Speak Out: Banning Books

Replies (31)

• Lots.

  Why not make every book have to be signed out with parents permission.

  Slaughter house 5 should not be banned.

  -- Posted by lumbrgfktr on Tue, Jul 26, 2011, at 6:32 PM

• Lumber,

  Restricting books to certain age levels is not banning. Some things are not appropriate for certain age levels.

  Same thing applies to movies. Do you think 'Deep Throat' is appropriate for 5th graders?

  -- Posted by Have_Wheels_Will_Travel on Tue, Jul 26, 2011, at 7:20 PM

• Theorist,

  If I read you correctly, there is no limit on what can be read by or seen in school regardless of age. Is that correct?

  -- Posted by Have_Wheels_Will_Travel on Tue, Jul 26, 2011, at 9:01 PM

• Theorist,

  Pictorials, if that is what you want to call them were shown when I was in school. Many times I ran the projector. And we are talking about quite a while ago, I am sure they still show them today.

  You apparently disagree with the decision made by that school district and yet you say some are not old enough to read or view certain material.

  My question then would be, who gets to make those decisions?

  -- Posted by Have_Wheels_Will_Travel on Tue, Jul 26, 2011, at 9:12 PM

• Theorist,

  Pretty much what I thought your answer would be.

  And no, I never said it should be solely the job of the parents.... but parents should have a hand in the decisions that are made at the school level. That is what parent teacher conferences and school boards are for. To make sure that teachers are teaching not just molding students to their own beliefs.

  Your assumption here is that the teacher knows what is best for your child and you either have nothing to say about it or take over the entire job yourself. You forget one thing teacher, you are paid by the parents and grandparents of these students and what they think and feel is not only noteworthy... it is very important. I would not trust you or any other teacher to school my child without my oversight and input. If that offends you, so be it, but I do not think teachers are all knowing and parents are just an impediment. I loved my kids enough to be involved.

  -- Posted by Have_Wheels_Will_Travel on Tue, Jul 26, 2011, at 9:45 PM

• I recall a book on Greek Mythology being removed from one of our shelves in Grade School. It had been there for years without problems, but when it was noticed that a group of students were hovered around the back of the room giggling at the pictures (nudity, fornication, bestiality, the usual components of Greek Mythology), it was decided that the students in that grade lacked the maturity to access the book. Keep in mind, this was a Catholic grade school.

  It was moved to the seventh and eighth grade classroom, as I recall.

  I'm inclined to think the students had been giggling over those pictures for decades, but ours was the first class to get caught...

  -- Posted by Shapley Hunter on Tue, Jul 26, 2011, at 10:00 PM

• Five year olds don't know about fornication? In this day and age? Please note I said know, not understand.

  Surely, Theorist, you jest!

  -- Posted by voyager on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 6:54 AM

• "If you understood that, you would know that it isn't the teacher's sole responsibility and that they are using curriculum guidelines, state guidelines and educational methods that have been tried and tested for generations then modified to fit the individual student and their learning style."

  So your saying that each child has their own educational method? How do they do that with 30+ kids in each class? I think you've proved You dont know what's going on in the classroom.

  -- Posted by Mowrangler on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 7:58 AM

• That's far better than ruining our children with left wing ideas. That are proving over and over again that you are not responsible for your own actions, you dont have to contribute to society, that your are owed everything and dont have to earn anything.

  -- Posted by Mowrangler on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 8:28 AM

• which is your humble opinion .

  parents should know what their children are studying and be involved in their children's education .

  -- Posted by Rick** on Tue, Jul 26, 2011, at 6:58 PM

  Agree 100%.

  -- Posted by lumbrgfktr on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 8:50 AM

• Lumber,

  Restricting books to certain age levels is not banning. Some things are not appropriate for certain age levels.

  Same thing applies to movies. Do you think 'Deep Throat' is appropriate for 5th graders?

  -- Posted by Have_Wheels_Will_Travel on Tue, Jul 26, 2011, at 7:20 PM

  No, I don't. But we are not talking about pornography are we?

  We are talking about slaughter house 5.

  -- Posted by lumbrgfktr on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 8:51 AM

• have you ever read The Catcher in the Rye ? should it be banned ?

  -- Posted by Rick** on Tue, Jul 26, 2011, at 8:47 PM

  I read it. I didn't really get it or see what all the fuss is about. I think it was overhyped.

  -- Posted by lumbrgfktr on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 8:52 AM

• -- Posted by Rick** on Tue, Jul 26, 2011, at 9:39 PM

  They banned 5 becasue of language and adult theme content.

  Maybe it is, which I doubt, but I would like to at least see some more substantial than languagne and adult content? What specificly? How much bad language is exceptabe? At least then you have a baseline to follow and can be discussed versus just picking boods at whim.

  -- Posted by lumbrgfktr on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 8:57 AM

• Well, I have a huge problem with our school system but will not comment. I for one would like to see the book, "little Black Sambo" reintroduced to our school system and at a young age. Bet that wouldn't fly with many here and or our broken school system! Perhaps someone here can tell me if this book is available to young children grade kindergarten and 1st grade. If not I have a couple of copies I would be willing to donate!! My Grandchildren expect me to read this book to them almost ever time I see them. They love it and it's pictures. As for banning "Slaughter House 5" WHY?..these kids see that all they want playing some of these video games. As for pornagraphy, its also available 24/7 on the net. Do not think that it should ever be allowed in public schools however.

  -- Posted by GREYWOLF on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 9:22 AM

• the link says one high school , Republic High School , has set these limits .

  what would stop students from getting this material at another local educational institution or on-line ?

  i reckon i'm mixfused..

  -- Posted by Rick** on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 9:12 AM

  So do they need a library since they can get materials elsewhere?

  -- Posted by lumbrgfktr on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 9:26 AM

• -- Posted by GREYWOLF on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 9:22 AM

  Not sure it should be taught, but it shouldn't be banned.

  I think books like that show the progression of attitudes towards race and have at the very least historical value.

  I think the story should stay the same, possibly include a preferance that discusses this, but not change the story.

  -- Posted by lumbrgfktr on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 9:31 AM

• I had a college professor who told our class "Don't reepeat back to me what I've said. Tell me what you think...and why!"

  Not many of his kind around anymore, it seems.

  -- Posted by voyager on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 9:32 AM

• So do they need a library since they can get materials elsewhere?

  -- Posted by lumbrgfktr on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 9:26 AM

  proberly not...

  -- Posted by Rick** on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 9:32 AM

  And that may very well be the case.

  I remember growing up and Sci-fi shows/movies there were no books and everything was electronic. Is it possible that time has arrived?

  -- Posted by lumbrgfktr on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 9:34 AM

• Why get a excited about accessability to books. Some 30 year old readers still can understand some books they claim to have read.

  Atlas Shrugged comes to mind.

  -- Posted by voyager on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 9:57 AM

• Spaniard says "And using the power of the state to prevent people from reading certain material is the way to teach personal responsibility?".

  Let's not spin this too far Spaniard. First, we are not talking about preventing "people" from reading anything - period. We are talking about kids in school. Any parent at any time can buy any book for their child to read. Another left-wing scare tactic. The "power of the state"? How about the locally controlled school board strictly in the school.

  Re: "personal responsibility" - how can a parent be personally responsible if a kid in school can check out a book that has inappropriate language or sexual situations? They can't attend school with their child.

  -- Posted by not_sorry on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 10:02 AM

• Dug, sounds like Spaniard who can regurgitate everything and come up with nothing.

  There is a difference between reading something and understanding it.

  -- Posted by voyager on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 10:10 AM

• Thats funny.

  Dug talking about spin and scare tactics.

  However, I do kind of agree with him to a point.

  But if you are going to ban books, you should actually have some guidelines. I can't stand Sara Palin. But I would not want her booked banned in a school because the school board disagrees with her and bans it on a whim.

  Same with theese books. Have a policy that can be followed.

  Dug - as far as personal responsibility, if parents don't want their kids reading non required literature, home shool them.

  -- Posted by lumbrgfktr on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 10:16 AM

• Dug, sounds like Spaniard who can regurgitate everything and come up with nothing.

  There is a difference between reading something and understanding it.

  -- Posted by voyager on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 10:10 AM

  So you make it a personal attack becasuse you disagree with them?

  -- Posted by lumbrgfktr on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 10:17 AM

• Teacher,

  In these two posts you are interrupting yourself trying to explain your post of last night.

  -- Posted by Theorist on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 7:21 AM

  -- Posted by Theorist on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 7:32 AM

  One more question... if the schools and teachers in all of their infinite wisdom are doing such a fine job, why can't Johnny or Janey read and write?

  -- Posted by Have_Wheels_Will_Travel on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 10:25 AM

• Lumber,

  You are worried about two books being banned, when the article plainly states that the books can be used for extra credit with parents permission.

  So they are really not banned are they.... they are restricted so perhaps the parent can have some input.

  -- Posted by Have_Wheels_Will_Travel on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 10:29 AM

• "Thats funny. Dug talking about spin and scare tactics."

  So you make it a personal attack because you disagree with them?

  Words - they taste bad when eaten.

  -- Posted by not_sorry on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 11:36 AM

• Lumber, I don't suffer fools gladly. What you do is your own affair.

  -- Posted by voyager on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 1:18 PM

• Theorist,

  If you were on the hiring end of some of these kids the public schools are putting out you would know what I am talking about. In too many cases they cannot fill out a job application properly and their handwriting is horrible. If hired they have trouble filling out a simple work order and filling out their time sheets, they have trouble with simple math and cheat themselves of time as many times as the company.

  I am not impressed, and your logic is some of us have not been in a classroom. Maybe you are not aware, so let me make you so, life extends on a long time past the classroom and these kids need a better understanding of how to deal with it.

  -- Posted by Have_Wheels_Will_Travel on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 1:57 PM

• If they got an A in calculus, and they aren't capable of filling out a time sheet, there is a problem.

  -- Posted by Theorist on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 2:21 PM

  Theorist, I would go a step further and say if they got a B in 8th grade math and cannot fill out a simple time sheet accurately there is a terrible problem.

  -- Posted by Have_Wheels_Will_Travel on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 2:25 PM

• Theo go back and read your post. Did you not say that these methods have been tested for generations and modified for the individual student? It has been a long time since I have been in a classroom. But I'm fairly certain that individual student means one.

  -- Posted by Mowrangler on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 3:24 PM

• Rick,

  Thanks, this no longer is my problem, but I will pass the info along to the kids. The problem I had was with field workers who were supposed to keep their time and parts used on the job accurately so billing could be done and also to report their time to the office for payroll purposes.

  -- Posted by Have_Wheels_Will_Travel on Thu, Jul 28, 2011, at 12:05 AM