A book that was briefly banned at Rocklin High School will remain in the library following the release of a district committee's report Friday.
The Rocklin Unified committee was charged with reviewing a mother's request to remove Stephen King's "Different Seasons" from the high school library because of what the parent said was a graphic rape scene in the book.
Rocklin High School formed a committee at the beginning of the school year to review the book and determine whether it was appropriate. That committee voted to remove the book, prompting the lone dissenter, Rocklin High student Amanda Wong, to take her concerns about censorship to the school district.
Rocklin Unified Superintendent Kevin Brown overturned the high school committee's decision in October, saying the call should have been made by a committee of districtwide representatives.
Brown said Friday that the districtwide committee's findings to allow the book are final, although "if the complaining party wishes to appeal the findings, they can take it to the next level and it goes to the (school) board."
"The committee, in looking at a broader scope and having more time to reflect on the concerns of the parent and do more research, came to a conclusion that I certainly support and I know the board will as well," Brown said.
Wong said she was relieved and excited to know the book would remain in the library.
"I was overwhelmed by the support I got in the community, even from people I didn't know," Wong said. "It was inspiring."
The district committee's report will be presented at Wednesday's board meeting. The committee was made up of two principals, a librarian, a district director, two English teachers and a Whitney High School student.
Loretta Kalb started her reporting career at The Sacramento Union, moved to KOVR-13 as a television reporter, editor and producer, headed to The Associated Press in San Francisco and eventually returned to Sacramento and joined The Sacramento Bee. Throughout her career, she has covered the state Legislature, courts, local government and, now, education. She is a Chico native and an Elk Grove resident.
Diana Lambert began her journalism career as a proofreader at the Lodi News-Sentinel. She is now a senior writer at The Sacramento Bee covering K-12 education and California State University, Sacramento. Previously she was The Bee’s Elk Grove bureau chief. Lambert was raised in a military family and lived at bases around the globe. She attended four high schools, graduating from Tokay High in Lodi and then Sacramento State University. She lives in Elk Grove.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.