"The Giver" (Yes, parents. It's still being taught to our kids.)

Vanity | 16Mar05 | Self

[Marie]

I have to say, parents who say, “Not in *my* child’s school. They’d never try such a thing *here*” are deluded. This is a tiny K-8, small town conservative school and if it can happen here, it can happen anywhere.

[endthematrix]

What is the book supposed to "teach?" Why are they reading it...for what subject?

[endthematrix]

Never heard of the book/author. It's about interdependence...now I get it.

[Sonny M]

bump

[Marie]

My daughter said that they're reading it in Literature class, 8th grade. I suppose that it's purpose is to "expand" and "enlighten". I'll wait to see how things go tomorrow. My girl wants to offer to read an alternative book. If they're willing to work with her, I'll be fine. If not, I'll pull her out on Friday. I'm really not in the mood to argue with idiots this week.

[little jeremiah]

Could you tell us more about the book?

[Marie]

I haven't read the book either. I did read an excerpt and the fact that it has a scene about infanticide is really enough for me. Yes, I know. I didn't read it "in context". I guess that I just can't think of a context that would make giving a run-down of infanticide to a 13 year old acceptable. I guess I'm just a shallow, simple-minded right wing nut.

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a378cd83e5125.htm

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a378cd83e5125.htm

[endthematrix]

Th author has his own website:
http://www.loislowry.com/

I haven't read the book so a shouldn't comment. Was the topic too disturbing for your daughter? I'll take you to task and ask, "why wasn't it (topic/situation) appropriate for your daughter's age?

[endthematrix]

We are crossing posts. You are a mind reader.

[Marie]

Copy and paste the links in my post #7 to your browser window.

Here's the part that my daughter read that set her over the edge.

His father turned and opened the cupboard. He took out a syringe and a small bottle. Very carefully he inserted the needle into the bottle and began to fill the syringe.... [Then he directed] the needle into the top of newchild's forehead, puncturing the place where the fragile skin pulsed. The newborn squirmed, and wailed faintly.

"Why's he--"

"Shhh," the Giver said sharply.

His father... pushed the plunger very slowly, injecting the liquid into the scalp vein until the syringe was empty....

As Jonas continued to watch, the newchild no longer crying moved his arms and legs in a a jerking motion. Then he went limp. His head fell to the side, his eyes half open. Then he was still...

His father tidied the room. Then he picked up a small carton that lay waiting on the floor, set it on the bed, and lifted the limp body into it.... He opened a small door in the wall... It seemed to be the same sort of chute into which trash was deposited at school.

His father loaded the carton containing the body into the chute and gave it a shove. "Bye-bye, little guy," Jonas heard his father say before he left the room.

Now this book may be decrying the death of a newborn or it may be promoting it. Either way, she doesn't want this in her head, she doesn't want to honor the book or the author by reading it and she is right.

[Marie]

We are crossing posts. You are a mind reader.

My son and husband would agree with you! ;-)

[little jeremiah]

Thanks for the excerpt (gaack.)

I absolutely agree with you. And your point about mental images being recorded is true. That's why it's so important to respect ourselves (and teach our children to do so) by not reading, watching or listening to crap that will be in our minds for a long, long time.

Your daughter is fortunate to have a mother who sees this and cares. The more kids are homeschooled, the better.

[floydibanezer]

I read this book in sixth grade when I was attending a Catholic school. If I remember correctly, the book, when read in full, is actually anti-collectivist, along the lines of Brave New World or 1984, although much simpler. It simply demonstrates the tyranny of a communist style society.

[HKTechBoy]

So what other books are you going to keep from her? 1984, Brave New World, Shakespeare, The Bible? Did you read your child the story of Isaac? being tied up by his father, about to be sacrificed to God?

You are doing the a good job, the book (from what I've read about it on FR) is supposed to be offensive to good Christians, it doesn't read like it's supporting this "world" any more than a brave New World.

[rwfromkansas]

Lois Lowry has good books.

I bet the scene in this book is exaggerated.

[rwfromkansas]

Exactly. Attacking a good children's author like Lois Lowry? Geez.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

you have the right to protect your mind, heart and soul... You don’t have to tolerate the intolerable. You don’t have to withstand an assault on your soul. Once garbage like this is in your mind, it’s almost impossible to forget. You’re polluted.

Well put. I follow that precept in my own life.

[floydibanezer]

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/giver/summary.html

This is a good plot overview (it gives away the ending if any are concerned with that). If you take a closer look at the book you may find it can teach your daughter about the benefits of individuality.

[farmer18th]

Can't imagine what sort of black-hearted fool would put that on an eighth grader's reading list...

I hope your child channels her anger into a diatribe against the junior-college idiot who assigned this; quite a few public school teachers have lost their wits, and it would be fun to hold this dunce up to public scrutiny.

If the teacher (he/she/it) objected to personal insults, your child could merely respond, "I was only trying to make you think; you've asked me to read graphic descriptions of barbaric abortions. I'm asking you to read frank descriptions of the hideous, brain-dead barbarian that you are."

[YoungHickey]

I am 21 almost 22 years old and I can't imagine reading anything like that even in college. Nobody needs that kind of mental image... especially not young children.