Clarkstown School Board Keeps Controversial Novel on Reading List

The Clarkstown Board of Eduction voted Thursday night to keep "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" on the high school supplemental reading list.

Deborah O'Connell, deputy superintendent of schools, chaired the committee reviewing the book. O'Connell said the district went through all the necessary procedural steps in evaluating the book.

"I fully support the committee's recommendation and fully support the board's vote on the recommendation," she said.

The 1999 novel by Stephen Chbosky has been part of the district's curriculum for the past two years. Earlier this school year, the parents of a Clarkstown North High School junior voiced concerns about the book's content and appropriateness. 

The story is a series of letters written by a teenager named Charlie and discusses drinking, drugs, sex, homosexuality and other issues. 

One Clarkstown North parent said she read the book. "I wasn't offended by it. I'm encouraging my kids to read it."

Another spoke out in favor of the book, "I think it has value with what's going on in the world today."

More than a dozen high school students turned out and several spoke positively about the novel. Rachel, a senior at Clarkstown North, said "I found it to be an incredibly striking book. This is life. This is high school today." Sarah, another North student, voiced her opinion. "If you put a ban on this book you will encourage more students to read it."

Several teenagers told the board they felt certain passages from the book were being pulled out of context. They also thought that discussing the book in class gave them a valuable opportunity to share thoughts and feelings.

Schools Superintendent Margaret Keller-Cogan said she had received numerous e-mails about the book. She read the novel before reading the committee's report on it and said that page after page reminded her of being a high school student reading "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger. She thought it effectively represented the life and challenges of high school students. 

The superintendent reminded the board that the book is on the supplemental reading list and teachers can elect to teach it, they are not required to teach it. Students can elect to read it, they are not required to read it.

Each of the five attending board members stated individually they also had read the novel.

Cynthia Sheridan, English Department chairperson at Clarkstown South High School, said, "I think the novel was chosen because it is a really good parallel to "Catcher in the Rye." She said the novels depict life in the 1950s and 1999 with different characters but similar emotions. "I consider the book a good addition to the curriculum," she said.

Jordan Handler, 17, was the first student to speak in favor of the book before the board. He was pleased with its vote. "I feel the vote went as it should. I'm very proud of the board members," Handler said.

 O'Connell was impressed by the students who attended the board meeting. "I am most proud of the students that spoke on behalf of this novel," she said.