Gridlock News

A local mother of 3 children (per AJC) or 4 children (per Ledger-Enquirer's AP report) or 3 & 4 children (per Access North GA and WTVM Channel 9) has appealed her local schools decision to keep Harry Potter on the shelves. The appeal will now go to the Gwinnett County School Board on Thursday, April 20, 2006. The School board will hear from Laura Mallory, a missionary resident of Gwinnett County for 2 years. In addition, the School Board will hear letters from thousands of parents and teachers with various views on the subject. The AJC reports that this is the first appeal to reach the board since 1997 at which time a Judy Blume book and a RL Stine book. In fact, an appeal made by a Gwinett County Kindergarten teacher was sent to the same school board during the school years of 2003/04. That appeal requested the removal of a book the teacher found to be offensive titled "Walter the Farting Dog" by William Kotzwinkle, Glenn Murray & Audrey Colman. Both the 1997 and 2003/4 appeals failed and the board allowed the books to remain on the shelves. Editorial from Gridlock on Rye 4-17-06 update Notice of hearing from School Board - includes fax number to Submit concerns Superintendent's Office, Gwinnett County Public Schools 678-301-6030