White Co Commission Meeting Turns Into Debate On School Reading Material

The White County Commission meeting turned into a school board discussion Monday night following public concern over study materials.

Tennessee Pastors Network President Dale Walker spoke to the commission on the behalf of a White County family. Walker said the family took offense when their student was assigned to read the book, “The Hatchet,” which includes violent moments and references suicide.

“We have Christian families that feel like their sincerely held beliefs are being violated and I have copies of emails sent repeatedly that their child be removed from this and they were denied,” Walker said.

Walker claims that he was denied placement on the school board’s December agenda to discuss the book’s contents. Walker said several other families have joined the conversation expressing concern about a parent’s role in education.

Walker’s claims lead to School Board Member Dewayne Howard speaking out against the operations of the school system. Howard said the school board also denied his request to speak about the book. He also questioned the power of the school director and board chair.

“They have one standing committee on the school board. That’s the executive committee that’s the director of schools and the chairman,” Howard said. “Nothing gets on the agenda without their first approval. That’s not a committee to me. That’s a partnership. If it is an objective partnership, that works out okay. If it is a subjective partnership where they have a certain goal in mind, you can beg. You can plead. You can ask all you want to and never get heard. That’s the problem a lot of the people in the community feel like they are having right now.”

Director of School Kurt Dronebarger responded during the meeting. He said each required book goes through a committee process. Dronebarger said the school system’s attorney also reviews the materials.

“We have policies and procedures, and we are following those to a T,” Dronebarger said. “We have to address the ideals and beliefs like or not of all students and that’s what we will continue to do.”

Dronebarger said there is not a bureaucracy when it comes to the school’s curriculum or what items can be discussed at public school board meetings. The book is approved by the state textbook commission, the state board of education and the local school board.