While students around the school sat down for tests and in-class essays last week, Upper School English teacher Cory Zeller’s Literature and Censorship class were greeted by a panel of guests. Upper School Dean Joe Bruno, Head of the Math Department and Upper School math teacher Wendy Olt, and Head of the English Department and Upper School English teacher Mike Mahany arrived prepared to hear the class’ proposed updates to Parker’s Student/Parent Handbook.

Prior to the final period, the Censorship class rewrote sections of the handbook having to do with appropriate speech and language, adding a section about text selection within required courses. Within that segment, students created a protocol with which students uncomfortable with text selections and discussions could report their discomfort. Students worked in groups from one to three people, revising the Handbook’s language definitions, speech regulations, discipline around speech violations, and electronic communications. 

This final project was a completely new undertaking for Zeller. Last year, students in the elective wrote a Ted Talk on the top 10 banned books. “The Censorship final has varied from year to year,” she said. “This year, it felt much more relevant to look at language usage within the school.”

Zeller cites a number of reasons for her decision. “Last year we had a couple of major incidents last year involving language usage. We had a revision to the handbook. Having the class look critically at the handbook and what it holds them accountable to was interesting. This is also a way for them to leave a real legacy behind with their work on the handbook. It was just revised, so there really won’t be a better time.”

The Literature and Censorship is framed around examining the First Amendment and the texts that most often challenge it. Students read and discuss a number of the most frequently banned texts in America, including “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” “Lolita” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”

“We look at why people, even though we have the First Amendment that protects free speech, ban books,” Zeller said. “There’s a clear disconnect there. Why do people challenge, what do people challenge, and what does that say about our fears about society. The course is centered around American culture broadly, and we look at our different laws and what the courts in America have held up.” 

Zeller wanted to zoom in for the final. Instead of considering general American society, she wanted to take a look at Parker’s specific policies that limit free speech within the building. Because Parker is an independent school, students are not protected by the First Amendment. Instead, our mission statement provides our guiding principles and the Student/Parent Handbook and the Code of Conduct provide specific rules and guidelines. 

Senior Lindsay Carlin was a member of the Student Government Cabinet that helped rewrite the handbook last year. For the Censorship final, she rewrote the speech section’s preface. “I was glad to have a second opportunity to tackle Parker’s policy because discipline is a really sensitive issue that I don’t think we got an adequate chance to address last year in Student Government,” she said. “I think our class’ suggestions align really well with Parker’s published mission and I hope the administration considers them as the discipline policy continues to evolve.”