Posted on 07/24/2006 12:41:19 PM PDT by SmithL
I'm not sure what "irreparable harm" would be caused by taking this book out of the school library during the pendency of the case.
I think the Judge went off the deep end.
I have one advocation for any stupid ruling - ignore it. Remove the books, advise the court that the opinion was entertaining, but until the judge becomes an elected member of the school board and is empowered with the ability to choose what materials are purchased or retained, that is exactly what it will remain, an opinion.
Repeat this at every press conference.
It's a Kook Book!...
"Continue the Communist Indoctrination."
Maybe we should schedule field trips for the tikes to cuba. Nothing like studying something up close and personal. Maybe Castro can explain why Elian's mom was trying to leave.
Maybe we could let the teachers, judge, and/or librarian go first, to validate the rosiness of the book.
Maybe someone can explain to the kids why cubans are trying to drive chevy's on the water over to florida.
Yes. Besides they got it wrong. Vamos, means "we go" it is the verb "to go" in the first person plural, not anything close to "a visit", as visit is a noun when used in that context.
Check the book out and let the dog accidentally eat it.
The judge's order can logically mean only one of three things:
1. The school library must contain a copy of every book every published.
2. Once a book has been installed in the library, the school board cannot change its mind and remove it, for any reason.
3. Some unelected employee has the right to decide what books will be purchased, and his/her decisions cannot be challenged or overruled by the board that hired him/her.
None of these makes any sense.
Schools have a right to censor or even burn the books if they want - I don't understand the legal justification for the judge interfering.
Now, that said, it not surprising that books for little kids about different countries would avoid harsher subjects leaving mainly cheery topics.
But I know my wife remembers being upset when her American history teacher made Stalin sound like a nice guy gone wrong - but that was high school -this is elementary.
Just check out the book and don't return it.
"The judge's order can logically mean only one of three things:
1. The school library must contain a copy of every book every published.
2. Once a book has been installed in the library, the school board cannot change its mind and remove it, for any reason.
3. Some unelected employee has the right to decide what books will be purchased, and his/her decisions cannot be challenged or overruled by the board that hired him/her."
Funny, when I first read this my reaction was that I agree because I'm against censorship. Then as I thought a little more I came up with the same things as above. It's not censorship unless all the books in the world EXCEPT that one was in that library. Also it (the ruling) take monetary decisions away from the school board and local citizens.
So that means that every single school district in the country that doesn't have that book is violating their students' rights under the first amendment? What a load of crap! Or is it just a matter of once the book is on the shelf it can never be removed.
I suggest that parents opposed to the book have their children check it out, keep it for the two or three weeks allowed and then have the next child check it out. It will still be in circulation, but no on will be able to get to it. Or would the school then be constitutionally required to buy a second copy?
>>"The judge's order can logically mean only one of three things:
1. The school library must contain a copy of every book every published.
2. Once a book has been installed in the library, the school board cannot change its mind and remove it, for any reason.
3. Some unelected employee has the right to decide what books will be purchased, and his/her decisions cannot be challenged or overruled by the board that hired him/her."<<
Or maybe the judge is nuts or maybe there is some process that has to be followed to remove a book.
You and me both...I was ready to type my response...
Ah, if only the book had contained The Ten Commandments in it...then the judge would have removed it immediately.
"...or maybe there is some process that has to be followed to remove a book."
"Last month, the Miami-Dade school board voted to remove the book from its elementary schools after a parent complained that its depiction of life in the communist nation was overly rosy. The board then expanded that order to all 24 books in the series on children living around the globe. "
Sounds like a process was followed.
Another validation of the old saying "engage brain before opening mouth" :)
>>
Sounds like a process was followed. <<
I'm just speculating, but there could bylaws or even ccountry or state laws that make it harder to ban books.
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