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By Kent Larsen
West High School Book of Mormon Dispute Resolved
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- The dispute that left three West High School
students claiming they had been kicked out of class for reading the Book of
Mormon has been resolved, says the Salt Lake City School District and the
Salt Lake Teachers Association. The teachers and administrators say the
incident was simply a misunderstanding and no one is at fault.
The incident occurred October 31st, when an English teacher at the high
school called security and had three students removed from the class for
being disruptive. In new reports published in the next few days the students
claimed that the teacher had them removed because they were reading the Book
of Mormon. But the Teachers Association, speaking for the teacher, claimed
that the students were supposed to be reading an "American Literature Novel"
and that the students became disruptive when she asked them to put the
copies of the Book of Mormon they were reading away.
To resolve the incident, the district and teachers association have released
a joint press release, which was negotiated with the parents of the students
involved, that says the incident was fueled by "miscommunication,
misunderstanding and overreaction." The release supports the teacher's
position that the students were to be reading an "American Literature
Novel," and had been told that in a "Class Disclosure" given them earlier in
the year.
But the resolution still doesn't address claims by the students of a pattern
of "derogatory treatment and comments toward the LDS faith in particular."
One parent, Teresa Powell, says that she still doesn't know if the families
will pursue legal action. "Last night, it depended on the press release,"
she said. According to Powell, parents asked the district and the union to
change some of the wording in the statement last night because it "wasn't
very nice."
Source:
District Finds No Fault in Book of Mormon Dispute
Salt Lake Tribune 29Nov00 D4
By Ashley Estes: Salt Lake Tribune
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