Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Curriculum topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves three new high‑school choice texts; one member votes no over graphic‑novel concerns
Summary
The New Prague school board approved three additional choice texts for an 11th‑grade literature unit. The motion passed 5‑1 after a board member said he opposed using graphic novels at the high‑school level.
The New Prague Area Schools Board of Education approved three additional choice titles for an 11th‑grade literature unit after the high‑school English team presented the texts and explained how they fit district standards.
District staff said the titles were vetted by the English team and the District Advisory Committee; DAC raised no objections. The curriculum materials were presented as optional choices in a literature‑circle model that places students in small groups and assesses all groups against the same standards.
During discussion, one board member voiced concern about the inclusion of a graphic novel format at the high‑school level, saying graphic novels may not offer the same level of paragraph‑based complexity and rigor as traditional texts. That board member voted "nay"; the motion passed 5‑1.
Supervising staff said the choices are intended to increase student engagement during a unit focused on personal interest and enjoyment and that students would be held to the same analytical standards regardless of format.
