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.
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...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.