Stonington -- Mystic Middle School teacher Ed Goldberg did not receive a written reprimand or any other type of discipline in connection to his opposition to “Animal Farm” being removed as one of the “anchor books” taught by all eighth-grade language arts classes, according to Superintendent of Schools Van Riley.

At last Thursday’s school board meeting, parents supporting Goldberg said that they had heard that school officials had placed a written reprimand in his personnel file because of his opposition.

Also last Thursday, The Day had filed a state Freedom of Information request with Riley asking for “copies of all disciplinary records and letters in the file of Mystic Middle School teacher Ed Goldberg. This includes but is not limited to written reprimands, warnings, and suspensions. The Day is NOT requesting copies of Mr. Goldberg’s performance evaluations.”

The latter is exempt from release.

On Monday, Riley responded to the FOI request saying “There are no disciplinary records, reprimands, warnings, or suspensions or anything that would indicate such in Mr. Goldberg’s file going back to when he began teaching over 20 years ago.”

Goldberg, who has been teaching the classic book for more than 20 years, wrote in an email to a parent last month that he was not given a good answer as to why the book was dropped from the curriculum.

“None of the reasons I have been given make much sense. I have heard 1) whole group discussion of a single book is discouraged 2) the book is age inappropriate and 3) it’s not part of a ‘list’ of approved books. I don’t understand this either! ...,” wrote Goldberg.

He added, “Animal Farm is an important book. It is particularly relevant in so many ways: the political process, the social contract between citizens and government, the politics of language, the meaning of truth etc.”

His comments prompted parents to not only charge the book had been banned but that school officials had not been transparent in explaining the decision and offerings details about the curriculum.

At last Thursday’s board meeting, Riley stressed that the district had not banned the book but a decision was made during a realignment of curriculum that it would not be among a group of “anchor books” used by all teachers.

Riley said teachers could use the George Orwell book as they feel necessary, such as a supplemental text, after school or during an enrichment period.

Parents said that not having “Animal Farm” as an anchor text means not all students will read it and there won’t be time to teach the whole book because of time constraints of the curriculum.

The school board is scheduled to discuss the "Animal Farm" issue when it meets Thursday at 7 p.m. at Stonington High School.  

j.wojtas@theday.com