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Jamie
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Posted: Tue Sep 1st, 2009 06:20 pm |
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WOW lynx, I think someone touched a nerve! Normally, when attempting to make a point you should avoid personal attacks.
First of all I do not support "banning" books but I am in support of parental notification and being given choices. It is a parental responsibility to KNOW what is going on with your own kids!
I am very well read and so are my children. However, due to our beliefs I encourage my kids not to expose themselves unnecessarily to obscene language or gratuitous violence and substance abuse. Yes, unfortunately we are all exposed to it in "real" life, but I would prefer that it not be condoned and forced on my kids by the Public school system which recieves my tax dollars.
If you want your kid to read it, that is your parental decision and I respect that. I myself prefer to not desensitize mine with the hope that as adults they might be outraged and set a better example when confronted with immorality. It is my duty to do whatever is in my power to guard the health and happiness of my kids and raise them to be productive, moral citizens.
I thought it was the politically correct way to respect others beliefs. Isn't that part of the curriculum, recognizing and appreciating our diversity? While unharnessed immorality may be your reality, there is a BIG world out there that is a whole lot more moral than your apparently limited experience.
Additionally, just because 7/8 of the books you read contain that content, does not mean my child should read the same books as you, you are an adult, read up, smoke up, drink up!
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lynx9891
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| Joined: | Thu Jul 23rd, 2009 |
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Posted: Thu Jul 23rd, 2009 07:47 pm |
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My previous post failed to mention that books shouldn't be banned. Banning books is a form of censorship. This isn't a federal banning; it's local. But it is very obvious you see no merit in the freedom of press if you are so quick to ban a book.
On another note, do you ever read? About 7/8 of all the books I have read contain references to curse words, drugs, and/or sex. Do you live under the illusion that books are all 9-year-old fairy tales, talking about how someone did something morally wrong and so they got punished, or someone lived a life of moral righteousness and so they were rewarded? That's not real life. In real life, greedy people sometimes win, righteous people sometimes lose, people curse, have sex, and do drugs. To shelter your kid from this is to shelter them from reality.
Maybe you read books for 9-year-olds. Maybe you don't. But maybe you don't even read. Either way, with your lack of experience in the realm of books, it is obvious you are in no authoritative position to declare what books are appropriate or inappropriate. And if you don't agree with that, read the constitution and learn how it feels about censorship.
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lynx9891
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Posted: Thu Jul 23rd, 2009 07:34 pm |
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I think someone needs to get off of their moral high horse and view life as it actually is. Did you not attend High School in 9th and 10th grade? Either way, here is a news flash: people curse, kids smoke (tobacco and marijuana; oh no!). Kids also have sex. And you know what else, kids talk about all of this stuff.
Just because they don't mention it during your interrogation doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I assure you, they've heard many curse words, they've seen other kids their age smoke, and they've heard rumors of other kids having sex, assuming they haven't actually had sex themselves.
You are completely oblivious to the reality of the world around you. But despite all of this, what is a curse word? I'll answer for you:
A curse word is a word that shares a similar meaning to many other words in the English dictionary. Although it shares this meaning with other words, someone has arbitrarily deemed it inappropriate to say without social repercussions. In formal settings, yes, you wouldn't say curse words. But, honestly, what is the difference between ass and butt?
And smoking? Just a few years ago people could smoke in restaurants. And people still do smoke outside a lot. Do you keep your kids locked in your house and neglect them from outdoors play? If so, what is wrong with you? If not, your kids have seen many people smoking, so what's so bad about them reading about it?
I'm going to say this for your own good: get a grip!
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tspong
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Posted: Mon Jul 20th, 2009 09:03 pm |
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Copied below is a letter to the editor submitted to the Delaware State News. You can post your opinions by clicking on "Reply."
In the Caesar Rodney School District, 9th and 10th grade students participate in Literature Circles. Each teacher gets to choose the books that will be used in their class, so not every class reads the same books. The books must be purchased from Follett Books or Scholastic Books and these books are played on tape for special education students.
Last school year, every one of the books offered by at least one teacher at CRHS contained profanity, obscenity, vulgarity, sexual content, drug use, and or references to smoking. One of the more blatant books is, "Whale Talk" by Chris Crutcher. CR Reconsideration Committee and CR School Board (all except one member) believe that this book "shows the realities of today’s world" and should therefore be permitted regardless of language and content. This book contains so much inappropriate language that if it were a movie it would be rated R. The teachers and administrators at CRHS need to be challenged to offer a wider selection of appropriate books for 9th and 10th grade students. There are plenty of great books for teens that show the realities of today’s world without being peppered with inappropriate language and content.
In addition, CRHS has no policy that requires teachers to inform parents of a book’s inappropriate content or inappropriate language. If you care about what your teen will be reading, ask the 9th and 10th grade Literature teachers to show you the books that will be used in Literature Circles. Do not solely rely on what is written on the flap of the book or by looking at the first couple or last couple of chapters in the book. I believe the authors of many of these teen novels know that parents will only skim the book or read the flap and may not see the excess language and content unless they review the entire book.
Ask your teen to let you know if the book they are reading contains inappropriate language or content so that together you can make an informed decision about whether the book is appropriate for them. Also, have your teen inform you if the teacher uses profanity or obscenities in the classroom under the pretext that they are just quoting the author. Inform the CR principal and let her know your opinion of the book choices or if a teacher is using offensive language in the classroom.
Be aware that you may discover that when these books are being distributed to your teens some teachers may say, "No other parent has ever complained about the content of this book". There are two reasons that parents have not complained about the "choice reading" program at CRHS. Choice reading books are read in class and the parents do not generally see the books or even know what books are being offered. Secondly, the teen is put under enormous peer pressure when a teacher makes a statement such as this because they do not want to be the "only" student whose parent issues a complaint. This statement or statements like it could intimidate your student from speaking up even when they believe the books language or content to be inappropriate and would choose not to read the book.
Lastly, parents need to be aware that some CRHS teachers show R rated movies in the classroom (to teens under the age of 17) and they are not required to notify you or get your written permission. This could be in any subject and the movie may or may not be curriculum related. There is no policy that prevents teachers from showing students movies which you may find inappropriate for your teen. If you are concerned about what your teen will be seeing, ask each teacher for the names and ratings of the movies they intend to show during the school year and hold the teachers accountable to provide you with this list. Remember to share your thoughts and opinions about these issues with the CR school board and the CR principal, because when you are silent it may be confused with agreement of something that you believe is harmful to your teen and in direct conflict with the standards and principles you believe are best for your family.
Cheryl Precourt
Dover
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tspong
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Posted: Wed Jun 24th, 2009 05:56 pm |
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What do you think?
From the Delaware State News:
CR school board approves book challenged by parent
By Al Kemp
Delaware State News
CAMDEN — A novel by a best-selling author of fiction for young adults has survived a parent’s challenge in the Caesar Rodney School District.
Chris Crutcher’s "Whale Talk," which concerns a high-school swim team, came under attack by district parent Cheryl Precourt, who felt the book’s themes and language were inappropriate for ninth- and 10th-grade readers.
Mrs. Precourt presented documentation of more than 50 instances in the novel that contain references to sex, drugs or cigarettes, or have a "narrow view." She also documented more than 130 instances of profanity or references to Christianity.
Lou Anne Carlson, assistant superintendent and director of instruction for the school district, said arguments both for and against the book were heard at a Reconsideration Committee meeting on April 28 before the committee voted unanimously not to remove the book.
The Caesar Rodney School Board heard the case again during its June 16 meeting, and affirmed the committee’s decision, Ms. Carlson said.
"That’s the more likely outcome. You only get banned sometimes," said the author, contacted this week in his hometown of Spokane, Wash.
Mr. Crutcher, 62, has won numerous awards and honors in his literary career. The American Library Association has named eight of his books "Best Books for Young Adults."
"Whale Talk" uses frequent profanity and racial epithets as it delves into themes such as abuse and bullying. Mr. Crutcher sometimes comes under attack for his themes and language, and doesn’t hesitate to fight back on his Web site, which greets visitors with the message: "The truth screams to be told in its native tongue."
Ms. Carlson explained that students choose the books, which are then evaluated by instructors training in Literature Circles.
"The whole motivation is to have lots of different types of literature to engage readers," she explained
Mr. Crutcher, who worked 14 years as a therapist in Spokane after serving as director of an alternative school in Oakland, Calif., said nothing in his fiction is as harsh as what he’s encountered over the years as a therapist.
"Our job was to do whatever we had to do to put the families back together," he said. "It changes your view of what hell is."
He said "Whale Talk," published in 2001, has frequently come under attack for its language and themes.
"It’s the one that gets the most attention, but it depends on geography, too," he said. "Put a gay kid in a novel and go to Kansas, and look out."
"Whale Talk" may well be made into a feature film. Mr. Crutcher said he has optioned the book out for screenplays a couple of times, and that he just received a very good screenplay.
Staff writer Al Kemp can be reached at 741-8296 or akemp@newszap.com.
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