Homepage / Phoenix News
E-Mail News Alerts
Get breaking news and daily headlines.
Browse all e-mail newsletters

| More


New Flap Hits Cheerleading Teacher

Classroom Reading Assignment Draws Fire

POSTED: 8:06 pm MST October 25, 2007
UPDATED: 8:51 am MST October 26, 2007

A high school teacher who was suspended for performing a cheerleading routine in class that wound up on YouTube has a new problem on her hands.

  • READ: 10/19/07 - Teacher Back At Work After YouTube Controversy
  • Williams Field High School instructor Cristina Mallon is at the center of a literary flap after complaints surfaced at a school board meeting about a book that she assigned to her freshman English students.

    Battle lines are being drawn over the novel Jake, Reinvented, a modern-day version of The Great Gatsby, that some parents say they find disturbing.

    The book, written by Gordon Kormon and released in 2003, talks about high school students at keg parties, where there's underage drinking and possibly sex.

    "It's about popularity, social status, and, especially, wild, wild parties," according to Kormon.

    The issue came to light when a man voiced his concerns at a school board meeting this week. Other parents have joined in the battle.

    "There's no reason to have these kinds of books in school," said Sue McManus, a parent.

    "There's no way I'd read my kid read this," McManus said.

    Not all reaction has been negative. Another parent, Lori Monahan, said she didn't find anything wrong with the themes.

    "I think it's something they should be learning about," she said.

    A spokesperson for the Higley Unified School District said school officials plan to research the issue and see if the district approved the book for the curriculum

    They also said they would investigate if the material in the book is being taught the way the teacher said she planned to.

    Mallon, the school's cheerleading coach, received national focus earlier this month when she performed a classroom cheer in front of cheering and hollering students. The performance was captured on someone's cell phone and landed up as a YouTube video.

    After being put on administrative leave, she has returned to the school.

    SLIDESHOW: How Well Do You Know Your Celebrities? SLIDESHOW: View The Sexiest Songs Of All Time SLIDESHOW: Red-Hot Redheaded Celebrity Women SLIDESHOW: Attractions That Leave You Wondering SLIDESHOW: View Images Of What Not To Wear To Work SLIDESHOW: Celebrities Commit Fashion Faux Pas SLIDESHOW: 20 Internet Acronyms Parents Should Know

  • ELSEWHERE ON KPHO.COM: The so-called Rock Burglar behind 331 luxury home burglaries in five Valley communities from 1993 to 2005 is still on the loose. CLICK HERE for details.

  • Links We Like
    Sponsored Content
    Find out what a sputtering economy and an increasingly difficult to crack job market means to you. More

    Before you splurge on that pricey remodeling project, beware. It may not pay you back when it's time to sell. More

    Acupuncture, massage, or other complementary therapies could manage your type-2 diabetes. Find out whether they can help you. More

    Having a tough time selling you home? Check out the five reasons why you may be having trouble and find professionals who can help. More

    Sponsored Links

    Job Searching Tips

    Struggling to find a great job in a bad economy can be tough, but these eight tips can help improve your chances of landing a gig. More