Interview with Gentry and Nellis

Concerned Parents and Citizens in Cleburne will defend their stand against having “Pillars of the Earth” on the required reading list at the school board meeting Monday, February 9 at 5:45 p.m. The book contains graphic sex and violence against women. (See excerpt here.)

CPAC member Jami Shelton says Sherri L. Bell, Secondary English teacher and Department Head who assigned the book, and School Board President Stu Madison mounted a campaign to rally support to keep the book by using a Facebook page called “Save Pillars from the Seniors' Parents”. The teacher and the school board president are also encouraging students to come to the school board meeting and defend it against removal.

Earlier this week, after CPAC circulated a letter and excerpts from the book and deluged Superintendent Ronny Beard with phone calls, he made an executive decision to remove the book from the required reading list.

CPAC’s Jami Shelton said “We had hoped to settle this quietly and had been trying since July without sharing our story with anyone else. It is only now that Mrs. Bell and Stu Madison are forcing us to go public.”

She continued “CISD School Board president Stu Madison wrote on Facebook to encourage former students to write letters and attend the Monday night board meeting in support of reinstating the book - in other words to overturn the Superintendent's decision. In essence, he is using his official position to advocate for the ;other' side - the side of keeping this pornographic book as required reading. In fact, his son Cannon's Facebook post says his dad 'has explicitly said it will stay on the reading list'."

School Board President Stu Madison in his Facebook post said “If you are all serious about making a difference, then get involved. Three students will sign up to speak at Monday's meeting at 5:45PM. If former students/parents show up and wish to speak, sign up and I will ask the board to allow some of those as well. The rest of you need to send letters to the board and the superintendent, today. 505 North Ridgeway, Cleburne , Texas 76033 . The more letters, the more powerful the message. Have your parents send letters. Have your teachers send letters. Have your pastors send letters. Attend the meeting on Monday at 6 to show support to those who need it.”

Madison ended his letter with a call to arms: "Can the will of an educated majority overcome the will of a minority who claim that they are the only ones on God's side? We are about to find out."

Jami Shelton, CPAC, is encouraging all in support of the Superintendent's decision to remove the book to also attend the school board meeting and make their wishes known.

Concerned Parents Clash with Cleburne School Board over Required Reading they call Pornographic

Concerned Parents Clash with Cleburne School Board
over Required Reading they call Pornographic