Curriculum Challenge from the Religious Right

Abstract

The Impressions reading series, which was marketed as a "whole language" program in California, was challenged by parents who charged that it promoted disrespect for parents, satanism, and witchcraft. Case study analysis of the challenges in 22 school districts revealed that the challenges clustered around specific geographic locations and time periods illustrating the political mobilization of religious right groups. Organized teacher support was found to be important in maintaining use of the series, and some teachers perceived the challenges as a test of their professional judgment. Most of the districts where the series was challenged continue to use at least parts of the series. However, the challenges to Impressions were more likely to result in removal of the books than were other challenges in California. The Impressions challenges were found to represent a watershed in the history of textbook adoption.