By Eileen Oldfield Staff Writer
East Mountain Road resident Mike Detsis voiced concern about required summer reading for students entering sophomore year at Hillsborough High School at the Sept. 10 Board of Education meeting.
Prior to entering sophomore year, students in general and college preparatory English must read Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It,” and create a brochure supporting or refuting global warming.
Mr. Detsis asked about providing alternative positions on global warming for future reading assignments.
”It’s an arguably political stance on a scientific community’s position on global warming,” said Mr. Detsis.
According to Curriculum Committee Chairman Wolfgang Schneider, the book was chosen based on the topic’s cross-curriculum content, potential for discussion, and student interest.
”It doesn’t mean that will be the only authority; that doesn’t mean we will use it as a textbook,” said Mr. Schneider. “It would merely start the ball rolling to talk about the issue of global warming in the various classes . . When kids say they are interested in a book, you seize upon that moment and I saw it as a perfect segue to the classroom.”
A prior meeting left Mr. Detsis with the impression that the board would add additional materials and other reference points to the summer reading list.
”I find it incredulous that kids are becoming the source in this district for reading material,” said Mr. Detsis. “I find that very disappointing.”
During the course of the school year, district teachers submit books for summer reading to their supervisors. The supervisors present the books to Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Dr. Lisa Antunes; Dr. Antunes brings the recommendations to the Curriculum Committee.
The summer reading list is revised each year, and may include additional selections or different material than previous years.
”It is not the kids that chose the books,” said Mr. Schneider. “It’s the kids that showed an interested that conveyed that interest to the teachers.”
Mr. Detsis refered to alleged inaccuracies in the book, and reiterated his request for alternate viewpoints.

