Flap Over Red Riding Hood

In the past few weeks The Times has published an article (May 19) and several letters (May 28) about the Culver City Unified School District’s decision not to include an illustrated version of Little Red Riding Hood in the first-grade curriculum.

This decision was made after discussions with the district’s K-12 language arts committee, which consists of teachers and various administrators who met throughout the year to select a new series of literary-based textbooks which will be implemented in the 1990-91 school year.

After much review and the pilot use of several textbook editions in our classrooms, the committee chose the Houghton-Mifflin series for Grades K-3. This series comes with a set of supplemental paperback books.

An adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood, written and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman in 1983, was part of the supplemental package for first grade. After reviewing this particular version of the fairy tale, it was decided not to include it as part of the order because the message it gives conflicts with the district’s curriculum on drug and alcohol abuse. There are many references to “grandma drinking wine to feel better” and an illustration which depicts the grandmother with a red nose, holding up a full wine glass after consuming a half of a bottle of wine.

From the first grade on, our youngsters are taught to say no to drugs and alcohol. Alcohol and drug abuse prevention are part of the science and health curriculum. The Culver City Police Department works closely with the district with its Drug Abuse Resistance Education program and progress has been made with students in this area. These are the reasons this version was not selected for classroom use.

This is not a case of book banning or censorship. I assure you that there are still many versions of Little Red Riding Hood in our school libraries and classrooms. However, the fact remains that the district is currently involved in a cause celebre because of this book and an explanation is important to clarify our action.

CURT I. RETHMEYER

Superintendent, CCUSD