Help us remove the book, The Chocolate War from the Mobile County Public School Systems required reading list for Eighth Graders

Below you will find a press release about the Mobile County School system requiring children in the eight grade to read The Chocolate War, by Richard Cormier. This petition's intent is to get the school system to remove the book The Chocolate War, by Richard Cormier from it's required reading list for the eighth grade.

Press release follows:
Author Alvin Lee Abbett Sr.
For Immediate Release:

Mobile County Public School System requires twelve and thirteen year old children to read a book filled with perversions, profanity, violence, and morally corrupt themes.

One of the books on the required reading for the summer for Hankins Middle School is The Chocolate War written by Richard Cormier. The Chocolate War, since its publication has been near the top of the most frequently censored books. According to Banned in the U.S.A. by Herbert Foerstel, a book which documented the most frequently censored books according to public schools and libraries in the U.S. between 1990-1992, The Chocolate War is number five.

Hankins Middle School Assistant Principle for the eight grade, Mrs. Martin, admitted to the fact that they (an unspecified group at the school) had concerns about the book being required reading. She claimed that the required reading list came from downtown at the school board.

The following is excerpts from the book and their relative page numbers. We find offensive and inappropriate for that age group: like seeking ecstasys memory an instant after jacking off page 5, The use of the word bastard three times and like a God damn king page 7 .These God damn assignments page 13. Talks about playboy magazines at schoolpage 17 tired of smuggling it into the bathrooms for swift perusals Fear that he would die before holding a girls breast in his hand. Page 18, Now the final moment, the climax, almost like coming..Page 35 Like how he sometimes actually felt horny when he rough housed a kidPage 51 humiliated by this sniveling bastard of a teacher. Page 73, at night in bed, he could have one without evening touching himself, just thinking of her .her breast brushing his arm, setting him of fire. Page 93, hed felt himself hardening and was ashamed and embarrassed and deliriously happy all at the same time him with this beautiful girls breast pushed against him faded blue jeans hugging her hips, those Beautiful breasts bouncing under her jersey . Page 94, Archie had pulled open the door to one of the stalls and confronted Janza sitting there, pants dropping on the floor, one hand furiously at work between his legs. Archie lifted the camera and pretended to take a picture, yelling hold it, Page 104, There are two kinds of people in this world, those who were victims and those who victimized Page 106, Her sweater had bulged beautifully, her school books pressed against her rounded breast. If my hands were only those books, he thought longingly. Page 123

In the first 132 pages the following curse words are used: hell 20 times, bastard 9 times, God damn 3 times, damn 5 times, shit 1, bullshit 2, son of a bitch 2 times, and ass twice.

This by all means are not all of the references one could find offense with in the book. We have archived enough to make our case. With language like this can you imagine the after book reading discussions in class? Are the teachers and administration ready to deal with the questions that could come up, regarding the language and themes of this book? Could our children repeat these words in discussion without the fear of punishment according to the established rules of conduct?

The theme of the book is not to disturb the universe. The main character of the book, Jerry Renault, does just that when he chooses to stand up for his self. His defiance starts to wake up the other students in the school. The Vigils specialize in student and school terrorism. They start to manipulate the circumstances surrounding Jerry through fear, psychological warfare, physical abuse and manipulation of the students and administration of the school. The gang, aided by a manipulative teacher, Brother Leon, enjoys an almost untouchable status. They perpetrate assignments on other students free from discipline or censor.

Jerrys defiance for doing what he feels is right gets him terrorized night and day by The Vigils. Jerry eventually suffers a fractured jaw and a trip to the hospital with possible internal injuries. There are no repercussions for those responsible for this reign of terror. Sadly, in the end, Jerry is forced to submit and he tells his friend not to try and disturb the universe because the repercussions just are not worth it.

What examples are here for our young children? Who at Barton Academy thought that this book needed to be read by twelve and thirteen year children and why?

As parents who are actively involved in the education and shaping of our own, tomorrows leaders, we are both dismayed and angry to find that our partner in education finds the material in The Chocolate War, appropriate for the suggested age group as required reading.

Sources
The Chocolate War Richard Cormier
hhttp://hankins.mcm.schoolinsites.com/ Required reading List for Summer
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/chocolatewar/context.html

By signing this petition you are standing with us to ask the Mobile County School System to remove this book from required reading by the eighth grade.