The following letter was sent to the Cape Henlopen Board of Education with a copy submitted to the Cape Gazette for publication.
I was born and raised in Lewes, and I am a 1977 graduate of Cape Henlopen High School. My father was a long-time coach and teacher in the Lewes/Cape district. My husband and our two daughters are also Cape grads. Obviously, we have strong ties to this community.
I would like to commend the board on its decision to remove the above mentioned book from the summer reading list for incoming freshman. I hope that you are able to stand by that decision. I have not read the book. The only information I have on the book is what I have read in the newspaper and an online excerpt. Likewise, I am not familiar with any of the other books on the summer reading list.
I trust that in making your decision to remove this particular book that you have also reviewed the content of the other books. Unfortunately, we find ourselves living in an anything-goes society today. There are little restrictions on the content of music, TV shows, movies, language, clothes, etc... etc... etc... Our children need guidance. They need to learn values, respect and right from wrong. What has happened to our morals? I do not believe that it is okay for 13 and 14-year-olds to read books full of pages with foul language (if what I read about the book in the newspaper is correct information).
Is it acceptable for these same students to use this type of language in the hallways of Cape Henlopen High School? Then don't have them reading it in a book on a suggested summer reading list. I've always told my daughters - if you listen to that type of music and that type of language, it becomes the "norm" (in other words, accepted behavior). This should not be normal language for high school students or anyone else.
Obviously, not everyone shares my opinion. If the students choose to read the book when they are adults, or their parents are okay with them reading the book, then so be it. But it should not be included on the school's summer reading list. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
A concerned Cape alumna and parent,
Mary Lou Warren
Lewes
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