Book Banning Debate Takes Shape at Missouri Public School
- Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:28pm by
Christopher Santarelli
- Print »
- Email »
The debate over banning certain books from public school libraries is not new. Advocates say that banning certain books removes from the curriculum vulgar or inappropriate subjects, while opponents argue the practice is censorship of free speech. KCTV5 reports on how the argument has once again come to the forefront in the community of Blue Springs, Missouri:
The book that spurred the debate within the Blue Springs School District is Hold Still, a novel about a young girl coping with the suicide of her best friend. Parents say that the book was part of an extra credit assignment in a freshman English class. Hold Still was pulled from the school library and curriculum last month after the parents of a 14-year-old girl learned she had read the book, which her mother describes as riddled with “F Yous” and her father says features “graphic sex scenes.”
After going to the principal first to voice concerns, the upset parents did not receive a response for six weeks. The book was finally removed, pending a review from teachers and staff, after KCTV5 contacted the Blue Springs School District for an interview on the matter.
KCTV5 says the ACLU is also getting involved:
“‘You clearly can’t remove a book because you disagree with the ideas in them,’ said Doug Bonney, chief counsel and legal director for the local chapter of the ACLU. ‘Clearly, I‘m concerned when a school removes a book that was chosen by the professional library staff for inclusion in the collection and then on the complaint of one family decides to remove the book while it’s being reviewed.’
The problem is where do you stop, Bonney said. He fears removing the book violates the students’ First Amendment Rights.”
Hold Still’s author, Nina LaCour, wrote a statement on her blog defending the book and supporting the librarians and teachers who chose to feature it. After describing an experience speaking to 3,000 teachers in “Michele ‘Gays-Are-Part-of-Satan‘ Bachmann’s district,” the author said of the book banning debate in Missouri:
“This is how I’m feeling right now: the more time I get to spend in this glorious and frustrating pursuit of writing novels, the more I appreciate the librarians and teachers who care enough for their students to seek out and provide books that will speak to them. Perhaps there is a book or two out there that does that without acknowledging any controversial subject, that imagines a teen experience with no exposure to profanity or alcohol or drugs or sex. But, most often, that isn’t the case. Like Terri Evans and her fearless crew, librarians and teachers in Missouri selected my book to be an optional part of their curriculum. I’m sure they did so because they thought it was valuable. I’m sure they actually read the whole thing before making that decision. And though a part of me is honored to now share a place in the challenged book club with Salinger and Baldwin and Faulkner and Plath, the bigger part of me just wants the teenagers in Blue Springs to read books that could start conversations. Champlin Park High School taught me how vital those conversations can be.”
After not hearing a response from the district, the upset parents consulted their pastor. The parents and pastor reviewed the 15 books on the extra credit reading list and deemed at least another eight books aside from “Hold Still” to also be inappropriate.
“I’m not for banning, going to the library and say, ‘Let’s ban every book there.‘ I’m saying we need to have oversight. These are young people, they are not adults. They are children, and so we need some oversight,” said pastor Hylton Lawrence to KCTV5.
Staff at the Blue Springs School District are still reviewing whether to permit or remove Hold Still and the other books in question. KCTV5 notes that the debate could end up in court.
Popular Stories
MSNBC Host Snaps in Heated Segment: ‘What in the World Is Riskier Than Being a Poor Person in America?’ 694 Comments
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 662 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 525 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 364 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 362 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 235 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 247 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order Read More- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 147 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 235 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (155)
Texas Hills Patriot
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:41pmDon’t books like this amount to contributing to the delinquency of a minor? They used to provide punishment for those who did that.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:56pmBooks promote ideas, and from absorbing ideas from multiple sources comes a human mind capable of self determination & the ability to reason and extrapolate possibilities for their actions in the future.
No burnings and no bannings. You’ve done your job well as a parent if you send forth a child capable of making their own decisions and accepting responsibility for them. If you send forth a child who is a carbon copy of your own views, beliefs & standards…you have failed. For that is truly stagnation.
Report Post »pscully17
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 6:34pm“‘You clearly can’t remove a book because you disagree with the ideas in them,’ said Doug Bonney, chief counsel and legal director for the local chapter of the ACLU. ‘Clearly, I‘m concerned when a school removes a book that was chosen by the professional library staff for inclusion in the collection and then on the complaint of one family decides to remove the book while it’s being reviewed.’=====
You mean like One Family in California getting rid of the pledge of allegiance and God, which was for 50 years, an instructural American school day event, chosen and protected by the schoolboards? you mean getting rid of an inappropriate subject and language in a book for an immature age group of youth, is an outrage, but getting rid of teaching our kids to love America and fear God, is destructive, and MUST BE REMOVED FROM OUR CLASSROOMS?….. This education board has to be abolished.
Report Post »New-2-MO
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 6:39pmBooks need a rating system just like movies (G, PG, PG13, PG17, X) so parents & teachers can quickly determine if the book is age appropriate for the child. We cannot expect parents & teachers to read each book prior to letting their child read it.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 6:41pmI’ve done my job if my child comes to me and tells me, “Mom, they’re making me read a book that has all this cursing in it, and vivid sex scenes.” I tell the school, my child is NOT reading that book in high school. If he chooses to read it as an adult, that’s his choice, but I want to keep my child a child as long as possible. This goes to the lowering of the age of consent, “because they will all ‘do it’ anyway.” You lower the age of consent, and pedophilia is acceptable. You institute in the school systems that “alternative lifestyles” are just another part of normal society, and you get American Man-boy Love association, or Butterfly Kisses (which is the female version of that, women/girl love). They didn’t say burn the book, they said not in high school.
Report Post »RichNGadsden
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 7:39pmTEXAS HILLS PATRIOT, I rather agree with you than most of the statements that I read above. While the practice of “banning” certain books conjures up thoughts of Nazi book burnings. There is a reason not to expose children to certain subjects at an early age. Simply put, why don’t schools teach first graders algebra? Because they cannot comprehend it. Start at the bottom and teach up with what children can comprehend gradually. All while allowing the parent(s) to help mold the child’s mind at home, so that he/she can understand and determine what is right and wrong. This is not a matter of censorship, but an understanding what not to expose children to at an early age. The eventual older teen, or young adult then has the right to choose what to read. Use common sense. I know we did when raising our now adult son.
Report Post »pscully17
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 7:45pmtry putting a BIBLE on a school shelf, and have the teachers require that for reading… the Library would burn down
Report Post »scarebear83
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 8:21pmI think they should keep inappropriate material out of a SCHOOL LIBRARY. However, it occurred to me, do they not have a PUBLIC Library in Blue Springs? If it were in a public library I‘d say they have the right to carry whatever book they wanted but let’s remember this is a school setting.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 9:38pmNo banning books, but teachers should not be subjecting students to this type of thing. Abolish the DOE…it is ok for an adult to read whatever they want, but if what is described is true, young people don’t need to read it, why expose them to that, when they don’t have to…no it is just activism. Yet they ban the Bible – Satan is hard at work in America today, I say the sooner to hell with the Lucifer the better! So that means sweet Jesus must come that much quicker, we need help!
Report Post »Brooke Lorren
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 10:09pmMy biggest problem with this here is that they made it part of the curriculum, even if just an “extra credit” assignment. There was no alternate extra credit assignment, as far as I know.
I prefer that my kids don’t read this book, but I don’t want them reading Harry Potter either. Other parents might be fine with those books though. If the school wants the books to be there, I suppose that’s fine, but they shouldn’t make books with controversial subjects like these part of the curriculum.
Report Post »jzs
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 10:30pmI hate being the person to tell you parents of teenagers, kids who are twelve or older and attending either public or private schools, but they have heard it all already. It would have been better had they heard it from you, but they didn’t with many of you. They’ve heard curse word – and may have used those words themselves with their friends – they know the specifics of sex – although I hope you’ve given your kids a more honest view than they are getting from their friends, and the risks, and I hope they also value your opinion over those of their peers.
A book about a teen coming to grips with the suicide of a friend, something sadly that many teens and adults have experienced, is not going not going to screw up your kid.
I don’t want to see books in the library that glorify violence or promiscuity or drug use. But books that honestly address teenage issues ought to be encouraged. You can try “protect” your kids from anything you find distasteful but in the internet age, that’s a hopeless cause. The only protection you can offer is to have a close, tight relationship with your child, one that allows you to openly discuss with them the world they are faced with.
Report Post »TexasKnight
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 11:45pmI agree.
Maybe we can find some nice full graphic sexual novels to include. We used to call them Adult bookstores, but maybe we can just move them to the middle schools. I am sure the ACLU would agree, because we should not censor books.
OK, so maybe the left draws the line at books with graphic sex in them. I wonder how many books they have that promote creationism. Afterall, that is just another subject that students should be exposed to. I guess it is censorship to not have those books.
This is not a freedom of speech issue. Not even close. Is the government stopping this author from speaking/writing? No. Even if the book is banned from the library, this does not prevent the author from publishing the book. The author has no ‘right’ for the book to be bought, and distributed by the government/schools. Just like books written by the KKK do not have to be bought and distributed by the schools.
Report Post »NOBAMA201258
Posted on November 13, 2011 at 1:43amOnce again the aclu shows what America-hating POS they are! What is their position on the Bible in schools?
Report Post »Carolina Infidel
Posted on November 13, 2011 at 6:31amIf it were a CD it would have a label on it mandated y the federal government stating the lyrics were not suitable for minors and wouldn’t be sold to those under 18YOA.
Report Post »curtisgb
Posted on November 13, 2011 at 8:55amThe logic of some people escape me. To read their principles it would seem they would advocate children reading: Mein Kampf, Penthouse, Playboy, and Roman Polansky’s “I did Her My Way”. After all, they want to expose children (to ideas)?
Report Post »VerySeniorCitizen
Posted on November 13, 2011 at 11:02amDoesn‘t the Bible promote certain things which we wouldn’t want our children to copy and live by? Want examples?? http://spot.colorado.edu/~huemer/biblequotes.htm So should we allow bibles in school??
Report Post »Vechorik
Posted on November 13, 2011 at 12:53pmBill O’Reilly’s book ‘Killing Lincoln’ book banned from Ford’s Theatre because of ‘mistakes’
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/bill-oreillys-lincoln-book-banned-from-fords-theatre-because-of-mistakes/2011/11/11/gIQAhJpyFN_story.html?hpid=z2
Report Post »Azalea
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:39pmBanning books is an absolute no-no – in the public sector. I feel the same about schools EXCEPT if the book has cursing in it. Cursing is only used when the writer has no language concepts. To excuse writing, they say they use it because “this is the way everyone speaks”. No. Not quite true. Books write the words, and THEN the words are used all the time. This is films as well.
In this case, it is apparent that words abound in a book which have no educational value at all. If the book is sitting in the library to be checked out, this is one thing. But, to ASSIGN such a book is completely reprehensible.
Whether or not the book “speaks” to kids is irrelevant. There are many, many books out there that have no need to use curse words. These are the books that should be used.
If you want to change the way people speak, and get rid of curse words that are irrelevant, then you pick books which speak to kids without those words. If you can’t find it, then stand your ground and demand it. If this happens, the writers will take notice, and THEY will change THEIR writing styles to eliminate curse words. Once this is done, kids will cease using those words. School is where they first learn the words. It is the job of a teacher to teach AGAINST these words, not condone them.
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on November 13, 2011 at 1:25amIt’s been a long time since I was a kid, but as I recall we all used those words before we read them in books. Realism is part of good writing, and a world were nobody ever uses bad words is not realistic.
Report Post »rickbob
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:38pmLet’s see, if teens in high school can read X rated books, why not X rated (now NC-17) movies – Debbie Does Dallas, Tropic of Cancer, Marie and Jack: A Hardcore Love Story (found these titles on wikipedia).
How is this “banning books”? Suppose they put a Playboy or Penthouse compendium of centerfolds in the library to show the “diversity of implants” or some such nonsense. Would that be o.k.?
Come on folks, think!!
Report Post »Kristy
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 8:44pmMy friend found out her daughter’s middle school library has the book The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. This book is filled with violent and explicit sexual assault scenes and the movie has been rated R and even the actor playing in this movie said the violence made his jaw drop. No child under 17 can go see this movie without a parent, but yet put the book in a school library and 11 and 12 year old children can check it out without a parent’s permission. What is the problem with making sure books are rated just like movies for age appropriateness? I don’t see that as banning.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2012256/Daniel-Craig-reveals-violent-scenes-The-Girl-With-The-Dragon-Tattoo-jaw-drop.html
Report Post »Dalady
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:38pmI lost a family member to suicide last year. I read every book related to suicide I could get my hands on from the library to help me deal with my profound grief. It helped a lot.
What a shame that this author couldn’t approach the subject without the smut.
Report Post »ScienceIsNotEvil
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 8:37pmBoy are you going to be upset when you find out the bible is in libraries. It is full of sex, violence and the wonton murder of innocent kids.
Report Post »Dalady
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 10:48pm@Science gal or guy, guess I should have clarified that I went to public libraries, not high school libraries where I’m guessing the ACLU has made sure there are no Holy Bibles, probably just Qurans.
I just thought that a book dealing with youth suicide could be so helpful for children. There were two suicides in our HS in my son’s senior year and nobody knew how to talk about it.
Good book for survivors of suicide “Dying to Be Free” by Beverly Cobain (Kurt’s cousin) and Jean Larch
Report Post »BrerRabbit
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:34pmHome school and refuse to pay the taxes which support these failing government institutions.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:38pmHome Schooling… is an excellent idea… and resolves a problem!
Report Post »saranda
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 7:00pmHope you are remotely qualified to “school” your children. Home schooling is not easy and, truth be told, most parents are ill equipped to teach at the levels their children deserve. But hopefully you are in minority of well intentioned and well qualified parent teachers.
Report Post »WakeUpCall4U
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 7:02pmI agree. Get your children out of public schools as soon as possible. That includes the worthless brain washing education systems they call college. Christians need to put their money where their mouth is and stop accepting the pc system destroying our children. If we would stop funding their perverse system, they would be forced to change it.
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:13pmTotally off subject, but are all of The Blaze’s hidden marketing and advertising links and cookies really necessary?
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 6:21pmSheesh, another Liberal.
Its called the free market system and yes for Glenn they are necessary. I am sure they help pay for running this site and to pay the webmaster. What you think its free to have a web page with your own domain. Think again.
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 6:33pmThanks for the lecture, but if something has to be buried and hidden it is not right. Re your crappy comment about me wanting free stuff, I am paying for the extended GBTV at $10 a month and have been an extreme member for a year before that. I expect to pay for what I get and I don’t mind advertisements that are on the web page to be seen, but hidden links to third party marketing companies I do mind.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 7:00pmThen leave the site. Glenn is not making you stay. Sometimes the third party cookies can be disabled in your browser, but it could change the way your browser responds. What does you paying the 9.95 per month and being an Extreme member have to do with Glenn’s advertising schema on “The Blaze? This is a non paying site. I too pay for the GBTV Plus features, but I accept that I get third party cookies from this site. I also have noticed recently that the auto play advertisements have been removed, which I am thankful because even when I scrolled it would end up playing. I don’t mind the advertisement videos, just give me the choice whether to play them.
Report Post »lodgerat
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:11pmI live in Missouri and I’m here to tell you our school systems here are as messed up as any in California. A local school had a book fair and was selling used school books. I bought a sixth grade history book for one of my nieghbor kids. When I got it home and looked thru it I was pissed off. The first section was on the history of abortion. It clearly was in favor of abortion and even had pictures of the fetuses in different stages and explained when it was alright to do an abortion. If you have kids you need to look at the books they bring home.
Report Post »hightide
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:08pmOf course there are books that children in High School should not read. The Bible is not one of them. They need to be be taught good morals and NOT how to associate sensual feelings with suicide. Totally ridiculous. Morals like loving your neighbor as you love yourself. Feeding the poor, not because the government says to pay your taxes or else, but because you want to help them. No wonder our kids are screwed up and think everybody owes them something.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:15pmIf you do not prepare children for the Real World… how will they cope with the Muslim, who would kill them or convert them to alternate Laws & Morals!
Report Post »chips1
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 6:13pmOR be accepted to Penn State.
Report Post »Seasoldier
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 7:04pmAs with children’s exposure to all media, we have to have parental involvement. When a school assigns a reading list, it should provide that list to parents and parents should get involved in monitoring the books their children read so that they can discuss the content with them. When a reading list is given to children without parental notification, parents have every right and responsibility to notify teachers about books they object to having their child read. Parents, as the first teachers for their children, must have the right to have their children exempted from reading books for which their parent say they are not ready. The same should be true for films, sex ed classes and lectures by objectionable guest speakers. The parent must be engaged in their children’s education at every stage. If they can’t find a school that provides appropriate parental involvement, then parents should home school, This is one reason why there should be freedom of choice regarding schools. Parents should have the option of taking tax money they spend to support schools to which ever school they choose, be it public, charter, private, or parochial, or to home school if none of the above are suitable.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:07pmOops! Sorry again – it was Jacob instead of Isaac.
Report Post »SIXFRIGATES
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:07pmI just have one question… Would these same youths be allowed to enter an R-rated film legally WITHOUT an adult with them? NO!
This situation is no different. Visual or written, graphic is graphic and inappropriate is inappropriate.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:24pmQuestions lead to seeking Knowledge… and kids will find out what they want to know, one way or another… and you may like the alternative even less!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:25pmI agree .. age appropriate is what the parents seem to be asking for … and no they would not be allowed into an R or X movie so why should the same material be available in print. Sounds like more liberal indoctrination to me .. and they know the younger they can get them .. the less they will have opposition to their views from the children.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:05pmPavlov effectively did quite an interesting experiment once. Isaac was told by an Angel to use certain branches for feed troughs to win advantage in cattle. Every time the cattle came to the feed troughs the cattle associated the spots on the branches with pleasure. Therefore, the cattle always came over to Isaac’s side of the fence to multiply and breed. Issac’s competition failed – Issac possessed many cattle.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:09pmSorry, replace Isaac with Jacob.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:19pmPavlov used a dog. Fed the dog and rang a bell – just before he fed the dog, he rang the bell and just before the dog was fed, the dog would salivate. Consequently, Pavlov would only ring the bell – the dog would still salivate.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 6:19pmSo that’s why Barney salivates so much. He has bells in his belfry.
Report Post »New-2-MO
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:00pmBooks should have the same rating system as movies (G, PG, PG13, PG17, R,X,XXX).
This is not about free speech. This is about material being age approciate for the children.
The schools do not serve beer, wine, etc.. because it is not age approciate.
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:11pmNew @ you are right but the socialist schools of America can’t seem to do anything RIGHT
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:30pmWhom is to judge the Rating System as applied to a Book? Better… how about a System based upon IQ… where those under 100 only get to read comic books?
Report Post »New-2-MO
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 6:52pmLUKERW said… “Whom is to judge the Rating System as applied to a Book?”
Movies have a list of criteria for each rating to remove much of the subjectivity. The same can be done for books and other media. Computer games have ratings to help parents decide, …why not books?
Again, this is not a “Free Speech” issue. This is about material being age appropriate for the child.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 13, 2011 at 7:53amCorrect, this is not about OutPut (Free Speech)… this is about InPut (Knowledge) & who should Program your Computer-like Brain. I do not want to be Programmed nor Indoctrinated… but you can serve whatever master that you desire!
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:59pmThese sorts of books have no place in our school system.. maybe an adult book store, but not our school system.. it is getting more and more horrible for people to send their children to any school.. I suggest to parents that they check every book from the school system.. if I had children still in school I would remove them and teach them at home.. our schools are corrupted and our children are being brainwashed. God help our children!
Report Post »out of many one
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:55pmOh the humanity of not having even MORE books with filthy language available to children! What about having some balance and exposing them to conservative thought? Oooh! Can’t have that kind of diversity. In fact it is perfectly honorable for administrations to egg kids on to mock and make fun of conservative students or at least turn a blind eye.
Report Post »With all the wonderful literature that doesn‘t go to the gutter being kept from the students no wonder they graduate without any clue as to our country’s founding and literary legacy. Right, dead white men are of no importance. Only women, even more so if they are not straight, and “people of color” , as long as it’s not white,who are writing in the here and now can possible have anything worth saying.
Liberally Correct fails the students every time.
lukerw
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:08pmLiberals dominate the Teaching Profession… rendering today’s OWS Crowd… who fail to comprehend all in the Constitution or Capitalism… because they are filled with Jello of Emotion over divisive issues and taught to reperform failed concepts of the past alike Socialism.
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:54pmProfessional “Progressive” Library staff chose the book. That‘s why the ACLU’s on the case. I Agree with @82DAIRBORNE.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:53pmCensorship of free speech? Let’s see. Can 14 year olds legally buy a gun and exercise 2nd amendment rights? No. Can They Legally vote? Well Other than for Democrats,No. Can They Legally Buy Booze? No. Can they be Legally Binded by Contracts without Parental Consent? No. If you want to throw you 14 year old out of the house,IS it legal? No.It is considered child abandonment. Can they be drafted? No. Drive a car? No. Buy Porn? No. Rights come with Maturity. If parents do not want them reading filth,then they should not have to read filth. If Parents do not want them reading the Bible,They should not have to. Face it Kids. Your parents OWN you until you are 18. Then they can toss your Bu tt out on the Street! Especially if they do not want you to turn College age,and leave the basement to join OWS so you can complain about how hard you have it camping out with Your credit card.
Report Post »In detroit
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 11:17pmNice, said it all, thank you thank God grown ups
Report Post »nobull14
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:53pmThe book should have never been allowed in the school in the first place?? that not something a freshman in high school should be reading in the first place!!!!!
Report Post »your sensei
Posted on November 13, 2011 at 1:33amReally? How about you have your kids Google “santorum.” He’s a good family values man.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:52pmThe book is trying to associate suicide with sensual pleasures – an effective tool of you know “ who” – the little guy that has no light in him.
Report Post »msconstrue
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:48pmi dont at all condone the banning of books, and books often represent actual day to day issues. that said, shouldn’t the schools inform the parents when there are books on required reading lists that contain controversial issues? that allows dialogue between parents and THEIR children to share their own personal values. we have left our kids to the education system entirely to long….and we are paying the price for it.
Report Post »ALMOSTLOST
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:44pmmy brother killed himself last year around this time. belive me no book can prepair you for it! that being said.i dont think high schoolers need too understand and be aware of “everything”. our adult world has too offer and inflict on them!
Report Post »capecodsully
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:56pmI’m sorry for your loss. God Bless you and your brother.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:11pmAh… ignorance… is bliss!
Report Post »charles dagwood
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:44pm“‘You clearly can’t remove a book because you disagree with the ideas in them,’ said Doug Bonney, chief counsel and legal director for the local chapter of the ACLU. ‘Clearly, I‘m concerned when a school removes a book that was chosen by the professional library staff for inclusion in the collection and then on the complaint of one family decides to remove the book while it’s being reviewed.’
Very interesting comment. I am concerned when you remove a nativity scene because “one atheist doesnt like it. Or one Muslim. Dont see the ACLU running in to the rescue then do we?
Report Post »1proud_Texan
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 6:09pmThat was my first thought when I read the comment from the local ACLU.
Report Post »SingerGuy
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 6:25pmMine, too! We see examples of “one family” setting the direction for a school/community all the time. I guess it’s only OK if the family is liberal/atheist.
Report Post »TX_Mom
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 6:37pmExcellent point. One atheist alone made it all the way to the Supreme Court on the issue of the pledge in school. ACLU was definitely there for that one.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:43pmParents absolutely do have the right to approve the books their children are to read. When the “child” grows up, he or she may read whatever they wish. Schools, the Medical Industry & Government are interfering in parental rights & trying to indoctrinate children into a world, or mode of thinking, that the great majority of Americans disagree with. They mock parents & teach kids that we are are stupid, uneducated & backwards. So. Parents must put their foot down & say enough. Take your children back.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:54pmParents who Own their Children are Slave Masters! Parenting is only about Teaching and preparing a child to enter Society as a functional Human Being who can cope with Reality!
Report Post »booger71
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:41pmThe so-called “professional library staff” needs to be replaced.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:37pmYou can Burn all the Books… but do not ever Ban or Censor them!
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:33pmYes children do need “oversight.” Oversight = PARENTS! Not the schools or the ACLU..
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:37pmYou don’t ban books.
Report Post »dread_pirate_roberts
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:41pmRight ye be, matey!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:47pm82nd — Right on, censorship only belongs with the final teachers of the kids, and the principle ones at that as well — the PARENTS. I know in the high school I went to there was campaigns (more like they were crusades) to ban all manner of books…in the case of my school, they were ones that covered the individual stories of soldiers of WW1 and WW2, their own tales and struggles to deal with during and after the wars.
The parents (mine included) declared that they glorified violence and were worthless. Not that it made any difference in my case, my grand father simply provided me with copies of them – especially the one of Guadalcanal Diary and Hunt for the Bizmark (it may be Sink the Bizmark).
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:02pmAgree 120% Airborne! I Was given free reign when it came to reading(Never helped my Grammar or typing). Anything from Violent Novels Like “Last Of The Mohicans” To Sexy Novels like “Moll Flanders”(And a Lot Of history).If I Grabbed a Play Boy tho,My Bu tt got whooped! My Pappy did not believe the truth that I was actually reading the John Lennon Interview haha. So PARENTS should have a final say in what their kids are allowed to read. Not The ACLU or even Schools.All They can do is suggest. If I had had my Choice I Never would have been forced to read “Silas Marner.” Most boring book EVER! hahah
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:18pmOh Snow!! My Pappy gave me an Original print Of “Guadalcanal Diary” that his Aunt got him when he was a kid.It still had stuff in it censored for security ahahha.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:19pmALL of my family was either teachers or professors. I was the first in three generations who did not teach in some manner or form. I was “encouraged “ to read any and everything. (The summer after fifth grade I earned $100 cash for reading the entire World Book Encyclopedia. And yes I was randomly questioned/quizzed to prove that I was actually reading & understanding what I had read.)
Schools should help teach the basics and critical thinking. They should never teach what to think.
Report Post »rdub76
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 5:48pmabsolutely right airborne. parents should do the parenting of their children not the govt.
Report Post »