Entry Three: Statesman Article about The Big Stink
School reconsiders spiking author's invitation
Austin writer Spike Gillespie will read to elementary students despite parents' objections.
By Raven L. Hill
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Spike Gillespie's not the kind of woman to let somebody beat her to making a big stink about something. Especially if the matter is Spike Gillespie.
So when a local elementary school librarian invited — then regretfully uninvited — Gillespie from leading a student book club because of parents' complaints, the author made a ruckus.
The saga started started in September, when Gillespie accepted an offer from Highland Park Elementary School in West Austin to lead a book club for fourth- and fifth-graders similar to those that she has done at other schools.
She planned to kick off the club in January with Blue Bailett's "Chasing Vermeer" — a mystery that one online reviewer called "The DaVinci Code" for kids.
Then, some parents began questioning Gillespie's involvement.
After all, the local author's in-your-face style and persona have garnered her a loyal following and equally vocal critics.
Political columnist Molly Ivins praises Gillespie's "incurable honesty" on the liner notes of Gillespie's latest collection of essays, "Surrender (But Don't Give Yourself Away)."
An Amazon.com reviewer takes note of the "exuberantly X-rated prose" in Gillespie's memoir, "All the Wrong Men and One Perfect Boy."
And another reviewer sums her up this way:
"She'll make you laugh, or make you mad, or make you sneer, or make you cheer. But you won't shrug your shoulders and walk away from it."
Some of the parents at Highland Park apparently fell on the mad side.
The school librarian, Cheryl Mullins, told Gillespie in an e-mail that parents had threatened to take their concerns all the way to the superintendent and that she and Principal Jane Knowles thought it would be "the path of least resistance" to cancel Gillespie's participation in the event.
"The librarian was very apologetic. She felt that she was between a rock and a hard place," Gillespie said. "These people who coerced this librarian planned to make a really big stink about it. I felt that I would make a big stink first. This is my livelihood."
Gillespie consulted four lawyers about potential libel, slander and defamation of character issues after learning that one parent was circulating a letter criticizing her work, and she told Knowles that she expected the school to honor her contract, which would pay her $250 in May.
"I think that I have First Amendment rights and they don't have any right to disinvite me," Gillespie said.
Shortly thereafter, the school reconsidered its stance.
In a letter that was sent home with students on Wednesday, Knowles said that Gillespie's participation would focus on books selected by the librarian and help students improve their writing.
"After having considered the diversity of opinions, and after having spoken to principals of other AISD elementary schools in which this author has led book discussions with students, I have determined that this individual's presentation to our students would be beneficial and appropriate," Knowles wrote.
Gillespie, the mother of a teenage son, readily admits that she "scares" some people but says her motives in this case are pure.
"I do this in the the hope that I can help kids and broaden their scope," she said. "This is all part of my trying to help the community, and they are ready to burn me at the stake."
Austin writer Spike Gillespie will read to elementary students despite parents' objections.
By Raven L. Hill
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Spike Gillespie's not the kind of woman to let somebody beat her to making a big stink about something. Especially if the matter is Spike Gillespie.
So when a local elementary school librarian invited — then regretfully uninvited — Gillespie from leading a student book club because of parents' complaints, the author made a ruckus.
The saga started started in September, when Gillespie accepted an offer from Highland Park Elementary School in West Austin to lead a book club for fourth- and fifth-graders similar to those that she has done at other schools.
She planned to kick off the club in January with Blue Bailett's "Chasing Vermeer" — a mystery that one online reviewer called "The DaVinci Code" for kids.
Then, some parents began questioning Gillespie's involvement.
After all, the local author's in-your-face style and persona have garnered her a loyal following and equally vocal critics.
Political columnist Molly Ivins praises Gillespie's "incurable honesty" on the liner notes of Gillespie's latest collection of essays, "Surrender (But Don't Give Yourself Away)."
An Amazon.com reviewer takes note of the "exuberantly X-rated prose" in Gillespie's memoir, "All the Wrong Men and One Perfect Boy."
And another reviewer sums her up this way:
"She'll make you laugh, or make you mad, or make you sneer, or make you cheer. But you won't shrug your shoulders and walk away from it."
Some of the parents at Highland Park apparently fell on the mad side.
The school librarian, Cheryl Mullins, told Gillespie in an e-mail that parents had threatened to take their concerns all the way to the superintendent and that she and Principal Jane Knowles thought it would be "the path of least resistance" to cancel Gillespie's participation in the event.
"The librarian was very apologetic. She felt that she was between a rock and a hard place," Gillespie said. "These people who coerced this librarian planned to make a really big stink about it. I felt that I would make a big stink first. This is my livelihood."
Gillespie consulted four lawyers about potential libel, slander and defamation of character issues after learning that one parent was circulating a letter criticizing her work, and she told Knowles that she expected the school to honor her contract, which would pay her $250 in May.
"I think that I have First Amendment rights and they don't have any right to disinvite me," Gillespie said.
Shortly thereafter, the school reconsidered its stance.
In a letter that was sent home with students on Wednesday, Knowles said that Gillespie's participation would focus on books selected by the librarian and help students improve their writing.
"After having considered the diversity of opinions, and after having spoken to principals of other AISD elementary schools in which this author has led book discussions with students, I have determined that this individual's presentation to our students would be beneficial and appropriate," Knowles wrote.
Gillespie, the mother of a teenage son, readily admits that she "scares" some people but says her motives in this case are pure.
"I do this in the the hope that I can help kids and broaden their scope," she said. "This is all part of my trying to help the community, and they are ready to burn me at the stake."
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