LM_NET: Library Media Networking
In a previous article, janmoore@TENET.EDU (Jan Helene Moore) says:
>I cannot cite you the specifics of the challenges of _The Egypt Game_ but
>I know that last year it was challenged somewhere. The reason was that
>the children in the book were practicing a pagan religion. I reread the
>book and did not find it objectionable. The children know their game is
>fantasy and it is a wonderful book about relationships. I see where the
>objection came from though I can't cite the passage off the top. As
>experienced librarians, we know that some people/groups ignite at the
>slightest hint of paganism or the occult and never look at the context in
>which it is used.
>=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
> Jan Moore Foster Elementary
> Library Media Specialist 1025 High Point
> janmoore@tenet.edu Arlington, TX 76015
> FAX (817)468-8292 (817)465-4702
>==============================================================================
>
Here are some of the responses from by Post on Challenged books!
Skip Bleecker, Elementary Librarian, Shepherd Mi
From: cag@U.ARIZONA.EDU (Catherine A Gallion)
>Newsgroups: edcen.lmnet
Subject: HIT:Challenged Books
Reply-To: Catherine A Gallion <cag@U.ARIZONA.EDU>
Date: Wed Sep 20 18:09:23 1995
Hello LM_NETTERS--
Finally put together my HIT from the responses I got on my
question regarding the books Daddy's
Roommate and Heather Has Two Mommies. Thanks to everyone who took the
time to respond!!
And as an added bonus to putting this together, I learned
something new too!! Hope it looks as
good after it's mailed out, as it does in my MS Word :)
Thanks,
Kate
cag@u.arizona.edu
*******************************************************************************
As far as I know, the two books are not in any elementary library in
Fairbanks (twenty total) because the former library/media director did
not want to make waves. One of the two books was challenged
(unsuccessfully) in Juneau last year. Personally, I think they should
both be in every elementary library in the country.
Jan Fortune janetf@muskox.alaska.edu
Pearl Creek Elementary 907-479-4234
700 Auburn Drive FAX 907-479-4025
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
*******************************************************************************
From: Phillip G Weldon <pweldon@tenet.edu>
I'm an elementary librarian and I don't have enough money to buy all the
good books I want--much less books designed to create problems. There is
no such thing as censorship in America. If a book is published, it can
be purchased just about anywhere. That doesn't mean librarians have to
force other people's political agendas on the children in their school.
Sweden gave ET an R rating because the kids talk back to adults. Even in
a liberal one, civilized societies protect their children. When I select
500 of the 4000 published books each year, I am, in effect, censoring the
other 3500. Therefore, all librarians are the premier censors in our
society. Even ALA completely ignores books they don't like in Booklist.
The Banned Books nonsense is just another one of those scapegoats that
tends to build walls between people. Parents have just as much right to
express their opinions about the content of books as the ALA does. And
as much right to decide what's good for their children as I do.
*******************************************************************************
From: Psigmond@aol.com
I don't have either one in my school. However I do select books with
realistic AIDS themes, gay parents, siblings, or family members because
percentage wise, these themes and characters truly represent parents,
siblings, family members, and students in our schools. Our LMC has had 2
challenges in the last 3 years--Stars, Spells and Scorcery (1970's copyright)
and Go Ask Alice (1970's copyright) which was successfully removed in 1982
and our media selection/reconsideration committee recommended both be
retained or put back on the shelves. Having a knowledgeable committee of
teachers, parents, and students, a recent selection policy approved by the
school board, having the resources of the CCBC (in Madison,WI), created an
intellectual handbook has been the best line of defense
*******************************************************************************
We are a middle school and as such the books probably are not age
approriate. Our kids would say they were baby books. They would only
read them if they were told that they were "banned books." Currently I am
up to my elbows in controversy over Dean Koontz's FUNHOUSE... It was
among three or four thousand books that were donated last year during a
Lions Club bookdrive. It passed several weeding processes and wound up
on the shelf where it never stayed long. Highly popular among our more
mature eighth graders, especially with the group that normally wouldn't
be checking anything out---"not cool enough." First thing this year it
was checked out by a "young" seventh grader who checked it out becuase
he was unable to check out any books by R L Stine or Stephen King, all
of which were already checked out!! And then the poo poo hit the fan!!!
Kay Talbott
ktalbott@nccu.edu
South Brunswick Middle School
Southport, NC 28461
*******************************************************************************
I am a middle school librarian in NE TN - a very conservative, religious
section of the country. I do not have either of the books you mentioned in
my library. It just hasn't come up. I do have a section of books that I
call my "Teenage Problems Library." It drives my supervisor up the wall. So
far (knock on wood) I have not had a challenge on anything that I have.
These are all non-fiction books. I take about 30-45 minutes every year to
explain to my 6th graders about these books & why they are in our library.
I tell them that it is their responsiblity not to check out those books if
they know their parents would not want them to. I go on to tell them that
except for having a student (yet) with AIDS, every book in that set covers
a problem that has happened to at least one student that we have had at our
school. This generally gets their attention. I also explain that they have
to show enough maturity to be allowed access to them.
I also have some "questionable" books in my fiction section. I also do a
number with my 6th graders w/them. I explain that there's a big difference
about what is appropriate for a 6th grader & what's appropriate for an 8th
grader. I tell them that if they run into a book that they think is
inappropriate,
they would be doing me a favor if they bring it to me & we can discuss
why
they feel as they do. This has worked pretty well so far too. In fact I
have had more problems with kids objecting to books about evolution &
about whether or not the Earth was created 5,000 years ago or 10's of
thousands or millions of years ago according to the encyclopedia than I
have ever had about sex in 22 years of teaching.
I would be very interested to hear what other responses you have. My
super accuses me of being her "California" librarian because I'm so open &
laid back with the kids. They come to me & ask questions & talk about their
problems because they know I'll answer them straight or tell them I don't
know.It's always a real shock to them when they ask if I ever smoked grass
& I tell them "yes', but I don't anymore & would be afraid to.
Good Luck with your research.
Sherry Blair
Kingsport TN
blairs@ten-nash.ten.k12.tn.us
*******************************************************************************
I don't have either - not enough funds or demand for branching
out to that area. We do have a parent resource area, with
books for parents to check out. If we got them, I'd put them
there. Guidance might also want to use them.
--
Kathy Lafferty
klaffert@pen.k12.va.us
Patrick Henry Elementary School
Alexandria, VA
*******************************************************************************
Kate, I have neither book in my library bcause my inner-city project
population would not relate to it. It has also been my choice not to put
out books such as "In a night kitchen" because my students would want to
add their own drawings to the book. I am in an elementary school and
once had a groupof boys go crazy because one of them came across the word
"sex" They didn't bother to read the rest of the sentence. "Sex" was
enough to bring snickers and whispers! I have Huck Finn on my shelf
despite the fact that it has been pulled from our middle school
curriculum. Hope this helps.
Christine House <wexlr1@minerva.cis.yale.edu>
*******************************************************************************
I am in an elementary school and we do not have them. We have a very
limited budget for materials $500 a year and they have not been a
priority.
Jean Townes, Media Specialist townesj@PEAK.ORG
Waverly Elementary School Phone: 503-967-4617
Greater Albany Public Schools
425 Columbus
Albany, Or 97321
*******************************************************************************
I do not have either of the books you mentioned but I do have several
which deal with homosexuality - off the top of my head..
Bad Boy
Earthshine
I have serval nonfiction books which also deal with the subject
Frederick Muller, Halsted Middle School Library
Librarian 59 Halsted Street voice (201) 383-7554
fmuller@planet.net Newton, NJ 07860 FAX (201) 383-7432
*******************************************************************************
From: Jeanette Berry Heath <heath@oswego.Oswego.EDU
As a Library Media Specialist in a Jr./Sr. high school I do the
inter-library loan for the elementary building too. (Only two schools in
our district) Neither library owns these books but I was recently
requested to ILL both. We located them easily through the BOCES Union
Catalog and ILL'd them....from a public library..
Hope this helps.
*******************************************************************************
From: Jo Ann Ayers Lynn <LYNNJA@TEN-NASH.TEN.K12.TN.US>
I'm in a Catholic Independent school with grades PreK through 12. I did
not choose to place either title in my collection 1) due to the nature of
the subjects, 2) because I knew there'd be problems, and 3) I simply
didn't
feel they would be a significantly "appropriate?(for lack of a better
word)" addition to the collection. I'd be happy to refer any parent to
either title if they asked for something on this subject. The parent
reaction in a public school library might be different that the one I
would
anticipate from my parents, however.
Jo Ann Lynn
St. Agnes/St. Dominic
Memphis, Tennessee
*******************************************************************************
I am at a K-5 public school. We do not have either book. I have not seen
either one because I have not been able to get my hands on them, but my
understanding from reviews, etc. is that neither one is a great book from a
literary standpoint. I don't feel I can take a strong stand without seeing
the books and I admit I haven't made a huge effort to see them. I'm very
interested in what other people have to say about this, so please post a
hit.
Anne Shimojima braeside@nslsilus.org
Braeside School IMC
150 Pierce Road
Highland Park IL 60035
708.433.0155
*******************************************************************************
From: Terry L Schreiner <tschrein@esu3.esu3.k12.ne.us>
We do not have the books and will not get them--too controversial for our
conservative elementary school. No one has asked for them either.
Terry Schreiner, Media Specialist
Bellevue Ne
*******************************************************************************
Kate, I don't have either book, but maybe now that you've mentioned it I
might look at them again (we have them in our church library) and see if I
want them. I do have a couple of Middle School fiction books with gay or
lesbian characters. What I would like is picture books with G/L characters
where the whole purpose isn't to point that out. I think these books are
valuable to children who do have gay parents and I know of at least one gay
mom in our school. As I write I am talking myself into getting them. I
would probably put them in non-fiction, but I'm not sure.
I'd be very interested in what you hear on this.
Thanks.
Laurie Carter- Librarian 3195 Woodside Rd.
Woodside Elementary School Woodside, CA 94062
lcarter@woodside.K12.ca.us
"Minds are like parachutes. They only function when open."
*******************************************************************************
From: Kim Vawter <kvawter@esu3.esu3.k12.ne.us>
Good luck on your Graduate work. I am a working Library/Media specialist
in Omaha Nebraska. Here is how we handle challenged books. We have a well
written selection policy in place before we do anything. We also have a
proceedure to handle challanged books in place. We have a series of forms
that can be filled out by the party that questions the book. Check with
your local libraries and see how it is done in your community. Those two
books that you mentioned were discussed in our district as well.
K. vawter
Omaha, Ne
*******************************************************************************
I read your inquiry on LM_NET. My library has a copy of "Daddy's
Roommate." My school is a private middle and high school for severely
emotionally disturbed teens. We didn't purchase the book. We secured
ours as a gift from the publisher who offered any library who requested
the book on letterhead. There was no cost involved. The book isn't
shelved with the regular collection. It's for use mainly by clinical and
academic staffs who wish to share it with the students. Not everyone on
staff is happy about the books, but no one has challenged their right to
be included in the collection.
Cindy Vallar
Librarian
Hannah More School
Reisterstown, MD
clvallar@umd5.umd.edu
*******************************************************************************
I am very interested in receiving information on this book and other
literature with a gay/lesbian theme in elementary schools in particular,
but middle and high as well.
Thanks!
reply to: derry@minerva.cis.yale.edu
Bill Derry, Coordinator of library Media
New Haven Public Schools
derry@minerva.cis.yale.edu
*******************************************************************************
From: "Richard R. Shook" <rshook@edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu>
_Daddy's roommate_
in local county public library system: filed under nonfiction/306
and in 3 branches;
in neighboring city public library system: filed under children's
picture/special collection;
_Heather has 2 mommies_
in local county public library system: filed under nonfiction/306
and in 2 branches;
Area PFLAG Chapter has given money to area public libraries to buy
supportive lesbian-gay materials.
These titles are among those suggested.
These titles are among those challenged in the big uproar in NYC
public schools curriculum (Rainbow?), I believe.
Richard LIbrarian
*******************************************************************************
From: Arroyo <rarroyo@suffolk.lib.ny.us>
We do not have them in ourElementary School Library (K-5). We have not
had a library budget for the past several years and are limited to a
state minimum of $2.00 or $4.00 per pupil. I have to consider the need in
the community and the curriculum for anything I order. We also have
access to the Public Library's Catalog through a modem in the library
which I use for special requests. I remember reading a review of one of
these titles and passing on it because the reviewer didn't recommend it
highly. I have seen these books in the public library I work in and feel
their budgets allow them to be less selective and more inclusive.
*******************************************************************************
From: nelsonb@SLS.LIB.IL.US (Nelson)
>Newsgroups: edcen.lmnet
Subject: Re: HIT: REF: Banned Books list (fwd)
Reply-To: Nelson <nelsonb@SLS.LIB.IL.US>
Date: Tue Sep 19 15:18:01 1995
Thanks to all for the messages regarding Banned Books Week. First, I
replied to some with the wrong dates, but I had imperfect information
(and I believed it, since it was written). The dates seem to be Sep.
23-30, 1995.
There is a web site with a nice list including the rationale. It is
<URL:http://www.cs.cmu.edu/Web/People/spok/banned-books.html>
.
Others suggested ALA which has materials on banned books.
Following is a messy list of contributions:
Diary of Anne Frank
Huckleberry Finn
Of Mice and Men
Martian Chronicles
Grapes of Wrath
1984
Chocolate War
Lorax
Color Purple
I know why the caged bird sings
Perez and Martina
Limericks: historical and hysterical
Just hold on
What joy awaits you
I'm mad at you
Lovers and gaqmblers
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Garfield: his nine lives
Na-Ni
Lord of the flies
Where's waldo?
Katie Morag and the tiresome Ted
Mein kampf
Queen of the what ifs,
Truly tasteless jokes
Tropic of Capricorn
home free
Nightmares
One people, one destiny
The Satanic verses
In the night kitchen
Fan Club
Fields of fire
Dr. Ruth's guide to good sex
A thousand acres
Little Mermaid
Little house on the prairie
Bridge to Terabithia
Complete fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm
Augobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
Private parts
To kill a mockingbird
>
> Bruce J. Nelson
> Evergreen Park High School Library
> 9901 S. Kedzie
> Evergreen Park, IL 60805
> nelsonb@sls.lib.il.us
>phone 708 424-7400 x210
fax 708 424-7493
-------------------------------
Good luck to all have to deal with challenged books!
Skip Bleecker
--
Harrie (Skip) Bleecker, Potter, Sculptor, Computer Artist
8310 E. Remus Rd., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
sbleecke@edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu
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