S.E. Hinton Challenges School Board Who Banned The Outsiders to Rumble
Skins, chains, or knives?
Appearing at a school board meeting in Boone, Iowa, S. E. Hinton defended her 1967 novel The Outsiders before challenging board members who voted to ban her book to "a rumble."
The novel had been recently challenged by a group of parents and the school board voted in favor of banning the book due to its depiction of "drug and alcohol use," "glamorizing smoking," and a "focus on gang fights."
But as Hinton approached the podium, those in attendance noticed her aggressive demeanor, leather jacket, and that she had a cigarette behind her ear.
The school board also agreed that students are being exposed to obscenities, "unchristian values," and usage of excessive violence.
The school board ruled to pull the book from their curriculum and libraries, claiming the book does not have any educational value and “glamorizes the lack of adult role models.”
Hinton was in attendance at the meeting, and was granted time to defend her work and advocate for its valuable aspects, such as representing and portraying troubled youth coming from broken homes. But as she approached the podium, those in attendance noticed her aggressive demeanor, leather jacket, and that she had a cigarette behind her ear.
When she got to the microphone, she immediately whipped out a switchblade, brandishing it menacingly and waving it in the direction of the school board members.
She challenged any “chicken shits” who voted to ban her novel to a rumble, but allowed them to choose "how it will go down." She recommended that they meet at a vacant lot just around the corner.
The school board conferred behind closed doors while Hinton smoked her cigarette. A cool parent who opposed the school board's ruling gave her one of his smuggled-in beers, which she finished in a few quick gulps. She then chucked the beer bottle against the wall before tying a blue bandana around her head.
When the meeting reconvened, the school board president agreed to meet at the vacant lot at midnight, but that they should do it "skins," or weaponless. Hinton asked if kicks and bites were allowed, and the president concurred.
Hinton, who had attended the meeting alone, would need some time to organize her gang. She placed a few phone calls and got in touch with other banned writers like Toni "Mo" Morrison, Judy "Basher" Blume, and Lois "Lo-down" Lowry. All three agreed to the terms of the rumble and will “get their asses down there asap.”
The school board agreed to overturn its original decision should Hinton and her crew actually win. First ones to “wimp out” and retreat to their cars, loses. If the police break up the fight before there is a victor, then it will be called a draw and a follow-up brawl will be set at next month's school board meeting.