I'm sorry, I know I said I was going on a blogging hiatus but I had to blog about this. If you see a flaming ball of fire somewhere in southwest Missouri, that would be me.
Remember the #Speakloudly campaign? (you can find my original post here.) Mr. Scroggins tried to get three books banned from the Republic MO school district: Speak, Twenty Boy Summer, and Slaughterhouse Five. He succeeded in getting two of the three banned. Republic schools will no longer keep Twenty Boy Summer or Slaughterhouse Five on their shelves. And get this: only 1 out of the 4 board members who voted read the books.
He managed to get two books banned from a school district in which he has no children attending at the moment. I'm at a loss for words so I will let Sarah Ockler take over:
Banned, but never ashamed (she references the article and has a link for it on her blog you can get to from there.)
The superintendent is basically calling his students immature. He believes they aren't old enough to handle the very things they witness in their own lives.
Please never give up the fight to keep books on the shelves. Our world isn't some sparkly wonderful fairytale full of rainbows and unicorns. These problems do exist and if these brave authors that write about them are silenced, our teens who need help the most will be silenced.
9 comments:
I'm amazed at the way some people feel the need to force their views and personal issues on others. I would be so furious if that were my school district.
Some people's kids! All the issues in the world and he goes after books. Sad.
Absolutely infuriating.
Couldn't agree more.
Remarkable.
Thanks for posting this.
I'll never understand those who don't believe that people - little people or big people - shouldn't make up their own minds about words and ideas.
Books are too important to let a committee ban classics arbitrarily.
I don't know...is at least comforting that they're not burning said books? Some people. Seriously? Sad to see.
Aside from that - however, I hope you have a great and productive hiatus!
That is UNbelievable. In America, in 2011. If they're so concerned I could sort of almost understand voting to send a letter home to parents so they're aware of what their kids will be reading (although, can't parents just talk to their kids?), but a ban? I'll go over to that article right now.
Good post. My mother banned me from reading Enid Blyton because she felt the woman was bigoted. I had a neighbour who wouldn't let her children hear any bad stories or watch bad things on TV. Thus making them totally unprepared for the real world. Parental guidance, should allow children to appreciate books and TV with support and understanding.
It's been too long since I visited your blog. Very bad of me.
I agree, though. Come on, people. Quite the book banning, already!
It was great seeing you and your writing at WriteOnCon! :)
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