Email from Irate Sunset Bay Academy Parent

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tom Whipple <whipple@cadence.com>
To: Courage Family <courage@sunsetbayacademy.com>, "academydirector@sunsetbayacademy.com" <academydirector@sunsetbayacademy.com>, "teacher@sunsetbayacademy.com" <teacher@sunsetbayacademy.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 11:47:21 -0700
Subject: Reading Material used at SBA

Dear SBA Staff:



I learned from your website that the kids have begun reading Ayn Rand’s book, “Atlas Shrugged”.  I hadn’t read the book yet, so I obtained a copy and have begun reading it.  I have to say that I am a disappointed and concerned in this choice of book to be using at the Academy.  My reasons are as follows:



This is a very mature subject matter with mature philosophical concepts promoted.  I don’t expect Victor will get much out of it, and what he does get out of I am afraid he will draw the wrong conclusions.  I have listed several examples below:



Swearing is used throughout the book.  I don’t want Victor reading a lot of swear words because he will begin using them if he does.



On p 64, the old man at the newsstand said, “I like cigarettes, Miss Taggart.  I like to think of fire held in a man’s hand.  Fire, a dangerous force, tamed at his fingertips.”  He continues along this line.  The point is that I wouldn’t think twice about this statement.  But I know Victor.  He could read this completely out of context, and come away with the conclusion that smoking is cool or that smoking is a sign of power.



On p. 98, Francisco says, “…there’s nothing of any importance in life – except how well you do your work.  Nothing.  Only that.  Whatever else you are, will come from that.  It’s the only measure of human value.  All the codes of ethics they’ll try to ram down your throat are just so much paper money put out by swindlers to fleece people of their virtues.  The code of competence is the only system of morality that’s on a gold standard.”  Is this really the kind of philosophy you want to teach the students at SBA?  If kids accept this, then they lose the opportunity to look to God (whatever religion they may be) and seek God’s guidance, comfort, and support.  This whole book seems to look down on helping others and being kind and respectful to others.  I am not proposing you teach religion, but I do propose you don’t teach things that could steer them away from God, morality, and respect for others.



On pp. 98-99, Francisco slaps Dagny and she likes it.  It promotes violence against a woman, and Dagny likes it.  I can easily see Victor believing from this that women like to be beat!  Of course a mature reader wouldn’t come to that conclusion, but Victor is NOT a mature reader.  He is a little boy who hasn’t learned to show respect or love for others, and especially has a history of disrespect for his mother and sisters.



On p. 111, it reads, “It was long past midnight when she awakened in bed by his side…he threw off the blanket, he looked at her naked body, then he fell forward and buried his face between her breasts.  … His head on her breast, her hand caressing his hair gently….”  I stopped reading here.  I as an adult, I don’t need to read about the sexual relations between others and I DO NOT WANT VICTOR READING THIS KIND OF MATERIAL.  Victor is an immature, troubled 13 year old boy.  He doesn’t need this kind of stimulation.



Even if you had gone through and marked out all this negative material, the story itself isn’t uplifting.  It doesn’t inspire healthy family relationships, respect, and honesty.



There is so much beautiful literature available for you to use.  Two of my favorite authors are Charles Dickens and Victor Hugo.  Books like Les Miserable, Tale of Two Cities, and David Copperfield are beautiful books that teach virtue and kindness – the kind of things these kids at the Academy need to learn.  Lord of the Rings is another exciting yet uplifting, inspirational tale.



Other wonderful books and authors are listed below:



               Homer:  The Iliad

               Homer:  The Odyssey

               C.S. Lewis:  The Screwtape Letters

               Daniel Defoe:  Robinson Crusoe

               Dale Carnegie:  How to Win Friends and Influence People



And, there are many more.  There is so much inspirational and uplifting material to choose from!



I am so grateful for the work you do for our boy.  I challenge you to present to him and the other students with uplifting literature that will help, not hinder, their healing.  I have entrusted a precious soul into your care.  Please care for him and train him well.



Sincerely,

Tom  Whipple