[Pan_Yans Wife]

The Bluest Eye is a good story. And it isn't more explicit than things teenagers absorb through MTV.

[goodnesswins]

Anyone who "lets" their children watch MTV is asking for trouble.

[AppyPappy]

I guess they couldn't find anything else for the kids to read.

[twigs]

I haven't read The Bluest Eye, but I think Morrison is a phenomenal writer. The bad language doesn't bother me particularly, although I don't like it; as you say, kids are exposed to it. I would have a problem with sexually explicit content, it it's truly there.

[netmilsmom]

>>More fuel is being tossed into the fire, over a reading assignment for an English class at East Bakersfield High School. <<

I think that "The Bluest Eye" tells an important story about beauty. Not just being black or white. However, I think because of the sexual content, it should be only recommended reading and only in the senior year. Having stories like this being required is like having pop machines in the lunchroom. Parents are given no opportunity to communicate with a child until it is already done. Many parents, myself included, do not know the literature being assigned. Reading every story assigned will be on my list of things to do in the future!

[wtc911]

The Bluest Eye is an ok book,certainly not a classic or one worthy of being singled out for study. It is unsuitable to be used as a school mandated read, unless of course one thinks that the school should also tune MTV into the classroom. Some decisions are the parents'.