Newman-Crows Landing school board recall, California, 2009
| Newman-Crows Landing School Board recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Janice Conforti Rose Lee Hurst |
| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2009 Recalls in California California recall laws School board recalls Recall reports |
Three members of the Newman-Crows Landing School Board faced petitions for recall but the threatened recall did not proceed to a vote.[1] Board members Laura Elkinton, Janice Conforti and Rose Lee Hurst were all targeted for recall in petitions submitted to the Stanislaus County elections office.[1]
The recall did not appear on the November 2009 ballot.[2]
At issue was a decision to ban a novel, Bless Me, Ultima, by author Rudolfo Anaya. The book was recommended for grades nine through 12 by the California Department of Education which described it as containing "mature content." It was reportedly removed from classrooms elsewhere in California as well as in other states.[3]
Noteworthy events
The recall effort came after the board's 4-1 vote backing Superintendent Rick Fauss' decision to pull the book from the required reading list at Orestimba High School due to the alleged use of profanity in the book. Fauss banned the book after a parent called it "anti-Catholic." The board upheld his decision. The banning drew national media attention.[1][4]
Public reaction to the ban included letters to the board from the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC), the ACLU of Northern California, and PEN American Center.[4] Fauss defended his decision:
| “ | There was excessive vulgarity or profanity used throughout the book. The context didn't . . . make it acceptable.[3][5] | ” |
"We are very determined. We feel strongly enough that we want to make a stand on this issue, and let them know that people do care," said Crescencia Maurer, a spokesperson for the group pursuing the recall.[1]
Path to the ballot
The group needed to obtain 1,100 signatures of registered voters for each recall petition filed.[1] Sufficient signatures were not submitted, and the recall effort came to an end.[2]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 WestsideConnect.com: "NCLUSD board recall bid set in motion," March 29, 2009
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Stanislaus County, "November 3, 2009 election results," accessed December 11, 2009
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Los Angeles Times, "In rural Newman, profanity gets a book banned," February 4, 2009
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 NCAC.org: "Free Speech Groups Oppose Censorship of Bless Me Ultima," Jan 1, 2009
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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