A project of the National Coalition Against Censorship

CO-SPONSORED BY
American Booksellers for Free Expression
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Association of American Publishers

December 1, 2015
Mr. Steve Troen
Director of Teaching and Learning
Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public School District #196
3455 153rd St. W.
Rosemount, MN 55068
Email: steven.troen@district196.org
Ms. Renee Ervasti
Teaching and Learning Coordinator
Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public School District #196
3455 153rd St. W.
Rosemount, MN 55068
Email: Renee.Ervasti@district196.org
Dear Mr. Troen, Ms. Ervasti, and Members of the Reconsideration Review Committee,
As organizations dedicated to the freedom to read, the integrity of the public education system, and the
application of First Amendment law and principles in public institutions, we are writing with regard to the
challenge to Gayle Foreman's young adult novel Just One Day in Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public
School libraries. As you conduct your review of the novel, we urge you to keep in mind the educational and
constitutional principles that the removal of the book from library shelves would compromise.
According to press reports, the parents of a sixth-grader at Rosemount Middle School have filed a formal
request to remove Just One Day from four school libraries in the district. In their request, the parents
complained that the book covers adult themes that most students have not been exposed to and should not be
provided by the school, and cited inappropriate language as reasons why it should not be made available to
middle school or high school students. We understand that the Reconsideration Review Committee, which has
reviewed the book in advance, will be discussing its findings at a meeting on December 3.
Just One Day centers on a teenaged, straight-laced protagonist named Allyson who spends one romantic day in
Paris with a mysterious actor during a post-graduation trip, returns to a tumultuous first year of college after he
disappears, and later decides to leave college and return to Europe to find him. The novel received a starred
review in School Library Journal, which says the book engages readers and will cause them to examine their
definitions of love and self-identity. Kirkus Reviews says it becomes absorbing, and readers will find
themselves rooting for Allysons more autonomous and interesting self.
Removing the book from the library in spite of its clearly recognized value, and in response to subjective
complaints about its content, would raise serious First Amendment concerns. As the Supreme Court has
cautioned, Local school boards may not remove books from library shelves simply because they dislike the
ideas contained in those books and seek by their removal to prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics,
nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion. Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School
District No. 26 v. Pico, 457 U.S. 853, 872 (1982) (plurality opinion). Indeed, the school library has a special
roleas a place where students may freely and voluntarily explore diverse topics. Campbell v. St. Tammany
Parish School Board, 64 F. 3d 184, 190 (5th Cir. 1995).
No student has to read a book simply because it is on the library shelf. The library exists to allow students a

wealth of reading options, consistent with their interests, maturity level, and parental guidance. As the Supreme
Court has emphasized, unlike the compulsory environment of the classroom, in the school library the regime
of voluntary inquiryholds sway. Pico, 457 U.S. at 869.
The task of selecting school library materials properly belongs to professional librarians and educators. Parents
may be equipped to make choices for their own children, but, no matter how well-intentioned, they simply are
not equipped to make decisions for others. Some parents may prefer to keep their children from reading about
the topics that Just One Day tackles. Others may appreciate a book like Just One Day because it can create
avenues for adults and children to talk about specific topics.
The removal of Just One Day would not only be constitutionally suspect, but would also leave school officials
vulnerable to multiple, possibly conflicting demands. Our experience has shown that the practical effect of
acceding to any request to restrict access to materials will be to invite others to demand changes that reflect
their own beliefs. One could anticipate complaints that would threaten a great number of graphic novels
throughout the district. Such concerns rarely take into account the educational or literary value of the works at
hand, instead reducing them to a few parts that could be considered objectionable to someone, somewhere.
District Policy 603.2.2.3P, The Freedom to Read, states that It is the responsibility of publishers and
librarians, as guardians of the peoples freedom to read, to contest encroachments upon that freedom by
individuals or groups seeking to impose their own standards or tastes upon the community at large. We
strongly urge you to defend this policy by keeping Just One Day in Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public
School District #196 libraries.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,

Svetlana Mintcheva, Director of Programs

National Coalition Against Censorship

Chris Finan, Director

American Booksellers for Free Expression

Judy Platt, Director

Free Expression Advocacy
Association of American Publishers

Charles Brownstein, Executive Director

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Millie Davis, Director

Intellectual Freedom Center

Lin Oliver, Executive Director

Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators

Fatima Shaik, Chair

Childrens and Young Adult Book Committee
PEN American Center
19 Fulton Street, Suite 407, New York, NY 10038 | 212-807-6222 | www.ncac.org