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Harris
Libraries Reconsideration Policy
PROCEDURES
FOR DEALING WITH CHALLENGED MATERIALS
Any member of the ASIJ Community may formally challenge materials
in the ASIJ Harris Library on the basis of appropriateness. This procedure
is for the purpose of considering the opinions of those persons in the
school and the community who are not directly involved in the selection
process.
REQUEST FOR
INFORMAL RECONSIDERATION
The library receiving a complaint regarding a learning resource
will try to resolve the issue informally.
 | The principal or other appropriate staff will explain to the
questioner the school’s selection procedure, criteria, and
qualifications of those persons selecting the resource. |
| The principal or other appropriate staff will explain the particular
place the questioned resource occupies in the education program, its
intended educational usefulness, and additional information regarding
its use, or refer the party to someone who can identify and explain
the use of the resource. |
| If the questioner wishes to file a formal challenge, a copy of the
ASIJ Harris Library policy and a Request for Reconsideration of
Learning Resources form will be handed or mailed to the party
concerned by the headmaster. |
REQUEST
FOR FORMAL RECONSIDERATION
Preliminary Procedures:
| Each library will keep on hand and make available Request for
Reconsideration of Learning Resources forms. All formal objections to
learning resources must be made on these forms. |
| The Request for Reconsideration of Learning Resources form will be
signed by the questioner and filed with the headmaster or someone so
designated by the headmaster. |
| The principal, the assistant principal, and the curriculum
coordinator will be informed of the formal complaint received. |
| The request for reconsideration will be referred to a
reconsideration committee at the school level for reevaluation of the
resource. |
THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE
Upon receipt of a request for formal reconsideration of a
learning resource, the headmaster will:
| Appoint a reconsideration committee including the following
membership as appropriate:
One member of the administration chosen by the headmaster. |
| One member of the faculty chosen by the faculty; |
| One member of the library media center professional staff chosen by
the library media center professional staff; |
| One member of the ASIJ Board of Directors chosen by the Board of
Directors; |
| Two students chosen by the student body. |
| Name a convener of the reconsideration committee. |
| Arrange for a reconsideration committee meeting within 10 working
days after the complaint is received. |
| The reconsideration committee may choose to consult community
persons with related professional knowledge. |
| The reconsideration committee will review the challenged resource
and judge whether it conforms to the principles of selection outlined
in the ASIJ Harris Library's Selection of Learning Resources policy.
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RESOLUTION
The reconsideration committee will:
| Examine the challenged resource; |
| Determine professional acceptance by reading critical reviews of the
resource; |
| Weigh values and faults and form opinions based on the material as a
whole rather than on passages or sections taken out of context; |
| Discuss the challenged resource in the context of the educational
program; |
| Discuss the challenged item with the individual questioner when
appropriate; |
| Prepare a written report. |
| The written report will be discussed with the individual questioner
if requested. |
| The written report will be retained by the headmaster, with copies
forwarded to the principal, assistant principal and curriculum coordinator. |
| A minority report also may be filed. |
| Written reports, once filed, are confidential and available for
examination by trustees and appropriate officials only. |
| The decision of the reconsideration committee is binding for the
individual school. |
| Notwithstanding any procedure outlined in this policy, the
questioner will have the right to appeal any decision of the
reconsideration committee to the Board of Directors as the final review
panel. |
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
|
Any resident or employee of the school district may
raise objection to learning resources used in a school’s educational
program, despite the fact that the individuals selecting such resources
were duly qualified to make the selection, followed the proper
procedure, and observed the criteria for selecting learning resources. |
|
The headmaster should review the selection and objection
rules with the library media center staff at least annually. The staff
should be reminded that the right to object to learning resources is one
granted by policies enacted by the Board of Directors. |
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No parent has the right to determine reading, viewing,
or listening matter for students other than his or her own children. |
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The ASIJ Harris Library supports the
Library Bill of
Rights, adopted by the American Library Association. When learning resources
are challenged, the principles of the freedom to read/listen/view must
be defended as well. |
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Access to challenged material will not be restricted
during the reconsideration process. |
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The major criterion for the final decision is the
appropriateness of the material for its intended educational use. |
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A decision to sustain a challenge will not necessarily
be interpreted as a judgment of irresponsibility by the professionals
involved in the original selection and/or use of the material |
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