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The school year is just underway, and already one Ohio political figure is demonstrating his fear that our children might learn too much if they read a certain book.
Chuck Bartsche, who ran unsuccessfully for the Rocky River City Schools' Board of Education last year, is complaining about the inclusion of Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" in some AP English courses, according to News5Cleveland.
Morrison was born in Lorain, Ohio. She was a world-renowned and critically acclaimed novelist who shone a spotlight on some very uncomfortable topics in her effort to teach through literature. "The Bluest Eye" was published in 1970, and helps readers explore racism, sexual abuse and other topics through a young black girl's story.
Bartsche appears genuinely to believe "there's no positive" in students having that opportunity.
What a shame.
Katterli Coloutes told News5Cleveland "I think it's an important thing to have books like that out there, so children in this age are exposed to those difficult situations and those difficult conversations that they may not have had yet."
She's right. Bartsche acknowledges he is uncomfortable with talk of race, oppression and victimization. He seems to want to teach children it is OK to ignore those realities.
"That's the whole point of education," Coloutes said. "Show them what has happened in our country, how we've failed, and show them what we can do about it."
We can only hope Bartsche's outburst is the most we will see out of a frightening movement to meddle with teachers' ability to do their jobs.