Sue Telingator
Chair, Chicago Local
National Writers Union

Dear Ms. Telingator,

As a member of the Rockford School Board I received a copy of your letter to Dr. Ronald Epps concerning your opinion of the book Always Running. I appreciate your interest and respect your rights to express your opinion. I read the book and believe Mr. Rodriguez believed his book does try to provide a solution to "such complicated issues."

However he has chosen a technique that shows the horrors of gang life, drug dealing, and a free life style hoping kids after reading these gory situations will not become involved.

Anyone who understand the working of the human mind understands when you describe what not to do, you are making the reader concentrate on those actions creating in them an emphysis [sic] on doing them. You are doing exactly what you do not wish to do.

If Mr. Rodriguez had wished to keep kids from using drugs and entering gangs, he would have written a book based on his experiences of what young people should do! Taking the book off the shelves sends the correct message to the public. I regret that persons such as yourself do not understand "education" which involves the mind.

I hope your letter does not undo the little good that is being done. To really do some good the book should be kept from the public all together.

Sincerely.

Edward Sharp