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Hi Nancy and others, Your concern is one with which schools and especially school librarians are continually struggling and that struggle has resulted in a large body of literature on selection/reconsideration policies for all instructional materials. Mankato Schools have, as do most, a formal reconsideration policy <http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/district/isd77policies/606.htm> regarding not just library books, but "instructional materials." While there is no rubric involved (or probably possible considering the range of resources which fall under the policy), there is a form to describe the objections to the material and a clear-cut means of registering the objection. While websites are not specifically mentioned (yet), I believe they could be challenged using this policy. While I don't believe any librarian or teacher would recommend a source knowing it would be offensive to a student or his/her parents, there has long been a philosophy in librarianship that says it is unreasonable to act "in loco parentis." We deal with too many kids and families to be expected to know the idiosyncrasies of each one. Parents have the right to exempt students from reading a particular assignment or from a particular class unit (sex ed, for example). We all have our individual standards about materials and their intent. I find The Onion great satire; others may see the publication as "mocking for the sake of entertainment." To the best of my knowledge, whether a resource is included as a part of the educational program - whether required or not - is best left to a local group which helps establish local community standards. If a district process is not used, the power to censor by individuals becomes too great. Yours for intellectual freedom in all its uncomfortable guises, Doug ************ Doug Johnson Director of Media and Technology I.S.D. 77, Mankato Public Schools Box 8713, Mankato MN 56002-8713 Voice: 507-387-7698, Fax: 507-387-2496 E-mail: dougj@doug-johnson.com Web: www.doug-johnson.com "The fates guide those who go willingly; those who do not, they drag." Seneca Nancy wrote: 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 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. LM_NET Help & Information: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ Archive: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml LM_NET Select/EL-Announce: http://www.cuenet.com/archive/el-announce/ LM_NET Supporters: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ven.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. LM_NET Help & Information: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ Archive: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml LM_NET Select/EL-Announce: http://www.cuenet.com/archive/el-announce/ LM_NET Supporters: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ven.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-