Book Review Of Stuart Nachbar s Book About Education And Politics
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Writing Speaking -> subcategory Writing.
Book Review: The Sex Ed Chronicles by Stuart Nachbar
Summary
Stuart Nachbar's intriguing novel, The Sex Ed Chronicles, immerses readers in the complex world of school politics set against the backdrop of 1980 New Jersey. Tackling the contentious issue of mandatory sex education, Nachbar could have chosen equally divisive topics like religion or evolution, each with fervent supporters and detractors.
Insight into School Boards
While school boards might not capture media attention like the House or Senate, the debates are just as intense, with tactics that can be even dirtier due to the lack of scrutiny. The novel reveals this overlooked arena of political maneuvering.
Main Character and Storytelling
The story centers around Greg Mandell, a rookie journalist fresh out of college, working for a modest New Jersey newspaper, The Ocean Republic. Greg isn’t a hero but serves as the lens through which the narrative unfolds. The writing style is innovative, with the story presented in bite-sized sections echoing newspaper articles.
Plot Overview
The action spans January to June 1980, as the New Jersey School Board considers adding sex education to its curriculum. Some schools have already implemented it, while others have not. Public forums are planned, with an expectation that support will prevail despite some opposition.
Greg Mandell is assigned to cover what initially seems a mundane story, only to find himself in the midst of a fiery controversy when the vocal parent group PAST enters the scene. Led by the affluent and prejudiced widow Carolyn Lattimore, PAST is determined to eradicate sex education from schools and aims to dominate school boards.
Caught in the crossfire is Andi Gilardi, a young history teacher targeted by PAST after she allows a sex education test to be published in the school newspaper. Greg faces a dilemma: support Ms. Gilardi and risk his job, or align with the influential PAST, major advertisers for his paper.
A Thought-Provoking Read
The Sex Ed Chronicles is a compelling exploration of the political process and the strategies employed in ideological battles. Like a chess game, achieving victory requires strategic moves and sacrifices.
This novel is an excellent read, offering abundant opportunities for classroom discussion and real-world insights. If I were an English teacher, it would certainly be a key feature in my syllabus.
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