York Teachers Reflect On Controversial Book: Officials

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst School District 205 has not said whether it plans to recommend approval of "American Street," a book that prompted a debate at a school board meeting last month.

At a meeting Tuesday, the school board is set to hear an update on curriculum materials.

According to a district memo, York High School's English teachers are "engaging in further reflection" around "American Street," written by Ibi Zoboi.

The memo said the teachers came together last week and reviewed the feedback on the book.

"After processing the feedback, the team began identifying potential next steps that had been previously discussed or new proposals based on their new learnings from the community feedback," said the memo, written by district officials Katie Lyons and Kerry Leuschel.

The teachers are expected to address the issue at the board's June 13 meeting.

The novel is about a Haitian teenager who comes to America.

At an April 25 meeting, some residents complained about the language in the book and contended it was far below grade level. Others recommended the book be required reading.

At the meeting, Elmhurst conservative leader Tom Chavez read passages from the book that included the F-word and a variation of the N-word.

Some audience members objected. A small girl covered her ears.

When told that children were in the room, Chavez apologized.

In a text message to Patch afterward, Chavez blamed the children's parents. He noted he told the audience that he would read passages that he hoped made everyone "uncomfortable, ashamed and embarrassed."

"I thought the kids had exited, but their parents perhaps should have used those comments as a warning to remove the kids from the room," he told Patch.