Re: [LM_NET] HIT: How do you handle the nakedness in this book?

[Shonda Brisco <sbrisco@GMAIL.COM>]

I hope your selection policy includes a "Reconsideration Form" and
that you require the book to go through the full process of a
committee to evaluate the merits of the book.  By pulling it (or
allowing an administrator to pull it) without a formal evaluation (if
you have a selection policy in place) then you have encouraged the act
of censorship.

...and the "consensus" is wrong.  You should not "draw pants or
shorts" on the little boy in the book.  This is also a form of
censorship and violates copyright (as it changes the original work).
If the "majority" believe that this is the best action in response to
nudity in children's books and your principal thinks that he has the
authority to remove the book without a formal evaluation of the book's
merits by a group of professionals who can evaluate and discuss the
issue, then....I am seriously concerned with "the majority" and the
future of school libraries.

Please review the ALA's, the AASL's, and your state's guidelines
regarding censorship and challenged books.  During this month of
September when we celebrate "Banned Books Week"...don't let these
types of independent decisions about books become the "norm" in our
school libraries.

~Shonda


-- 
Shonda Brisco, MLIS
Library Media / Technology Specialist
Digital Bookends wiki / blog:
http://digitalbookends.pbwiki.com
http://shonda.edublogs.org/
sbrisco@gmail.com

Resources for Texas School Librarians:
http://txschoollibrarians.ning.com/
http://txschoollibrarians.wikispaces.com/

"Digital Resources" columnist
School Library Journal

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