Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 08:07:48 -0700
> From: Ken Umbach <kumbach@UNLIMITED.NET>
> Subject: GEN: offensive library material
>
> <html>
> <body>
> This, from today's Los Angeles Times, may be of interest to many here:
> <a
> href="http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-book3jun032356
> 18,1,1524698.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california"
> eudora="autourl">http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-boo
> k3jun03235618,1,1524698.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california</a>
> (may require sign-up for access)<br><br>
> In part:<br><br>
> <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><h1><b>In Complaint to Riverside
> Schools, Toilet-Humor Book Doesn't Amuse</b></h1><br><br>
> <br>
> <h2><b>A grandmother wants the Riverside district to remove a volume with
> characters such as Deputy Doo-Doo.</b></h2><br><br>
> By Kristina Sauerwein<br>
> Times Staff Writer<br><br>
> June 3, 2003<br><br>
<snip>
> It seems to me that there is a similarity, at some level, to the issue raised
> earlier today about an offensive play (the one about
> "hillbillies"). What is the role of judgment and a sense of
> decency in making these choices?<br><br>
> Ken<br>
This article provides an example of why I personally have a significant
amount of consternation about using a district process that has been set up
to deal with library censorship complaints to challenge a play that I
believe promotes bigotry and harassment based on cultural background and
learning disabilities. <awkward facial expression>
However the e-mail responses to my prior query are running in strong support
for my actions.
I am thinking about criteria in this area. My perspective is also related to
how these issues are going to emerge as teachers/librarians require or
recommend web sites that someone is going to find offensive. (I love these
wonderful "teachable moments" -- even for myself -- well maybe "love" is not
quite the appropriate term to use here, being in a significant amount of hot
water at my children's school.)
It seems to me that there needs to be a distinction between "required" and
"recommended." And it also appears that there should be some distinction
between material that merely mocks others for the sake of entertainment
(which I would argue is the case with the play I am objecting to) and
material that has essential historical, artistic, cultural value.
Has anyone ever developed some sort of rubric that is used for evaluation of
materials when such challenges are made?
Nancy
Nancy Willard, M.S., J.D.
Center for Advanced Technology in Education
University of Oregon, College of Education
E-mail: nwillard@oregon.uoregon.edu
URL: http://netizen.uoregon.edu
Responsible Netizen Institute
URL:http://responsiblenetizen.org
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