Democracy for Vancouver

This is civilization?

Vancouver Public Schools may be the first district in the nation to not allow Scholastic Book Clubs to sell its merchandise through its schools.

School officials said that district policy prohibits them from promoting for-profit businesses, but that’s not what triggered the conversation in the first place.

In late November, a disgruntled Vancouver woman wrote an e-mail to Scholastic, complaining about its inclusion of the children’s book, “The Golden Compass.” The book has been perceived by some Christian groups as being anti-Christian.
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The decision to no longer promote Scholastic Book Clubs — a step Scholastic Book Clubs President Judy Newman said by e-mail that she didn’t know of other school districts having taken — met resistance from parents and teachers.

“It was kind of like we were taking away apple pie,” Murdock said.

J. is a teacher, and Scholastic book sales are a big help in building class libraries. The books cost as little as 99¢ and many of them are less than $3.00, and the kids love being able to pick out their own books; and, for every 10 books that the class buys the teacher gets one free book for the classroom. Knowing how much J. spends every year on classroom supplies - including books - every little bit helps.

But next year, if he gets a job in the Vancouver District as we hope, no more book sales - and no more free books, thanks to a self-righteous Christofascist who can’t bear to have anyone malign her faith.

What kind of faith is it that can’t stand up to a children’s book?