'Challenged' novel on police brutality sparks discussion at Tiverton School Committee meeting

TIVERTON — Profanity, drug references and the vilification of police were issues a parent raised with a book that was a part of a ninth-grade English curriculum at Tiverton High School.

“All American Boys,” a 2015 young adult novel by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, was “inspired by recent controversial events and the national firestorm over police brutality,” according to a description of the book on Kiely’s website.

The lives of Rashad Butler, a young Black man, and Quinn Collins, a young white man, “are forever changed by an act of extreme police brutality,” the book description on Kiely’s website says.

More: Listen as Portsmouth Author Janelle Steuer reads an excerpt from her new children's book

“As a black man and a white man, both writers and educators, we came together to cowrite a book about how systemic racism and police brutality affect the lives of young people in America, in order to create an important, unique, and honest work that would give young people and the people who educate them a tool for talking about these difficult but absolutely vital conversations,” Reynolds and Kiely said in a joint statement on Kiely’s website.

'Let’s not teach our children to vilify the people we trust and pay to keep us safe'

At the Tiverton School Committee meeting on Tuesday night, Dustin Hemling, the parent of a freshman student, said he read the book and encouraged “everybody else to do the same” before he shared his perspective.

Hemling, who spoke calmly throughout, said “All American Boys” is currently ranked third on a list of “most challenged books” by the American Library Association. He also noted “The Hate U Give,” by Angie Thomas, is on the list.

Every year, the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom "compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools,” the ALA website says. “The lists are based on information from media stories and voluntary reports sent to OIF from communities across the U.S.”

“The Top 10 lists are only a snapshot of book challenges. Surveys indicate that 82-97% of book challenges — documented requests to remove materials from schools or libraries — remain unreported and receive no media,” the website says.

More: Following nationwide calls for reform, Newport County police talk about their efforts

“All American Boys” ranks third on the 2020 list for “profanity, drug use, and alcoholism, and because it was thought to promote anti-police views, contain divisive topics,” according to the ALA website.

“Why does Tiverton have books being taught in school that are on the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in the United States?” Hemling asked. “I mean, it’s a fair question. With thousands of books to choose from, why did we choose these?”

“If my child was caught using the language in this book, or referencing drug and alcohol abuse in the school hallway, would there be disciplinary action taken? The answer is unequivocally yes, and there should be,” Hemling said. “But apparently 13- and 14-year-olds reading (it) in class, listening to an audio book is acceptable. Is this the district’s current stance?"

Hemling read one excerpt with profanity and drug references. In closing, he read another excerpt, in which a character says that monsters “hide in plain sight with uniforms and badges.”

More: Former Newport resident writes book that takes place largely in the City-by-the-Sea

“Let’s not teach our children to vilify the people we trust and pay to keep us safe,” Hemling said. “Why don’t we teach them that 99% of the men and women in uniform would throw themselves into harm’s way to protect them without question? I’m very proud of what I did during my 14 years of law enforcement, and I know from a real-world, firsthand experience who these men and women are, and I can assure you that they’re not monsters. We can do better, we have to be better.”

'The main theme of the novel is standing up for what is right'

Sara Gray, an English teacher at the high school, explained why she chose “All American Boys” for her curriculum, later noting that “due to new state mandates ... this book it not a part of that curriculum anymore.”

Emails to Gray and Tiverton Superintendent Peter Sanchioni seeking clarification of the state mandates were not returned Wednesday.

The Daily News asked Victor Morente, communications director with the Rhode Island Department of Education, about Gray's reference to new state mandates. In an email, Morente referred a reporter to the RIDE website, noting in particular a 2019 law that requires RIDE to support local education agencies "in the selection and implementation of curriculum materials."

More: These authors with ties to Newport have left their mark on the literary world

Gray said five years ago, “in an effort to increase my students’ interest in reading in my college prep-level classes,” she looked for a contemporary novel to pair with the classic “To Kill a Mockingbird.” She consulted a colleague and educational resources before choosing “All American Boys," mentioning the numerous accolades Reynolds has won.

“The main theme of the novel is standing up for what is right, no matter how difficult that may be, a theme that is also at the forefront in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’” Gray said.

To address the concern of profanity in the book: “While I do not condone vulgar language, in my classroom or my home for that matter, to pretend it doesn’t exist is not the role of a high school teacher,” Gray said. “I am certainly not teaching this language or exposing students to vocabulary they’re unfamiliar with, however it provides an opportunity for a discussion … and the effects of inappropriate language, and it makes the book relatable.”

“Because like it or not, this is how some students speak when they are not in the company of their parents, other adults, role models and teachers,” Gray said. “The same applies for the brief mention of underage drinking. When caught by his mother, the message is sent to the character that this is unacceptable behavior. Is underage drinking a reality for some? Absolutely. Am I exposing students to something they don’t know exists? Absolutely not.”

“Not only is this novel enjoyed by a majority of students, it highlights important and controversial topics that are best acknowledged in a classroom,” Gray continued. “I’ve taken the time to comb through the vast resources available for teaching this book to provide my students with a productive reading experience where no race, gender or occupation is targeted. Rather a running discussion is held about individuals acting alone and perspective and a deep look at character and motivation.”

Gray noted “To Kill a Mockingbird” also made the 2020 list of “most challenged” books. "The previous year, ‘Harry Potter’ was on this list,” and The Holy Bible’s made the list, too, she said.

“I am proud to have chosen this book to be read in my classroom,” Gray said.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: All American Boys novel sparks discussion in Tiverton RI schools