The parent of a district 1-50 student wants a book from a popular children's author banned from school library shelves.
Arnisha Johnson says she and her daughter were disturbed by the subject content by author Judy Blume.
Arnisha Johnson says a week ago her daughter's teacher suggested she read "Iggie's House" as part the accelerated reading program at Roosevelt Magnet School. Unlike this version Johnson says the revised cover had a disturbing picture.
"It had a house and then it had a picket fence with somebody standing there in front of the fence holding a board saying go back to where you came from, and that's not a good thing for a third grader," she said.
Johnson says she prohibited her daughter Tan-Jashia from reading the book which deals with the struggles an African American family encounters after moving into an all white neighborhood. And even though her daughter did not read the book Johnson says she was tested on it and received an F.
Roosevelt Magnet School Principal Noly Branscumb would not say much about the incident except that a parent complained about a book and that the Central office is looking into it.
This is not the first time author Judy Blume's books have raised concern among parents. Several years ago District 150 banned some of her books from library shelves due to its subject matter.
District 150 spokeswoman Stacey Shangraw says under a policy now parents can prohibit their child from reading questionable material or can request of review of it by a committee.
"It's possible that for Judy Blume or any other type of book that the students are selecting that they have selected this book on their own or maybe a teacher recommended that they read a particular book know what the student previously selected to read," Shangraw said.
Johnson says the school principal reassured her that the grade would be taken off her daughter's record. She says not all children are mentally prepared to deal with sensitive topics like racism and despite good intentions by the author the book is offensive.
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