Huffington Post - Movie Director and Screenwriter Richard Lagravenese speaks out against Thompson and Board.

"What's amazes me in the CNN report is that, although Ms. Heermann lost her job for giving the book to her students, the book remains available to everyone in the school library. When CNN reporter Gary Tuchman remarks to School Board President Barbara Thompson how he couldn't believe that the students would be worse off for reading the book -- and questions, is it possible the book could actually make them better for reading it, Thompson responded: "What worries me is that Connie Heermann ... sent a poor message to our children. If you're told no, do it ... it if feels good, do it anyway". She gave no response to the question of the book's value to a student's education.What message is Ms. Thompson sending? Don't stand for what you believe to be right when faced with limited thinking, or worse, ignorance? Just say yes to censorship?...Heermann stood for what she believed in. Does Ms. Thompson believe this is a bad role model for teenagers? Was Ms. Thompson ever inside the classroom when Freedom Writers was being taught? Does the student's learning experience in the classroom mean anything to the school board of Perry Township ?" (excerpt)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-lagravenese/emfreedomem-banned_b_110299.html