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Elkhorn schools to discuss controversial class

ELKHORN — Some parents are concerned about a unit taught in an English literature class at Elkhorn High School, and the school board today is expected to revise procedures for offering the unit in upcoming years.

Students are presented with about 10 topic choices to pursue each spring as part of the class, which is offered to sophomores and juniors. One topic has been particularly controversial because it uses homosexuality as a case study for the effects of intolerance against a particular group.

School Board President Susan Leibsle said some parents were concerned because they were not notified that their children were doing research on homosexuality. Some wanted the topic removed as a choice.

"We certainly don't want to require a family to do some sort of an in-depth investigation on something they are uncomfortable with," Leibsle said.

Board member Carol Burton, whose daughter is a senior at Elkhorn High School, said the unit is intended to show students the effects of name-calling and intolerance against any group of people, be it homosexuals, blacks or whites.

Although her daughter did not take that particular course, Burton said she would have no problem with it because "it's important to give kids a taste of what's out in the world."

"They're going to be working with and butting up against people who are going to be different from them, one way or another," she added.

Donald Downs, a University of Wisconsin political science professor and co-founder and president of the Madison-based Committee for Academic Freedom and Rights, said there are two ways to look at the issue of possibly eliminating the topic, and it comes down to how the curriculum is presented.

"If the reason for the parents' concern is that sexuality is being taught in a pedagogically irresponsible or dogmatic way, then that is potentially a valid pedagogical concern," Downs said. "If, however, the objections are simply because they don't like the topic of sexuality, then that could indeed weigh a First Amendment issue."

"Unfortunately, the law is pretty unclear," he added.

The topic, Leibsle added, is the only one that drew objections from parents.

"That was the only one that was controversial," she said." I don't know that they cared as much if it was another topic."

While removing the unit from the curriculum will not be considered, Leibsle added, the school board will decide tonight how to inform parents about their students' choice to take the unit and give them a chance to opt out.