Book Bought For Wichita School District Causing Controversy
May 24

Offensive language, drug abuse and threats against students. Those are the topics in a book that USD 259 bought for some of its teachers. It includes poems that some say are inappropriate.

The district wants to make it clear that the books were not given to students, but one of the teachers who was given the book to use in class is offended, and parents we showed the book to agree it's not appropriate for school.

Some Wichita parents couldn't believe what they were reading. The book has line after line of offensive language, drug abuse, sex, and violence.

It's part of a two book collection of poetry that USD 259 bought for about 100 of its teachers.

The books were supposed to be used as support material in a special program that helps students struggling with reading.

"We never intended students to have that book," said Chief Academic Advisor Mary Ellen Isaac. "The intent was the teacher would make an appropriate selection out of the book, and there are many that are appropriate to use to work with students.

The poem called "I Hate School" is in the book "You Hear Me? Poems written by teenage boys." Teachers also received the book "Things I Have To Tell You by teenage girls." The poem is just one of at least two selections in the books that are being called offensive.

Teacher resources are approved by the district's learning services department, but the district says the books were recommended by several outside groups and researched before purchase.

"You don't read every page in every book," said Isaac. "Did we know that was in the book, I couldn't say for sure."

Mistake or not, some Wichita parents hope the district is more careful next time. Next year, there will be different books. The district pulled all of the books Wednesday.