Parents take son out of school over controversial book

These parents are hilarious. They were talking about how they wanted to shelter their son to and I quote "Keep him innocent". What they don't realize if they are sheltering him from a BOOK then when this kid gets out to the real world he is as good as dead. You can't prevent him from things in a book. The stuff in the book really happens to people everyday, and the knowledge gained from reading about it is good.

you know, i just love how people SKIM through the books. it may have horrible things in it, but all of it adds up to a great story and is showing what really happens int he real world. its not as if charlies life in the book is going to change your sons life, so whats the point? my sister gave me the book to read, so it must be a book suitabe for me to read. and my sister looks out for me, watches what i do. she wouldnt give me a book that influences me to do LSD or anything of that sort. parents who don't want their children to read a book so harmless are hypocrites. they have drank sometime in their life, im sure. and not everyones parents get STONED, or anything of that sort, but if their best friend did it they would be there for them.

The Perks of Being a Wildflower is a book that every teen should read. For one thing it teaches teenagers who may have grown up in a harsh environment that their are people who have it worse and that there are other choices then commiting suicide. Obviously your child (Elijah) will not be able to discuss things with you because of your strong objections to modern living. It was noted above that we had no right to object to this because of Wendy's freedom of speech and you are absolutly right but aren't you going against the authors freedom of speech by saying it was banned. Banning books and Censorship takes away an authors freedom of speech. One more point to make is that your sheltered teen will now be able to take real life situations that he has not been educated on and glorify them making him more likly to do so. Yes there was a rape seen but it also showed girls how drinking can lead to bad consequences. Yes there was a gay guy but who are you to go against what god made them. He was being a good friend to him by supporting him. His genes not his personality made Patrick and Brad who they were. He also had a bad trip on LSD showing people that playing around wasnt a game. His sex scenes were not graphic or disturbing and he went about it in a skilled manner. This book should not be banned if their is an option not to read it. Anyways if you think your school distict is screwed up you should try out my school for a while. The reason i read this book was because my teacher told us we had to read a banned book and write a 12 to 15 page paper on it. The only choice we got was whether we wanted to read a book on racism, sex or drugs. But we dont have parents complaining here, and i consider that a good thing because i've never learned more about the dangers of censorship then when doing this project.

I am writing this comment for the Straffords and their supporters, so listen up. I am not here to mock you or knock you. I am here to ask some hard questions that I want you all to pay close attention to and actually answer. I don’t want the same old rehearsed answers or knee-jerk reactions. I want you all to breathe and think hard before replying to me. I am also a parent of a child in this class, so I have the same concerns and motivations you do. I have also waited a long time to post anything because I really thought this would blow over quickly, but you folks haven’t allowed it to so I thought it was time I spoke up along with the others.
I respect any parent that pays attention to what is going on in their child’s life, BUT it is clear to anyone that is involved in all this that no matter what anyone’s objection to this book is, is that there was an alternative. Even if you weren’t immediately aware of this, once you were made aware of this, why didn’t you just take that alternative? Again, I am not knocking you, but really, can’t you see that by your not just accepting that and letting Elijah read another book and be done with it you created a situation that the community has now been able to use against you and are indeed rallying against you? This never had to happen, but you elected to go to the TV news and then continue the fight by emailing and calling parents (like myself) and insisting we all fall in line with you and get this book banned. You called my home, unsolicited, and told me things about this book that, quite honestly, ARE NOT IN THE BOOK ( I know this now because I read the book
after you called me) and told me I HAD to agree with you and keep my daughter away from it. Wendy, did you really think this would work? Why didn’t you just let Elijah read the other book? Why did you take him out of Ashley and make him the butt of jokes and ridicule when all you had to do was elect for the other book?
I understand your love and concern for your child, as I have as well, but why make this a personal war against the teacher and anyone that approves of the book? Why can’t you let US decide that for ourselves? And why lie to us about the content in the book? Did you think we wouldn’t read it for ourselves? You have taken to calling us and literally LYING about what is in this book! And then you told me I HAD to agree with you. You seemed so angry and I couldn’t understand why when your child never had to even read the book. You bought the book and had it for 2 weeks before you had an objection to it. Elijah told my daughter he liked the book and then called her and others and told them to watch him on TV and then posted on MySpace about his time on TV. Was this your idea of protecting him? Have you checked his MySpace lately? It seems a lot worse to me, as a fellow parent, than anything I read in Perks of Being A Wallflower!
Wendy, no one is shaming you for protecting your child and you should know that at this point, but you refuse to admit it publicly. What we all have a problem with is that you will not admit that you had options, but refused them, and then chose to point fingers at the teacher and the school. They did nothing wrong, that I, as a parent, can see. Even if there was a break down in communication between you and the teacher, once you knew Elijah didn’t have to read the book, why not end it there? Why did you call WWAY yourself and then when that didn’t work you resort to calling all of us (the parents) and then TELL us we had to agree with you and not let our kids read the book either? Why go through the process of having it removed from the entire school system’s library book shelves? And why tell the TV news that wasn’t your intent when that is exactly the process you told me you were going through? That isn’t honest or honorable.
Again, why can’t you or your supporters ever address this key point? ELIJAH NEVER HAD TO READ THE BOOK. Why do you feel you can now decide for the rest of us parents what our kids can read? You don’t. Just address this one point and this whole thing will be over. Unless you have another agenda that we don’t know about? Honestly… if he didn’t have to read it, the teacher and the principal told you he could read something else… then WHY did you continue to make a fight where there wasn’t one? Seriously, answer that. We know YOU don’t like the book, but so what? HE DIDN’T HAVE TO READ IT. ADDRESS THAT PLEASE.

I am a student at Ashley. I am not enjoying this book. I wish my parent would speak up about this and fight it. The discussion of this book makes me very uncomfortable and embarrassed for my teacher. The way she acts about some of the topics... For my fellow classmates, be glad that your parents are speaking up for you. I realize the world is not a perfect place, but you would hope your school would be a place to learn, enlighten your mind, grow in maturity, not sit back and watch your teacher act silly about topics she gets kicks about talking about. I'm too young to wish my life away, but I will be glad to be out of Ms. M's class.

dear obnoxious parent,

i am so happy that you have read the book the perks of being a wallflower. oh wait, i forgot you just skimmed through it to find any words you don't like.
if you are so concerned about protecting your child then why are you posting his face all over the news. good job on being the parent of the month...not. i think you just felt like starting problems. well i hope you are having fun with it.
Sincerely,
Not su oh

Sounds like these fine parents lived in Saudi Arabia. This is America....now act like an American!

Treebeard
I will rule all of Middle Earth...and the squirrels!!

i am a student at ashley high school and i know elijah very well and i think that the book is a awesome book and Ms.mc coy is a wounderful teacher and that all this should stop beacuse there is no point to this...yes there was a other books you could read....this book is being described as a horrible book and its nothing like that....this book doesn't even have pictures...i just wish this would end...its pointless!! this book is sooooo wounderful.....GET OVER IT!!!!!!! ITS STUPID!!

~a student in ms.Mc Coy's second block

the book dosnt have any graphic pictures of ponography. it is a awsome book all the students that are reading it know that this is in our enviorment so y would parents want a great book like that abandoned from schools.

miss mccoy is a wonderful teacher. she is my english teacher and she gave us a option to read the perks of being a wallflower or another book if the parents did not want there child reading that book so y would u take your child out of school over a book that is really stupid. my parents said that is the world we live in. but mr and mrs strafford dont think that but oh well.

It's so cute when Mommy and Daddy try to keep their precious and unique snowflake from being contaminated by the big bad world. I mean, he might learn how to deal with situations in real life, or how to evaluate them, or he could have to think about how to make moral judgments under pressure. We couldn't have that, now could we.

Nope, let's have him read some book written in arcane English that he can't relate with.

I wonder what will happen all this is over...oh wait i dont have to wonder i know that those parents didnt even read the book they just took a highliter and flipped pages and went oh look it said "penis", "sex", etc. we better highlite it. geez and where on earth did they get the idea of beastuality or how the heck u spell it is in the book heck i bet all they saw was "dog" or "cat" on one page and then saw "sex" on the next one jesus christ ppl.

Just HOME school the over protected boy so you do not have to worry about what his delicate sensitivities are subjected too. You can "let" him read which ever books you choose then. The school system has enough problems without parents like this raising such a stink over nothing. I am sure the boy would enjoy reading "Sally, Dick & Jane" over and over.

The real world is out there, you can not hide from it, nor hide him.

Thesem people dont even know what the book is about, all they did was pick out the bad stuff.
Evry kid my age loves this book, GET OVER IT! its just a book!

Thesem people dont even know what the book is about, all they did was pick out the bad stuff.
Evry kid my age loves this book, GET OVER IT! its just a book!

As a personal friend of Chuck and Wendy, I had to add a note to the string of comments on this story.

First, I'll just state what is fact: Chuck and Wendy are legally responsible for their children. This gives them the legal right to decide what goes into their minds and hearts. You can disagree all you want with their moral position, but unless you become the legal guardian of the child, you have no say, whatsoever.

Second, If Chuck and Wendy feel that it is important to keep certain things out of their children's lives, be is music, literature, or corn flakes... they have every right to do so. Who are we to judge how they raise their children?

Third, people can defend the book all they like, but there are without question topics that are written about that *some parents* will find objectionable for their ninth grade children to read. I believe that every parent has the right to determine what is objectionable for their children, including Chuck and Wendy. The school should respect this right.

But...Lastly, I am simply *stunned* by the vitriol that has been directed at these two parents in the postings of this article.

Initially I thought that it might be good for people to know what type of literature was being handed out in the school system, and that a news interview was a positive way to get that information out.

However, after reading through the comments of this article, I see that I was wrong. These two friends of mine are being raked over the coals and made out to be fanatical, terrible parents, simply for exercising their first amendment right of free speech. They are being crucified for wanting to protect their children. Apparently I greatly underestimated the people of New Hanover County (or at least the readers of this web article).

What might have been a forum to discuss both sides of a controversial issue has turned into an attack blog on a very kind, gentle, and loving family. I believe that if anyone personally knew this family, they would not write some of the things that have been written here.

One last thought. I feel EXACTLY the same way about keeping my children pure and away from obscenity of this type. In our family we work very hard to keep music, web sites, and publications that we feel are objectionable out of the eyes and minds of our children. Some might think that we are sheltering our kids, and not letting them "explore the world". Nothing could be further from the truth. We have many discussions about life, and the world, including many of the things that are part of this book. We do so in a healthy, positive atmosphere, where *we* as the parents can pass on our morals and character to our children. That IS a parents role. It is the schools role to educate children, not shape them socially and morally. This, by the way, is exactly why none of my children have ever been, nor ever will be, in a public school.

And just in case anyone were wondering, all four of my kids (from elementary school to high school)are well adjusted, exceptional students, accomplished in their respective areas of talent, sexually pure and drug free. They are all well on their way to becoming what I would consider model citizens, and significant contributors to our society. Sure they may be "different" because they have not been caught up in sex and drugs and drinking like some of the others. But I think that in this case, being a little different is going to be OK. And guess what. They do too.

PC

I find it so sad that everyone has attacked the parents, attacked each other, attached the teacher or are attacking the students for voicing their opinions. This is just another example of our society and what it has become. Why shouldn’t a teacher be allowed to choice books she feels can contribute to the student’s education and growth? Why shouldn’t the parent’s be allowed to disagree with these choices and choose another path for their child? I am sure the teacher is a wonderful teacher as noted by many of her former and current students and the parents obviously are very involved with their son as someone had questioned. Perhaps we all need to be more vigilant with our children in theses times of unlimited information sources, we all obviously want whats best for the students right? Someone had made a comment about letting the children find their own way, at 15 I still feel teachers and parents must be involved and help with guidance. How can we prosecute a family or a teacher, are you all so perfect? There are two sides to every story and instead of listening to both sides and talking about it like the adults you all claim to be and claim the students are you are showing your immaturities by attacking each other. Just like so many other scenarios happening here in our town ….and around the world. There now you can all attack me, but just know I won't be back to read it.

OK, I would like to start by saying I am the parent of 2 ninth graders at Ashley High. Both of my children have Mrs. McCoy as a teacher and both came home telling me they had a book they had to get. I being a "parent who takes an interest in what their kids are learning in school" bought the books on Amazon and read it the day it arrived as I always do when my children have a book to read so I can discuss it with them as they are reading it. I can tell you that neither of my children have a great love of reading much to my disappointment so when I started reading this I also started to drive them crazy because I kept saying "I can't wait until you read this". I knew that it was something that would capture the interest of both of them and possibly even convince them that there are good books out there worth reading. The main character is a nice kid, a good kid and is just observing his surroundings and reporting them. REAL LIFE surroundings. This book was published in 1992, I can tell you that the stories the two of them come home with daily of what is going on in the hallways and homes of kids make this book look like a Disney film. I am glad that Mrs. McCoy is teaching them that they can just sit and observe what is going on, quietly observe this crazy but REAL LIFE world, and not have to join in to be cool. I truly can't understand how you feel sheltering your son to such and extreme is helping him. To bad while you are busy "trying to keep him protected and sheltered in a healthy, clean environment and keeping him so he's innocent" he is busy learning all the wrong information from his messed up peers at school. My children know the truth by openly discussing what is going on around them with me. You could have read that book right along with him, told him your views and listened to how he felt. That is called teaching him right from wrong.

But the most important thing I want to tell you is that if this book is banned from the school because of your own fears, I will personally fight till the day my children graduate to make sure that the decision is reversed! Giving out your email on a news blog to parent just screams lawsuit and hidden agenda. Get a grip, send your kid and let him be a kid.

The parents obviously don't know good literature.The Perks of Being a Wallflower is by far the best book I've ever read. Charlie's character is like no other. His point of view, and way of thinking is unbelievable. Charlie looks at life completely differently than most people do, which makes the book so interesting. I feel bad for the kid, honestly. The fact is the parents are ignorant and childish. Im guessing they didn't know this books has been awarded for its great literature. " The world fascinates me..."

The most wonderful thing about "banned books" is the press that it gives authors and their work. Perks of Being a Wallflower is getting tons of press from this situation, and that means more sales for the book! I love it! GO PERKS GO!!! It is one of my favorite books of all time.

I feel bad for the son. It seems like his parents are whack jobs.

You know whats sad? Apon seeing that the students at the school love the book and think that it shouldnt be banned, you "Mature Adults" go and start insulting us about our grammar. As if it had ANYTHING to do with ANYTHING. Yes we may not have good grammar, but do any of you want to explain what that has to do with, you know, the subject at hand?

for the comment by "Mis.MCcoy is a great teacher??" Let me tell you somthing this is not a personal matter between the student and her so if you hold a grudge between them or JEALOUSY then you dont need to be on this website making comments because this is about the book and the parents taking out of hand not theropy so you can express how you feel about another student and teacher.... and if you were mature about it then you would have put down your real name !! ha

Dear Guest 123,

I am not a dusty old lady that is out of touch with kids today. I am in my early thirties. I also have close relationships with my 15 and 17 year old nephews. They have both come to me with questions about drugs and sex.

My problem is not with the content of the book, I just don't think it is good enough to be used in an English class. There is a time for easy reading - the beach, waiting for a doctors appointment, etc. This book reads like an "After School Special." I probably would have loved it when I was 15, but I would never have mistaken it for serious literature.

I am sure that it must be more satisfying for a teacher to discuss a book that students actually liked reading; but is it the responsibility of the schools to entertain, or to educate? Classics are considered as such because they have outlasted trends and stood the test of time. One student's post actually said this book was like Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye!" I don't know which is more sad - that the student actually believes this, or that he/she wasn't TAUGHT the difference.

With Respect.

wow i have left lots of comments...well any way HEY LADY DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THIS IS GOING TO PASS QUIETLY !!!!!!!! whatever its your fault for going to WWAY and tell nothing but a load of god awful lies!!!! Oh and if your looking at this comment you can get over it.

I don't really understand why this is such a big deal. I personally know the Strafford's and they are kind. This is really no one else's business, only McCoy and Elijah's parents really matter. A separate book assignment could've been arranged and this whole thing would not have been posted all over the news. This is ridiculous and out of hand. They made their decision as to what they believe is right, and that's that. Not everyone argrees with each other.

The real problem is the parents here. Like it or not, they will not be able to shelter their son. Kids who remain sheltered are the ones who end up pregnant, in jail, or on hard drugs.

Were these parents involved at all before this book incident? Did they attend open house? Did they check the teacher's web page? Did they call the teacher? Parents these days want to blame the educational system or teachers for all the problems in schools.

Newsflash: Let's make students responsible for themselves. High school is a place of growth and change and a time for maturity and life lessons. The student in this situation obviously read the book for a few weeks and didn't say anything (so we can assume he was ok with it). This book has nothing in it worse than what is heard on the bus, at lunch, or in the hallways of schools everywhere. Open your eyes.

And has anyone ever heard of the separation of church and state?

this is a outrage christy mccoy is the greatest english teacher ive ever had and for a disrespectful couple to come in and say something like that to her is not called for these parents are blind they must not know their poor little son is in high school and has a girl-friend hes probly going through the samething this book teaches about high school and how to deal with the real things in life too bad that these dumb parents are to "hill-billy" to see that!

Hello. My name is Abi Crawford, I was one of Mis.McCoy's students my freshman year. I heard about the situation on the news, actually and I was very surprised. I rember reading this book and I even read it again my sophmore year for a book project. This book has deff no "gay sex, Pornagraphy, or drug use in it. It has everyday things that happen in the real world. And for the parents advice, if you think taking your son out of school and trying to bann the book.. Do you actually think that is going to help him?? I mean you sound ridiculous. Putting this situation on tv, and on the internet. GET A LIFE. I look at Miss. MCcoy as a mother, I go to her for help and good advice and I can tell her anything and she gives me wonderful advice. I look at her as a role model. She has truley been one of the best teachers at Ashley High School. I think the parents are crazy for making her go threw this and trying to embaress her. The question is do you really know your son? Do you know every word and move he makes? Do you really know..? Why dont the parents think about that? And just from me reading the comments on here and MYSPACE I am very upset about it and actually find the parents ridiculous. And if you are that concerned about your son and find high school to be cruel then you should have home schooled him before he came to "finding out the real world" aka... highschool.