 ATHLETIC SHORTS -- Tuscaloosa, Alabama Mother's Challenge Agape Press Adult Published Read an Excerpt For a once sided vision of what makes ATHLETIC SHORTS wicked, review Lisa Jeffcoat's objections to "Goin' Fishin," and her districts decision not to pull the book in 2001. Then compare it to Limestone County's decision in 2005 for a startling contrast. Excerpt Daughter's Forced, Profanity-Laced Oratory Riles Alabama Mom By Rusty Pugh (AgapePress) - An Alabama mother is upset that her teenage daughter was forced to read a profanity-laced short story aloud in class. But even more frustrating for her is the fact that she has received no cooperation from school officials--and no help from the church community. For Lisa Jeffcoat, it is a puzzling and frustrating situation. Her 14-year-old daughter attends Northside High School in the Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, school district. She was forced to read aloud in class a story called " Goin' Fishin' " from a collection of short stories by Chris Crutcher entitled Athletic Shorts. Jeffcoat says the piece was laced with profanities, including the taking of the Lord's name in vain. When her daughter objected to reading it, the teacher told her to substitute the profanity with other words. What Jeffcoat wants to know is, if it is illegal to pray in school, or to even mention the name of Jesus, how could her child be forced to read something that she considers highly offensive? "It breaks their own student handbook," Jeffcoat says. "It's a Class 1 violation. And you would think...the church people would be beating down my door, but they don't seem to want to touch this. It's like they're too comfortable in their church, their fancy pews, and their new carpet, you know." "They're not standing up for God, and there's a price to pay for standing up for what's right," she says. "[We're] having to fight to get this removed. We can't pray [but] they're going to sit there and profane God's name out loud. And it's broke [sic] my heart." Jeffcoat has so far received no help -- or answers -- from school officials. She says she has been stalled, even lied to by them, on numerous occasions. She also says church members in her community have not stepped forward to help. 2000 AgapePress all rights reserved. FOLLOW UP: Mother Continues to fight to Remove Objectionable Materials June 25, 2001 by Rusty Pugh (AgapePress) - An Alabama mother who has fought a long-running battle with a local school board says her biggest disappointment is having churches and school boards turn down her pleas for help. Lisa Jeffcoat thought she could count on church members and pastors for help when she took on the Tuscaloosa County School Board in her attempt to have an objectionable book removed from the library and from a list of required reading. Last year, Jeffcoat’s daughter was forced to read aloud in class a story called "Goin' Fishin'" from a collection of short stories by Chris Crutcher entitled Athletic Shorts. Jeffcoat says the piece was laced with profanities, including the taking of the Lord's name in vain. It has taken her many months to convince the school board to finally remove that book. Jeffcoat believes she is standing up for what is right, and she says she has received no help from churches or school administrators. “People that I would tell — they agree but they wouldn’t go with me — they wouldn’t stand behind me to fight it,” Jeffcoats says. “They’d sign their name on a piece of paper, which I appreciate, but I need people to stand up and be counted. Nobody wants to rock the boat.” Jeffcoat continues her battle one book at a time. The board so far has agreed to remove only the book by Crutcher, but she says she will continue to attempt to have all objectionable books removed, even if no one else wants to help. http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/6/252001c.asp http://www.catholicexchange.com/vm/index.asp?vm_id=24&art_id=8131 |
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