pornographic” book selections on the Emmaus High School optional summer reading list. Paula Wittman, 560 Broad St., addressed the board along with Jeff Lotte of the same address. The books triggering their alarm are Tom Wolfe’s “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test,” which is on the 10th grade list, and “Prep,” a 9th-grade selection written by Curtis Sittenfeld. The books are both best sellers by highly acclaimed authors, although they include graphic sexual and drug-related content. In particular, Wittman, who did the talking for the pair while Lotte handed out photocopied passages from the books, …

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East Penn School District

Stolz Moves to Ban 'Porn' From Emmaus Summer Reading

East Penn School Director Julian Stolz moves to remove two books from the Emmaus High School summer reading list after a parent complains to the board about the sexually graphic nature of their content at Monday’s board meeting.

East Penn School Director Julian Stolz said he doesn’t want to go down the route of banning books, even as he moved to eliminate two books from Emmaus High School’s optional summer reading list at Monday night’s meeting of the East Penn Board of School Directors. Stolz put into a play a measure to be discussed at the board’s next meeting that would remove two books from the Emmaus High School optional summer reading list: Tom Wolfe’s “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test,” which is on the 10th grade list and “Prep,” a 9th-grade selection written by Curtis Sittenfeld. “I understand that this is just optional reading,” Stolz said. “I would not feel comfortable reading this content out loud at a board meeting. If I did, I would be charged with the…

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careless fills

10:03 am on Friday, September 28, 2012

I wish I could share your optimism that the schools would pick literature that was appropriate for all and that every parent wouldn't have to vet every assignment.   more ›

Read Kiddo Read and 'A Wrinkle in Time'

My grandmother would be so pleased to see her timeless book included in the Patch summer reading lists.

Summertime, and the reading is easy ... or challenging, depending on our mood, right? I have just submitted my latest YA manuscript to my agent, so I am gearing up for a reading frenzy, a veritable feast of other people’s words. And I love them all, from picture books to the classics. (Right now I am reading The Mysterious Benedict Society aloud to my daughter (age 7) at the urging of my boys (ages 10 and 12) and I am LOVING it.) For myself I am currently reading A Discovery of Witches. When I was a child, summertime meant getting lost in other worlds created by amazing authors, JUST FOR ME. (Right?) This summer, Patch has teamed up with James Patterson to create a reading list to encourage literacy: Read Kiddo Read.  I was very pleased to…

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Summer Reading Lists for Kids Ages 8-12

Patch has teamed up with James Patterson’s READKIDDOREAD program to bring you reading lists for every age. If you’re looking for some great summer reading options, check this list of “Favorite Pageturners” from James Patterson.

You can't swim all summer, right? So you'll be looking for a great book to read. This list of books has something for everyone – adventure, magic, smart kids, and amazing kids. Read one, or read ‘em all – post your thoughts in the comments. Or, if we missed your favorite book, tell us in the comments! Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos Two months of being grounded during summer vacation change Jack Gantos’ life forever. Especially since it involves the mysterious chore of typing obituaries for his intriguing neighbor. Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald What happens when Charlie Joe Jackson, the most reluctant reader EVER has to actually read a book? Big Nate in a Class by Himself (Big Nate series) by Lincoln …

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