Everyone has a story. What's yours?
 Linda Thomas
twitter: @TheNewsChick
About Linda
Linda is the morning news anchor and features reporter for KIRO Radio. This is her local news blog, with an emphasis on social media, technology, Northwest companies, education, parenting, and anything else that grabs her attention.

If you have a news tip or story idea, I'd love to hear from you...

To leave a voice message for Linda about any of her stories call toll free 1-855-251-2363

Follow Me on Pinterest


Richland school bans Sherman Alexie book

June 20, 2011 @ 3:26 am (Updated: 12:15 pm - 6/20/11 )

The Richland School District has banned a Sherman Alexie book.

Originally, the Associated Press erroneously reported the district's Instructional Materials Committee had not read "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," and that the committee decided to ban the book because of profanity and sex scenes. The committee had read the book and did not give a single recommendation, but was divided on the book, with some opposing the book and some endorsing it.

Alexie"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" is semi-autobiographical, because like the main character in the novel, Alexie grew up on the Spokane Reservation. Arnold's opinions in the book that he will never drink reflect Alexie's regret at having an alcohol problem.

The story chronicles the character's decision to go to an all-white high school in the off-reservation town of Reardan, and deals with issues such as racism, poverty, and the following of tradition.

Richland isn't the first school district to ban the book. In April 2010, the Stockton School Board in Missouri voted to remove it from the school library after a parent complained about its content. The American Library Association has asked the school board to reconsider its decision. In September 2010, the School Board decided to uphold its April decision to ban the book from the curriculum and from the library with a vote of 5-2

Related: "A Brave New World" controversy

More from Linda Thomas

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (7)


  • Add A Comment

  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Based on student and teacher feedback?
    June 20, 2011 6:08 am
    So, one English teacher with an agenda and 2-3 like minded students can get a book banned from a school district? I wonder how many other decisions of that school board are made in response to uninvestigated rumors?

    Profanity and sex scenes? Richland must be the one place on the planet where high school kids aren't exposed to, (or using), profanity during every class break. Better pump some extra oxygen into that boardroom before breaking the news to the school board that today's high school kids are in no danger of first discovering the details of sexual intercourse by reading a book about a part-time Indian. Pregnant teenagers are almost as prevalent in small, rural towns as in the most economically desperate inner city neighborhoods.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Answer42 wrote...
    Ban ALL books (by default) until read by the committee
    June 20, 2011 7:02 am
    Would that solve the problem? Look at it from the opposite angle of attack. Maybe if they HAD read it they might have thought it was ok. Maybe it would be a unanimous decision to ban it. But then the controversy wouldn't be second-hand censorship, it would be over the standards.

    (Yes, I know, thousands of submissions, can't read them all.)

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • taxman wrote...
    Book Banning
    June 20, 2011 8:16 am
    Guess that what happens when you elect hard-core conservative Christians to the school board. Just a guess but who else would do something stupid like banning a book based on reports of profanity and sex without reading it first.....OK, maybe a hard-core Muslim.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • artimus wrote...
    3 cheers for the Richland School Dist
    June 20, 2011 9:03 am
    ...thereby assuring that the book will be read with zeal by all of the kids that wouldn't have given it any thought if it hadn't been banned. Sherman Alexie thanks you for the publicity. Great book, btw...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sghouse wrote...
    banning a book
    June 20, 2011 9:34 am
    ..may be the ultimate stupidity in a universe full of it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • AndyDog wrote...
    Alexie novel
    June 20, 2011 10:28 am
    Hey News Chick -- Have you read the book? Would you use the same profanity in your blog as is used in the book? Why don't you reprint some of the sexual content from the book so we can understand what is fueling the controversy? Are you afraid your editor/boss might object? If it's not fit to post, how can anyone condemn the school board?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • artimus wrote...
    AndyDog
    June 20, 2011 11:06 am
    Read it yourself, ya lazy sack.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }