GILROY
– A crowd of students and community members walked out of the
school board meeting Thursday night eagerly awaiting the fate of
the high school reading list and, particularly,
”
Rain of Gold
”
by Victor E. Villase
ñor.
GILROY – A crowd of students and community members walked out of the school board meeting Thursday night eagerly awaiting the fate of the high school reading list and, particularly, “Rain of Gold” by Victor E. Villaseñor.
Some asked trustees to get rid of the book, some asked them to keep it and many asked for a replacement from another Chicano author.
Superintendent Edwin Diaz expressed an interest in getting more input and creating a reading list for 2005-06 that is rigorous and challenges students, but represents diversity, as well. Next year’s reading list went before the board Thursday, as did the textbook the English Department plans to adopt. Both issues will be on the May 20 meeting agenda.
Diaz asked English Department Chair Peter Gray to reflect on the qualities of “Rain of Gold” as they relate to the criteria for choosing books that were generated over four months by the Reading Literature Advisory Group of parents, students and teachers.
“When I ran (the book) through the RLAG grid, I found the quality of writing was such that it could not meet the first criteria of literary merit,” Gray said. “I think the reading level is low … I could not refute the arguments that it did not meet that first criteria.”
Gray has said the book’s reading level makes it more accessible to below-level students and the content relates to the course curriculum.
Given the interest expressed by speakers Thursday in adding minority authors to the reading list, it became apparent that the advisory group’s criteria might not be followed to the letter.
The four criteria – literary merit, thematic depth, presence on “reputable” reading lists like the College Board’s 101 Great Books and accessibility – were ranked based on order of importance. The last criterion, diversity, considers historical, cultural and gender diversity and various genres. It was designed to apply to the grade-level lists on the whole, rather than per book.
“I can’t dispute anything that’s been said about the weight of non-white books that are on the list. When it comes to cultural diversity … we’re weakest at the senior year,” Gray said. “Senior year has been, traditionally, British lit.”
Parent Mark Zappa asked the board to keep all the criteria recommended by the group. Gray said he spoke with 10 advisory group members and nine said the criteria are flexible.
“I don’t want people to think the (Reading Literature Advisory Group) is going to be greatly offended if all of (their) criteria are not used,” Gray said.
Some books besides “Rain of Gold” are still under consideration because the high school may receive two books with each new textbook purchased.
Lori Stuenkel covers education for The Dispatch. She can be reached at 842-6400 x277 or lo***@************ch.com.
