CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools addressed on Thursday the controversial book about a boy dressing like a girl that was pulled from the curriculum.
The book, “Jacob’s New Dress,” was approved as part of a first-grade lesson plan in response to a federal investigation in 2013 and in the past week, has been the center of controversy across the district.
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The book is about the challenges a young boy is faced with, when he doesn't identify with traditional gender roles.
CMS pulled the book before students ever read it after backlash from teachers and state legislators.
It was part of a required lesson plan that came after a federal review from the Office of Civil Rights.
[DOCUMENT: CMS Office of Civil Rights Complaints]
Between 2008 and 2014, that review found CMS didn't handle sexual harassment complaints like it should have, which also included several cases of sexual violence.
Superintendent Ann Clark said CMS should have been more thoughtful, but said the book met state guidelines, and had federal approval from the Office for Civil Rights.
Clark said she'll now review the lesson plan moving forward, not just for first grade, but all grades.
“We hadn't started teaching the lessons yet,” she said. “We really had just given them out to teachers to start familiarizing themselves with, so we have time to regroup, and do it in a way that's thoughtful.”
Clark said parents were also scheduled to receive a letter detailing the lesson plan. She said the book was pulled before that happened.
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