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.
It is not something I would want my 6th grader being forced to read - a 12 year old does not need to be reading the joy of losing your virginity...
I read the book in 6th or 7th grade. I would prefer my children did not read it. (there are many things I read and saw that I am strict about) BUT, I will be the one to control that for my own children.
errr...so what happens when another taxpayer needs a book without inked out passages?
I hope not! I read that book about 20 years ago to make sure it was appropriate for my middle school daughter. I thought it was a great book and so did my daughter. We both recommended to several people.
bump with no comment
Hmmm, apparently Harper Lee, Ray Bradbury and Ayn Rand have gone out of favor with today's youth. A Pity.
The book is trash and should be removed. Period.
Ping to self for later pingout.
Ah yes...at this rate 4 year girls will be 5 feet tall on average, well past their periods, and interested in cell phones and high heels (good god what fiendish inventions).
It may be hardpressed to say that the actual "growth" in the mind (being that the subject here is books) can ever be growth in the wrong way. It would seem that a tree only grows incorrectly when its growth is obstructed or its auxin is deterred. In much the same way is the mind, which can only obstruct itself. Our attraction to mindless folly and meaningless entertainment can deter us from our true virtues. However, every new branch is strong and many branches are needed to gather the light, even the small, bent ones. If we never stop learning, we will never have to rely on faulty learning. We can choose to unlearn if necessary.
Read Fahrenheit 451 and then return.
When i read "ackward" it veritably stuned my beeber.
One more time, I'm not saying that anyone's rights are being violated, so there is no need to repeat "They are not violating any rights" over and over. That is not in dispute. The district is within its rights.
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.
I disagree on the common decency bit. What's going on here is that some are so reactionary that they cannot see that Blume is actually espousing the same values. It's comical in a Monty Python sort of way. You can almost see Cleese as the stiff bureacrat who can't see what's right beneath his nose. It boils down to the "You have the right to be as stupid as you please" axiom.
Were the actors in Porky's reall that old?
Studies show the exact opposite. Exposing kids to bad stuff early does not train them how to handle it.
If there was ever a need for the freshman writing lecture, "Don't say it, show it." this is it. It's easy enough to say that the book is trashed and and should be removed, but can you support your aruement via logic, evidence and exposition in a post?
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.