School: Colby H.S.
(Sport's Illustrated 1983)
Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson
Email:
kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Berry, Luchterhand, Becker, Rueb
----Source: Wausau Daily Herald (18 February 1988)
COLBY -- Sports Illustrated February swimsuit issue has returned to Colby High
School's library after administrators were accused of censorship and violating
the state Open Meetings Law and school policy.
Principal Jack L. Berry said most school board members agreed with his decision
last week to keep the newly arrived issue from the library. The annual issue
featuring models in skimpy swimsuit creates controversy each February.
Board member Emil Luchterhand said the matter was discussed by administrators
and the board behind closed doors Monday under circumstances that may have
violated the Open Meetings Law.
"This was all handled badly," Luchterhand said in an interview.
School board policy requires an appointed committee to review written objections
to library material, he said. The committee is appointed by the principal and
the material must stay on the shelf until the committee rules, Luchterhand said.
Berry said he would form a review committee to formally decide whether the
magazine should stay if any member of the community requests such action.
Because it was Berry who complained about the magazine, he should have withdrawn
from the process, Luchterhand said.
School librarian Nancy Becker confirmed the magazine had been returned to the
library. She said it would be handled under standard policy of keeping it on a
shelf hidden from view, but available for any student who asked.
The board went into private session Monday to discuss the recent resignations of
two journalism teachers who spokesmen said had complained about schedules.
Under the Open Meetings Law, the magazine matter "should not have come up at the
closed session," Luchterhand said.
The magazine "degrades women," Berry said. "What values are we trying to teach
our kids?"
Luchterhand's son, Bryce, of Unity, a member of Clark County's Board of
Supervisors, said he was denied permission to address the school board during
the public meeting attended by about 15 people.
"The whole afternoon was spent by the administration (to) not have this come out
in the open," the senior Luchterhand said.
Meetings don't ordinarily include public discussion of items that aren't on the
agenda, Superintendent Lloyd Rueb said.
The younger Luchterhand, who has a 15-year-old daughter at the high
school,objected to pulling the magazine in the first place and to the tactic of
requiring students to ask a librarian for the magazine.
Libraries at Wausau West, Wausau East and Merrill high schools also keep the
magazine behind the counter. The D.C. Everest High School displays the magazine
on the shelf. The only problem library staff at these school have reported is
students trying to steal the magazine.
© Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.
Show your appreciation of this freely provided information by not copying it to any other site without our permission.
Become a Clark County History Buff
|
|
A site created and
maintained by the Clark County History Buffs
Webmasters: Leon Konieczny, Tanya Paschke, Janet & Stan Schwarze, James W. Sternitzky,
|