At the Schoolhouse Gate: Lessons in Intellectual Freedom

Gloria Pipkin and Releah Lent were two champions of intellectual freedom in a very small battle in a larger war. Having been a student of both of these amazing women, I can vouch for the trials and tribulations faced not only by the authors and their peers but by the the students of the Bay County School System. The mid-1980's in this beachside Northwest Florida community was a time where the hypocrisy and fear of a handful of individuals nearly ended an award-winning educational process at Mowat Jr. High School and sought to place horrific restrictions on all other schools in the area. Whether William Shakespeare or George Orwell, whether Robert Cormier or Judy Blume, all literature aimed at nurturing a broad worldview and independent thought in students was under attack. Mrs. Pipkin, Mrs. Hawks and other teachers, parents, and students were forced to fight an uphill battle against those who would not only suppress free speech but free thought as well. Now, nearly 25 years later, their struggles are still relevant in the modern world. The students who were privileged enough to read these banned books in the classroom libraries of Mowat Jr. High School have become college professors, doctors, attorneys, lawmakers, and a whole host of other professions where the concepts, both practical and esoteric, learned from these books have helped make the world a better place. This book is a chronicle of the quiet struggle for freedom that is fought each and every day in school districts through the United States; to see what these women endured, and the passion with which they defended the rights of their students, is proof positive of the lifelong impact that teachers have on the lives of their students.

Wow things come around in time. I was a student in Bay County when the events of this book took place. Now I am an educator in Bay County and this book has become my inspiration. I had ReLeah as an instructor last summer and if I had read her book prior to that course, she would have ranked up there with a famous movie star or a professional baseball player with me. That is just how touched I was by this book. I just bless these two women for the fight they put up for what they believe in. When the children's educational freedom, creativity and needs are thrown out the window, and the judgement and integrity of a teacher is questioned by people that don't have the qualifications to question anyone--we have a huge problem in education. I would recommend this book to every educator who has a passion for learning and a passion for teaching--you won't be able to put it down until you are finished- and then you will yearn for more.

My daughter was one of the students at Mowat during the time of the first incident discussed in this book. She, her father, and I attended the described meetings, sent the mentioned flowers of support, contributed to CHOICE, and watched in horror as the ludicrous events accurately herein described came to pass. We could not believe that an area we had moved to for employment and beautiful weather could have such ugly events happening. Now after twenty plus years in Bay County, we know it wasn't a fluke but also know that other towns and counties face similar problems. Encouragement of excellence, of careful and critical thought, and of the sheer joy of books was attacked here in Bay County, and anyone who cares about these issues in our schools should read this book. It will both scare and inspire you. My daughter went on to college honors, a master's degree, and is now head librarian at a girls' school where she is developing a superb collection including something new there -- a YA collection to be read for plesure. Thank you, Gloria and Releah.