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Palmyra board approves French reader after hours of public comment and debate
Summary
After extended public comment and debate about translation and review access, the Palmyra Area School Board approved a French reader titled "Alice" for the French II curriculum; board members said parents can review curriculum and the district will work to provide translations on request.
The Palmyra Area School Board voted Feb. 12 to approve a French reader (referred to in meeting materials as "Alice") for the high school French II curriculum after more than an hour of public comment and board discussion.
Supporters and critics appeared at the meeting. Public commenter Carrie Venano urged the board to review the primary text before judging it and asked the board to accept the book, saying it "provides an engaging, relatable story" and "gives our students an opportunity to exercise their French skills," and she urged them to "make a decision based out of knowledge, not a snap judgment based on a Google search." Other speakers raised concern that the book is not available in an English translation, which they said limits parents ability to review materials.
Administrators told the board that parents can review curriculum materials: "If it's a textbook review, we would give them a copy of the textbook," an administrator said, and staff added the district could work to provide translations or summaries for parents who request them. Curriculum staff said the approval process for language readers includes review by the teacher, department head, principal and curriculum lead prior to board consideration.
Board members debated two competing responsibilities: trusting an experienced teacher's recommendation and the board's legal responsibility to review curriculum. One board member said the board should not be a "rubber stamp" and must have sufficient documentation to approve materials; another said teachers select materials appropriate for the course and the board should trust their expertise. The administration noted the book is part of an elective course (French II) and said there were 36 students enrolled in that section this year.
After discussion of possible remedies — including having at least one English-language copy or a translated excerpt available for review — the motion to approve the reader passed. The board also approved amending its curriculum approval forms to include more supporting information for future requests.
The boards action was procedural approval of this curriculum item; the district said it will work with staff to make review materials available for parents who request them.
