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Teachers and parents tell Seaside committee book supports freshmen standards and class discussion
Summary
Teachers, parents and former students told the review committee the book meets English 9b standards, supports struggling readers with lower reading complexity, and prompts meaningful classroom discussion; teachers described established practices to frame sensitive language.
Teachers on the review committee said the challenged book aligns with the learning objectives for English 9b and provides accessible reading levels for struggling students. Jane Crater, a 6th-grade language-arts teacher who reviewed assignments, said she saw strong student work and that the book’s lower Lexile level gives teachers room to develop themes in class.
Susan Bartlein, junior English teacher and department head, described classroom practices for managing sensitive language: teachers "don't say the slurs out loud" and they prepare students with discussions of historical context and hate speech before encountering difficult passages. Committee members said the syllabus includes standards-based reading and writing expectations, and that alternative texts have been offered in the past when families requested opt-outs.
