Community and parents raise concerns about draft novel-evaluation rubric

Several members of the public told the Watertown Unified School District curriculum committee that a draft novel-evaluation rubric under consideration appears to favor traditional viewpoints and could exclude literature that portrays marginalized people.

"The intent of the rubric is to filter out books that challenge traditional institutions, absolute morality, slow social change, and especially literature that tells the stories of marginalized people and communities," said Steven Garner, a Watertown resident who spoke during the public-comment period. Other commenters asked whether evaluators would be trained, whether they would be required to read whole novels and who would fill a currently vacant curriculum-and-instruction administrative position.

Committee chair Jolene O'Brien emphasized the instrument is an early draft and a tool to inform deliberation rather than an automatic removal mechanism. "It is not finished product. It is under consideration," she said, urging caution and additional revisions. She proposed narrowing scope and testing the rubric before applying it broadly.

The committee recorded several action steps: committee members will provide edits and the group will bring back a revised draft at the next meeting in October; staff were asked to involve teacher representatives in the review process and to be mindful of teacher workload and existing curriculum commitments.