Part 6. News Flash: Crichton's "Timeline" Removed from 7th & 8th Grade History Curriculum (SVUSD)

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.  It's official!  7th graders at RSM Intermediate no longer have to worry about the horrors of Michael Crichton's techno-thriller, Timeline, as an honors history assignment.  According to a personal message from the office of the Superintendent, Timeline has been pulled from both 7th and 8th grade classrooms.

School motto:  "Soar Above the Line"

Long journey.  SVUSD officials' bold move to remove the book follows in the wake of a long and storied journey. It began with the harrowing protests of a 12 year old boy, disturbed by graphic depictions of violence.  Passionate letters of protest were written to the Principal of RSM Intermediate--and rebuffed.  (See Part 1.)  Next, letters were written to the SVUSD Board of Education.  When they evoked no response, more letters were written and sent to members of RSM's City Council and Mayor, desperately asking for help.

It was Mayor Gamble's advice that finally turned the corner for families of RSM Intermediate.  Speak to the Board of Education in person, she said.  And we did.

Success.  Today, my cell phone chimed an alert--a message was waiting.  I pressed a button and the good news flooded in.  It was the Director of Secondary Education, SVUSD, calling to say thank you for the heads up about Timeline.  She wanted to make sure we knew the book title had been removed from 7th and 8th grade classrooms.

Thank you!  I wish to offer heartfelt thanks to the SVUSD officials who took action.  We also owe thanks to Mayor Gamble, and fellow parents, neighbors, teachers, and citizens of California, Florida, Washington, and Ohio who supported this effort.  It is a tremendous relief to know that next year's incoming middle school students will be safer.

What happened to the 7th grader who began this journey?  The most immediate effect of the book was a sharp drop in grades--in almost every class--coupled with a general loss of academic motivation.  If this is what it meant to be a scholar, by his thinking, then he didn't wish to be one.  

As for our own attempts to help him handle the mature content of the book, I can only say that we didn't know what to do or say--but we tried.  (Sodomizing and executing a gay king, among other things, wasn't something we could look up in a developmental health book.)   

Just recently, our son's academic efforts have again gained steam and we are hopeful for the future.  He was embarrassed by this journey, but strengthened by those who came together to "soar above the line."   Our protest was too late to prevent his exposure to sexual violence, but he could appreciate why it was important for the benefit of others.  

One day, we hope this unfortunate experience will give him the courage to face the most difficult topics--choose the most important battles--and be stubborn when the future is at stake.  Plus, he now loves math and science more than ever.  Some of the very best teachers at RSM Intermediate, are part of that, too.