More Sociology Books Rejected By Bernards Township School Board

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — For the second time, the Bernards Township Board of Education rejected a sociology book for Ridge High School students following a heated meeting.

"I read the book front to back and to me, it's a disqualifier. So I will not be supporting this textbook either," said BOE president Keith Molinari.

The textbook at the center of the discussion was "Sociology: A Brief Introduction: High School Edition, Fourteenth Edition" printed by Mcgraw Hill LLC. The Board was set to approve the purchase of 60 textbooks for $9,900 for the advanced placement Sociology elective course.

The textbook approval was voted down by Molinari, Lawrence Rascio, Kirsten Light and Csilla Csipak voted against the book while McKeon, Salmon, and White were in favor of the book.

"My main core problem still is the stories that they tell to go through the sociology approach are very unbalanced. They're stated more as resolved facts that then the students discuss, rather than people might have different views on that and presenting both views," said Light. "I think the construct of the entire book I think is very effective but I am concerned about the content of those stories."

When Salmon asked specifically Light took issues with, she said "every chapter."

Csipak, who also did not approve the book, listed each issue she had with the book including mentions of people wanting to be called "child free" instead of "childless."

She said the book failed to mention "the frequent regret for those that chose not to have children is completely missed."

Additionally, Csipak noted that the book mentions that the cost to raise a child until they are 18 years old is around $285,000 or double if they go to college.

"This is an absolute materialistic view. No financial gain can be compared to the joy of having kids around you, hugging you, and loving you unconditionally," said Csipak.

White said the Board was "overstepping and taking away the rights of the teachers" when it comes to choosing material for their classroom.

"I think this was a huge mismanagement of our role," said White. "Yes we have a parental voice and we should always have a parental voice. You can exercise your parental voice and don't have your kid take the course. I have a child who is taking the course and I am really angry that my child will not have the textbook that is recommended by the teachers. You have the choice to say my kid can't take this course. But nobody should have that right for them."

Salmon pointed out that this criticism to curriculum material is not given to any other subject.

"To reject a book - because you a layperson - would teach sociology a different way makes no sense to me because we've done this in zero other courses. For some reason it's only sociology," said Salmon.

After the rejection of the book, the public commented for 40 minutes against and in favor of the Board's decision.

One resident Mary Urbas brought a piece of history noting that in 1922 the teaching of evolution was banned in school systems. It wasn't until 45 years later that the supreme court ruled it was in violation of the first amendment.

"We are still fighting that battle today in our sciences," said Urbas.

The Board previously rejected "The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology" printed by W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. at the April 28 meeting. Read More: Sociology Book Rejected By Bernards Township School Board

The rejection garnered the attention of a national news outlet, the Washington Post and brought out "embarrassed" residents. Read More: 'Embarrassed' Residents Decry Bernards School Board Rejection Of Book

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