Norwin director objects to book on inclusion, diversity used in second grade classroom

A Norwin School Board member has criticized a children’s book read to some Norwin second graders because he claimed it celebrated sexuality while emphasizing diversity and inclusion, with drawings of same-sex couples with children, interracial couples and rainbow-colored items, which could symbolize gay and lesbian pride.

“I feel it is wholly inappropriate at any level in our school district and certainly not in second grade. There should be no celebration of any sexuality of any kind — gay or straight,” said Director Alex Detschelt, in complaining about “All Are Welcome,” a 44-page book by Alexandra Penfold. Detschelt said at the school board meeting this week that the book was presented to second graders at Sunset Valley Elementary School.

Assistant Superintendent Natalie McCracken said she did not know under what circumstances the book was presented or how it was purchased. Teachers sometimes use books from their own collection, the school library or a public library, McCracken said.

Detschelt, a conservative Republican and a leader of the board’s minority faction, said he was “a little shocked that we’re forcing this grooming type of garbage onto our kids.”

He said he wants to revisit the issue and hopes the board majority “does the right thing.” That could result in discussions on a policy for dealing with reading material that some may consider inappropriate, realizing such a definition is subjective, he said.

Although Detschelt said he is “all for diversity,” he claims the book pushes “hyper ethnic and hyper racial diversification” that points out differences in people, leading to divisiveness, “which is exactly what you are trying to prevent.”

After offering his assessment of the book, Detschelt did not share the book with other board members, nor did any other board member ask to see the book so they could evaluate it.

Darlene Ciocca, board president, said Tuesday she had not seen Penfold’s book, but she had been informed that “people who have seen it, interpret it differently” than Detschelt.

Ryan Lynn, president of the Norwin Education Association, which represents teachers in the district, declined to comment on the matter.

The book’s fold-out pages depicting a school festival show drawings of 13 heterosexual couples, two single mothers and two same-sex couples. The book depicts a blind child, as well as one in a wheelchair, and has children sitting together at lunchtime, eating different kinds of bread. At the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, the book is designated for children ages 2 to 8.

The issue of objections to books in school that some consider inappropriate has been a hot topic at neighboring Hempfield Area School District, where some parents this spring objected to two books at the high school. The district is considering revisions to a policy that provides procedures to challenge the usage of some books.

Detschelt’s critique that the book “was not conducive to a kid’s education,” differs sharply from 29 people who sang its praises on the website Goodreads.com.

Reviewers on GoodReads described it as a welcoming picture book that celebrates diversity and gives encouragement and support to all kids. The book, with rhyming verses, shows children wearing different clothing going to a school where everyone is welcome, according to reader comments. The book won the Washington State Book Award for Picture Book in 2019.

The book is available at nine public libraries in Westmoreland County and was checked out from two of those libraries this week.

Penfold could not be reached for comment. She is a New York-based author and literary agent who wrote on a website that her son goes to a Brooklyn school where different languages are spoken. The author says the book depicts school as a place where students grow and learn from each other’s traditions. The book “lets young children know that no matter what, they have a place, they have a space, they are welcome in their school,” according to the author’s website.