Saddened by the school board's decision

To the editor:

The Mat-Su School Board recently removed five titles from high school junior and senior elective English curriculum as well as access to the New York Times Learning Network for teachers. Why? To protect our children.

What an unfortunate, short-sighted decision.

While giving review to math curriculum for over a month, the board summarily voted in one meeting without public input to remove material from elective English curriculum.

Was the literature controversial? Yes. Was the literature historically based? Yes. Did the literature touch on topics that are uncomfortable? Yes. Did the literature contain profanity? Yes. But we are talking about high school students, young adults who will be out in the world in 1 or 2 short years.

Young adults who we hope will be able to look at difficult issues, make good decisions, and live in a not so perfect world that contain all of the issues described in the removed literature.

Perhaps the “new normal” of giving all young adults cell phones and unlimited access to the internet and social media will be more educational for them.

For heavens sake, let’s protect them from books which may make them think and enable them to have intellectual discussion and maybe someday….become the next generation to help make the rules for our society.

I am saddened by the School Board’s decision and hope they will reconsider their actions.

Nancy Bertels,

Sutton