June 15, 2015

Barry Pace, Chair

Community Media/Technology Advisory Committee
Buncombe County Schools
Via email: Barry.pace@bcsemail.org

Dear Mr. Pace and Members of the Community Media/Technology Advisory Committee,

As organizations dedicated to the freedom to read, the integrity of the public education system, and the
application of First Amendment law and principles in public institutions, we are writing with concern
regarding the challenge to Khaled Hosseinis novel The Kite Runner in the English II Honors class at A.C.
Reynolds High School. We strongly urge you to keep the book in the curriculum.

As we understand it, a parent objected to the language and some of the themes in The Kite Runner after Ms.
Brooke Bowman, an English II Honors teacher, sent a letter to parents informing them that the novel would
be read. In the letter Ms. Bowman explained the literary value of the novel and noted that it deals with
complex and serious issues. The class was to begin reading the book, which has been on the districts high
school approved reading list for several years, on May 5. However, in response to the parental complaint, the
reading was suspended pending review by the building level MTAC, which met on May 11 and found that The
Kite Runner merits inclusion in the curriculum and should remain an option to be used as a supplementary
novel in whole class settings or as self-selected reading at the teachers discretion. The parent was
unsatisfied with the decision and launched an appeal on May 28. The book must remain suspended until the
appeal process is complete.

We urge you to uphold the decision of the building level MTAC and follow your districts policy, according to
which [b]ooks and other instructional materials may be removed from the school media collection only for
legitimate educational reasons and subject to the limitations ofthe First Amendment (italics added for emphasis).
We hope that in your review of this challenge, the overall high literary and pedagogical merit of the novel will
be weighed over words and individual scenes taken out of context. We are sure you will agree that, even
though the book remains in the library as optional reading, class discussion of literature that addresses
complicated and disturbing themes gives students a forum for grappling emotionally and intellectually with
these events and is highly preferable to reading on ones own.

Described by School Library Journal as a beautifully writtengripping story of personal redemption [that] will
capture readers interest, The Kite Runner is a critically acclaimed best-selling novel that is widely read by
high school students around the country. In 2004, the American Library Association (ALA) presented it with
the prestigious Alex Award, an award given annually to books recommended for readers ages 12 through 18.
According to a review published by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE):

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2003) tells a tale that includes some of literatures and lifes
greatest themeslove, honor, guilt, fear, and redemption. These are themes and feelings that all
humans experience in their lifetimes. What better way to relate to a book than through emotions that

each reader has experienced in some form at some point. Finding literature for teenagers to read
focuses on making connections and relating their own lives to these books; Hosseini certainly
accomplishes this in his novel.

We are gratified that Buncombe District policy recognizes the utmost importance of the First Amendment
and emphasizes that professional educators are in the best position to determine whether a particular
instructional material is appropriate for the age and maturity of the students and for the subject matter being
taught. The views of those who object to the book are not shared by all, and removing it from the curriculum
would violate the rights of parents who want their children to read The Kite Runner. Indeed, we understand
that parents objecting to their children reading a specific book have the option of requesting an alternative
reading. Such a policy fully satisfies parents desire to control the education of their own children, but will
not adversely affect the curriculum as a whole.

As many courts have observed, public schools have the obligation to administer school curricula responsive
to the overall educational needs of the community and its children Leebaert v. Harrington, 332 F.3d 134, 141
(2d Cir. 2003), rather than to try to accommodate the personal, moral, or religious views or values of
everyone in the community. No parent has the right to tell a public school what his or her child will and will
not be taught. Id. Any other rule would put schools in the untenable position of having to cater a
curriculum for each student whose parents had genuine moral disagreements with the schools choice of
subject matter. Brown v. Hot, Sexy and Safer Productions, Inc. , 68 F.3d 525, 534 (1st Circ. 1995), cert. denied,
516 U.S. 1159 (1996).

Decisions about instructional materials should be based on sound educational groundsthe literary and
pedagogical merit of a whole work versus the sum of its partsnot because some individuals do or do not
agree with the message or content of a particular book. This approach is consistent with constitutional and
educational principles and is in line with Buncombe District policy. We urge you to demonstrate your
commitment to these goals by restoring The Kite Runner to the Honors II English curriculum.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

Joan Bertin, Executive Director

National Coalition Against Censorship

Chris Finan, President

American Booksellers For Free Expression

Judy Platt, Director

Free Expression Advocacy
Association of American Publishers

Charles Brownstein, Executive Director

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Millie Davis, Senior Developer

Affiliate Groups and Public Outreach
National Council of Teachers of English

Fatima Shaik, Chair

Children's and Young Adult Book Committee
PEN American Center

Lin Oliver
Executive Director
Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators