DEALING WITH PARENT CONCERNS

Adapted from material prepared by

Doug Hamilton, Evergreen School District, Vancouver, WA.

Dealing with challenges to materials is not a battlefield, and the would-be-censors are not the enemy. They are patrons of a service you help provide, and their emotions, beliefs and ideas are intensely real. In all ways, treat them with respect.

Acknowledge that the clash of personal values is inevitable, and sometimes such a clash will evolve into a confrontation. In a democratic society, an occasional confrontation is a small price to pay for the freedoms that allow individuals to hold and express personal beliefs.

When presented with a citizen's concern:

PREPARE YOURSELF

1. If you cannot talk immediately or need time to collect your thoughts, schedule an appointment at your mutual convenience.

2. Make sure you know and can articulate your viewpoint about the material question.

3. Call in help; have a principal, library media specialist, or teacher sit in as you discuss the concerns of the citizen.

LISTEN AND ESTABLISH TRUST

1. Acknowledge the citizen's interest in his or her child's education.

2. Use active listening, paraphrasing, body language, etc. to put yourself and the citizen at ease.

3. Meet negative resistance with positive resistance.

4. Acknowledge and appreciate the citizen's personal values or religious beliefs.

5. Let the citizen present concerns completely; resist the temptation to interrupt and correct.

6. Try not to contradict the citizen's ideas about the materials, schools, staff, etc.

7. Try to find a point of agreement and build on that.

8. Be succinct and to the point when presenting your rationale.

9. Be supportive of the selection process, the staff, and the district philosophy and policies.

10. Avoid letting the citizen link the contents of the collection to the personal character of school staff.  Making the material available is not an endorsement of the ideas it contains.

11. Express your confidence in the school, the staff, the selection and in your ability to negotiate a win-win solution for everyone concerned.

12. Recognize, acknowledge, and accept legitimate citizen concerns; this does not necessarily mean agreement.

13. Assure the citizen that his/her concerns are being heard, and the school district will respond.

14. Explain the district selection process and the use of recognized selection tools prepared by experts in the field.

15. Maintain an open line of communication with the citizen.

FOCUS ON THE REAL ISSUE

1. Find the real agenda ("what's wrong with schools today..."), but stick to and discuss only the relevant issues.

2. Determine if you are dealing with an organized frontal attack with an outside direction (Eagle Forum, Moral Majority, etc.).

3. Defend the principle of the freedom to read as a basic American freedom.

4. Emphasize your concern for all students.

5. Be forthright in explaining your own values and educational philosophy.

IMPLEMENT POLICY

1. Exactly follow the district policy and make sure the citizen understands the district policy and the procedures for challenging materials.

2. Accurately and thoroughly document each step of the challenge process.

FOLLOW THROUGH

1. Immediately notify the Director of Curriculum and/or Library Coordinator and the school principal of the situation and how it is being handled.

2. When settled, evaluate what worked and what did not.

3. Follow up and keep all the promises you made.

4. Provide some kind of response to all specific objections, questions, complaints.