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‘The House of the Spirits’ Book Challenge Review Committee Meeting Rescheduled for Thursday, Dec. 12

By Jesse Wood

Dec. 4, 2013. The second of two meetings of the appeal committee reviewing the parent challenge of “The House of the Spirits” novel has been rescheduled for 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12. The meeting will take place at the Gragg Education Center on Pioneer Trail. 

house of spiritsThe meeting was initially scheduled prior to Thanksgiving on a day of winter weather.

Marshall Ashcraft, spokesman for Watauga County Schools, said that Chastity Lesesne, the parent challenging the novel, and Mary-Kent Whitaker, the WHS sophomore English teacher that featured the book in her class, have both been invited to the meeting to share their opinions and thoughts on the matter.

“They were both invited,” Ashcraft said, “[But] I don’t know if they will choose to appear.”

If the review committee sees the material fit for the curriculum then Lesesne can file the third and final level of appeal, which would be heard at the next regularly scheduled school board meeting. 

Read prior articles on the issue:

Dec. 4, 2013: Standing Room Only in Anne Belk Library at ASU for ‘The House of The Spirits’ Teach-In Tuesday Night

Nov. 27, 2013: Coalition Against Censorship Pens Letter To WCS Book Challenge Review Committee: ‘Retain the Book’

Nov. 21, 2013: Allende, Author of ‘The House of the Spirits,’ Defends Book, Pens Letter to Watauga School Board, Staff

Nov. 18, 2013: GOP Commissioners Voice Objections To Watauga School Board Regarding ‘The House of Spirits’ Novel at WHS

Nov. 8, 2013: Members Selected for Committee To Review Challenge of ‘The House of Spirits’ in Watauga Classroom

Nov. 6, 2013: Parents Opposed To ‘The House of Spirits’ Speak During School Board Meeting: ‘Not An Issue Of Censorship’  

Nov. 1, 2013: WHS Teachers Defend “The House Of Spirits,” Concerned Parent Moves To File Appeal To Review Committee