Posted on 04/10/2005 6:42:44 PM PDT by Texasbock
Pasadena Independent School District superintendent Dr. Rick Schneider has banned the book "Forever" by popular children's author Judy Blume from the shelves of libraries within the district.
The book had previously been found in the collections of one intermediate and three high schools. Advertisement
"It is never an easy decision to pull a book from the shelves. The superintendent has the responsibility to put materials in the system that are educationally suitable and appropriate. In this particular case, after reading the book, he felt that, though the theme is not unsuitable certain passages are and decided to remove the book," said district spokesperson Kirk Lewis.
The complaint was initially lodged by a parent at Thompson Intermediate School.
According to district policy process, a campus review committee was formed to study the book.
The issue was next studied by a central office committee comprised of administrators, instructors and parents and then by Schneider.
Though an initial committee recommendation was that the work be removed from only intermediate and not high school libraries, it was ultimately decided to withdraw "Forever" from the district library system completely due to what was deemed "sexually explicit content.
"Certain passages were not appropriate for any students of the school district," continued Lewis.
The novel, first published in 1975, is self-described as "a moving story of the end of innocence."
According to the American Library Association, it is the eighth "most frequently challenged" book.
A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom received a total of 547 challenges last year. According to Judith F. Krug, director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom, the number of challenges reflects only incidents reported, and for each reported, four or five remain unreported.
>>If you think that is inappropriate then monitor what she researches.<<
Oh trust me I do, but in a perfect world I wouldn't have to constantly fight society to keep her young for a while.
I have it easy because we homeschool so she isn't dressing like the tarty 2nd graders at the local school. Who monitors them?
The book is not really banned or been burned, anyone who wants it can by a copy for themselves...but, as I say, if it is being presented in a public school paid for by tax dollars, then they have every right to object and try and get enough support to get it removed. Apparently they did and that is how our Republic works at that level.
Good for them.
I agree and I disagree. I wouldn't begin to challenge the school district's right. The school district is obviously within its rights to remove the book from its shelves. As it would be within its rights to remove Shakespeare, the Holy Bible, or Dr. Suess if it so chose.
However, that doesn't put the district above criticism for its decisions, and this decision in strikes me as particularly myopic. I've read the volume in question, and the whole moral of the story can be summed up with a single word: Don't. Blume just had the guts to write her morality play from the perspective of a girl who did, but later wished she hadn't. IMHO, that kind of thing is much more effective than sinless Leave it to Beaver universes where such challenges are not only never failed, but never even tested.
Well probably not one person because if she is dressed tarty, she's in the bathroom making out with someone!!!
BLAME IT ALL ON BRITNEY SPEARS!!!
Her books are poorly written, imo. Too much me, Me, ME from the narrator.
Ok, look jerky, keyboards aren't cheap and I don't like blowing cola through my nose. If you're going to keep this up, I demand you preface your comments with, "Swallow all drinks please, hillarity is about to ensue". It's only a proper warning. That was the funniest thing I've read in weeks. GJ.
I think I'd retract that statement. That's a Federal crime.
I agree. But not because her books are pornographic. Because they are bad literature. They are trashy in more ways than one. Don't waste money or shelf space on them.
Well becoming a "man" or a "woman". ACKWARD.
Having hair in places that didnt include your head..
Need I go on?? Im getting the ooogies like I did when I was 11.
Please start with that pornographic book, the King James Bible, as it has that nasty Song of Solomon section and unspeakable acts between Lot and his hussy offspring.
Do they still assign "Tea and Sympathy?"
I remember being assigned this play, I think it was, in high school back in the early 60's. A play about a teenage boy losing his virginity when an attractive female teacher gave him love. Come to think of it, it was adultery as well.
Anyhow, I don't remember any harm at all being done to the kids, it just made us all even more horny than we already were. Which was very.
LOL!
I loved "The Outsiders."
My 15 YO was required to read the terminally boring "Our Town" this year. What a yawner. First year teachers are always wide-eyed about Thorton Wilder.
That's right. It is still working, and with vigor.
>>BLAME IT ALL ON BRITNEY SPEARS!!!<<
LOL!
Nope, I have to blame it on absentee parents!
Now that I have read through this thread and realized you didn't include me - I've had my stamping of the foot tantrum and am now able to speak.........
I've never read Blume's work.........and I read anything I could get my hands on when I was that age----including my history books!!!!
But all kidding aside - it seems to me the school did what the school should do - parents objected, the school looked into the objections and acted upon the objections. Regardless of the outcome - they at least are paying attention and working with the parents of the children they are teaching. At least that is the way this is coming across to me.
LOLOL!
That's pretty simple. It's representative government. They are not violating any rights, first or any others. Anyone who wants the book can buy it and read it to their children...but they do not have the right to make it a part of everyone's currculumn if they object to it.
That's not myopic, that's common decency and respect for the views and rights of others and their children. If you can't communicate "don't: without going into graphic detail on a matter such as this, then perhaps a different swriting style for this age group is in order, that's just my opinion.
...and if the people in that schoold district feel this way about it...then what we just witnessed IMHO is our government workiong the way it should work.
There you go again, interrupting a perfectly good snit with a stupid, rational question.
And you are correct.
Doing laundry today I relegated a stack of T-shirts and polo shirts to the "play-clothes only" draw - they no longer can be tucked into a skirt or pair of slacks and so do NOT get worn to school.........playing in the yard is one thing - out in public is something entirely different.
Me, I defecate on belfrys; makes me dizzy sometimes, have to slow down soon.
So, the Blume is off the rows?
Thanks for that post.
That is so bad - it's good!!!!!
You are operating on the same principle as the Earth First guys who damage property that they don't approve of.
Not bad...
The village effect?
Nah...Are you there God, it's me Margaret, was VERY tame compared with Forever.
Forever has LOTS of sex in it.
My mom made a deal with me...I could READ it, if she read it and we could talk about it...HOW EMBARRASING!
I don't think I am for banning it though. I always think that the librarians should have a stck of "questionable" books behind the counter...you can check them out..if your parents give permission.
Then they are available...but the parents are aware...
Does that make sense??
:-)
NG is to breasts what prunes are to plums.
Let a thousand rowses blume?
The parents/guardians of students have every right to protect their children from inappropriate books. School libraries are not public libraries.
Perhaps you mean bowlderizing?
My grandmother got married at 13.
Hey Lady!
We are in full agreement (as always).
So if you don't think it's a problem exposing children to this, go ahead and post the part of the book the parents object to. If it's too explicit for FR, then it's too explicit for 13-year olds.
I am the spell moron for the evening folks, and for that I apologize.
Bill Clinton read Judy Blume when in high school? No wonder!
hey there!
This is not the first thread I've read recently about this book, one I had never heard of until I read about it here. And if I've read (and remembered) correctly it came out in the mid 70s about the same time I would have been of the "target age" of 16 or so.
I'm a free-speech gal, and against book burnings/bannings, but correct me if I'm wrong, I don't see that as the case here. I see this as the system working correctly.
Complaints were made, they were looked into and action was taken. Not having ever read the book I can make no judgement upon it - but it seems to me the actions involved were done properly.
Don't worry - there's nothing they can ban from a school library that won't end up getting shown on the "ABC Family" channel someday...
Hey anyone read Blubber, or Freckle Juice???
Good point.
Somehow, the approach of this author seems alot more realistic than some of the made-for-tv and general teen movies, soap operas, as well as the tell-all Oprah's and Jerry Springer shows that I know teen girls watch. Most importantly, it is a story with consequences, and warning that even if you don't get pregnant or get an STD, the price of intimacy is alot greater, with longer lasting aftershocks, than the wondrous passion of the moment.
My kids will never have Judy Blume books in our house. I read them as a kid and thought they were lame and gross--even then. Besides, they'll be too busy reading Beowulf and the Aeneid by the time they're 8 anyway...
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