Book at Clarke Community High School causes stir

John Kerwin speaks to Clarke's school board on Oct. 12. (Melissa Brownrigg)

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A community member plans to raise $1,080 to replace a book he feels is inappropriate for high school students.

Osceola resident John Kerwin said he was surprised when he saw his child’s homework for The Chocolate War – a book currently taught to Clarke Community High School sophomore students.

Kerwin said the strong language content caught his attention, but after reading the book, he also wasn’t satisfied with its literary content.

The book in question won the Los Angeles Time Book Prize for Young Adult Fiction in 2000 and has been taught at Clarke High School for five years.

Cox said this is the first year the book was challenged.

Kerwin filed an objection to instruction materials. In it, he wrote, “the book teaches that individualism and nonconformity results in absolute failure.” Kerwin added that the book promotes bullying, which is against school policy.

Later, Kerwin told the school board on Oct. 12 that he would be willing to raise the funds for a new book.

Kerwin said he decided to take the task on himself because he saw the school district was facing some financial hardships, especially in light of Gov. Chet Culver’s recent budget cuts.

Superintendent Ned Cox said he thought the community-raised funds was a good idea.

The money needs to be raised before March 2010, but Kerwin said he wants to see the situation resolved as soon as possible. He is now asking for the community’s help.

“I would ask the support of the community who want to protect their children from this type of material,” he said.

During the school board meeting, the board recommended community members to be on a reconsideration committee. The committee will discuss future challenged materials and decide if the material is appropriate.

Upon the committee’s recommendation, material can be removed, limited, or stay the same.