Is the School Library Safe?

AlbertMohler.com ^ | September 26, 2005 | Dr Albert Mohler

[Izzy Dunne]

Don't assume every teacher would find this acceptable.

I said "faculty", when I should have said "administrators".

I intended to refer to the policymakers, not the teachers who find it objectionable.

[Skooz]

I agree whole heartedly.

I guess that makes us oppressive "censors."

[moog]

I intended to refer to the policymakers, not the teachers who find it objectionable.


Thanks:) It does seem like though that people assume it applies to everyone. My principal would never allow this though.

[texpat72]

Homeschool bump

[moog]

Makes cense to me:).

Actually, I am a teacher. I got a "human body" book for my class, but had to actually take out a big part that I found objectionable (e.g. some sexual organ stuff). Nobody ever said a word. I did have one issue where a mom found a book a little too mature (not sexual though--it dealt with slaves) for her daughter so I told her not to have her read it. She sent it back and things were fine. Then again, my students think saying "shut up" means you're swearing. That's fine with me.

[television is just wrong]

(sarcasm) A little pornography is great, just no mention of God there, We cannot have any morals brewing!!

[opticks]

"Masterson also informed his readers that it was Laurie Taylor who had asked the Fayetteville school district why Christmas had been left off of the 2004 elementary public school calendar, while Kwanzaa, Ramadan, and Hanukkah were listed."

Does this kind of stuff really happen or is it a case of incompetance?

[moog]

It does seem kind of dumb to me too. But then again as a teacher, I forget a lot too (I couldn't find my head the other day). I'm NOT saying this was a matter of forgetfulness though. I'm just lucky to have parents of the kids who realize that although their child's teacher is pretty loopy, he does care about his students.

[kimmie7]

Happy Homeschooler BTTT!

[opticks]

please explain bttt for me. I know it means "back to the top", but how are you using it?

[gingerky]

Oh, but there is something your public library can do about it. In the public library where I work, we have Internet filters because we receive a certain amount of federal funding. If a patron is over 18, they have the right to request that the filter be disabled. Some urban libraries, however, don't need federal funding so they don't have to filter - and to be honest some refuse the funding so they don't have to filter.

One incident in our library involved a teenage girl who checked out and read James Patterson's "Kiss the Girls". It has graphic sexual content, and as teenagers have been known to do, she passed the book around to her friends. One friend's mother got hold of the book and brought it back to the library, with an admonition that we somehow should "rate" the books. No thanks. Her issue should have been with the parent who allowed his child to check the book out and pass it around, not the public library. If the library were to bar kids from checking out adult fiction, that would also bar them from Twain, Orwell, Dickens, and Tolkien. There are no easy solutions.

Of course, in the public library setting it is easier to lay the responsibility on parents as to what their children check out; the parents can come in with the child if they so choose (most don't). This really wouldn't work in a school library.

That being said, my oldest son is an avid reader and I haven't placed to much restriction on his material. We actually discuss what he reads. One of his favorites is "The Chocolate War", which continuously tops the list of the ALA's most challenged books. I don't have a problem with that book, and I believe it is probably a fairly accurate description of some teenage boys' lives, cursing and fighting and all. My son commented that he hears worse at school every day.

[AppyPappy]

Her issue should have been with the parent who allowed his child to check the book out and pass it around

Wait. You are blaming other people because you distribute it? If you make it available to a minor, you do have SOME responsibility for the problem.

[little jeremiah]

later FOR SURE read/pingout.

[kimmie7]

Bump To The Top

FR used a traffic based system...the more a posting is commented on, the higher up on the menu it is. Lots of bumps ensure that a story stays visible longer.

[gingerky]

I stand by my statement. The fault lies with the parent. I wouldn't want the library staff telling my children what they could or could not check out - that's my job and my decision.

By the way, what would your solution be?

[Salvation]

**Is the School Library Safe?**

Does it have a copy of the historical book, "The Holy Bible" on its shelves?

[AppyPappy]

Don't let minors check out anything that can't be read to the City Council on TV. You're a library, not a porn shop.

And there is no reason to access porn on a publically-funded computer. Even if they want to do it. If they don't like the filters, they can go elsewhere.

[moog]

how much the public schools stink

Hey, just because I left those worms in my class over the weekend doesn't mean you can make fun of it. :)

[moog]

My public library has a card for kids. The parents can request that the kids not be able to check out certain types of materials (e.g. rated r movies) and can limit internet privileges. It has worked out pretty well.

Nice even-handed comments by the way.