I never had time to respond to your earlier e-mail.
I guess I disagree with the "carry none" posters. All of these works
are significant pieces of literature, regardless of their religious
nature (though that certainly needs to be respected.) Mind you, I'm
coming from a MS/HS background.
If the concern is spending district monies on religions texts--most
religious groups have ways of attaining these texts at no costs. (Try a
search on "Free Koran" and see how many hits you get.) In a time where
global strife is caused by the misunderstanding of sacred texts, why
wouldn't we try as much as possible to foster understanding within the
youth culture that is our central audience? (And why would Elem. Schools
be any different?)
My first act as a media specialist was to replace our threadbare Bibles
and add more documents to our religious text shelf. I paid no money to
do so. I also added the Qu'ran, Book of Mormon, Teachings of Buddha and
Bhagavad Gita for free. Should a parent or patron question why their
religious text was not included on the shelf (I shelve these in
reference) I would ask for their cooperation in attaining a copy.
These books are used/pulled often for Social Studies Classes.
I once pulled out a copy of the Bible when I was teaching "The Grapes
of Wrath" to the gasps of the members of the Junior Honors English class
I was teaching. They were amazed that I was "allowed" to bring a Bible
to school, let alone read it to a class. My question was (and is) "Why
teach the Grapes of Wrath without the religious allegory?" The story
makes more sense when you hear the bible verses (as well as the Battle
Hymn-which none of the students could identify. Who started the myth
that we couldn't read religions literature to our classes?
There is NOTHING preventing us from teaching about religion in our
classes--the problem is in promoting any one religion.
Our obligation as librarians is (ALA Bill of Rights):
I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the
interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community
the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the
origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all
points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not
be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
Seems pretty clear to me.
Harry
>>> Geneva Johnson <johnsong@OWASSO.K12.OK.US> 2/4/2008 12:25 PM >>>
My original post:
“I am in a K-5 library and we have 3 (Gideon) Bibles in our
collection,
but no other texts of this nature. I would like to add at least two
more
titles to give this area a little more balance. The most obvious
choices
are the Koran & the Torah. What do you (Elementary Libraries) have in
this
area? Where did you purchase them?”
I had 10 times more requests for HITS than I did responses. Most people
found themselves in a situation similar to the one I find myself in.
We
inherited a library that already has a Christian Bible, but no other
‘religious’ texts. The question we face is do we ‘weed’ the
Bible
(which in my case does circulate since we have AR quizzes through
Enterprise) because we don’t have anything else (censorship??), or do
we
add something for balance. I did have someone e-mail me confidentially
and
recommend that I only add non-fiction works rather than a religious
text.
So my next question is: Would adding informational texts about world
religions add balance to having only one religion’s sacred text?
I’m not
trying to start a debate, just implement my collection development
policy
which dictates ‘varied’ perspectives. Any suggestions would be
greatly
appreciated.
I am posting my responses below:
*********
We have a Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh, published by the Jewish Publication
Society. (The Tanakh includes the five books of the Torah, the
prophetic
books, and the other books of the Hebrew Bible, such as Psalms.) I
think we
bought it through Brodart, but you could also try the JPS website. We
don't
currently have a Koran, although I think we probably should.
*********
I don't have any religious books in my library, except for non-fiction
books
with information on the different religions. Those were purchased from
Follett Library Resources. I also have up-to-date encyclopedia sets
with
the same type of information. I don't think I'll purchase bibles or
other
what is considered sacred religious writings for any of the religions.
I'm
not a strict don't-mix-public-school-with-religion type of person. But
then
you must do what you're doing, have something representative from other
religions. Where do you stop adding things like that to your
collection?
After you have simply represented all your community's religions? The
ones
in your state?
*********
Many denominations will give you one free if you ask. I'd suggest the
Book
of Mormon and the Bhavagad Vita (sp?) for Hinudism.
*********
Nothing. We do have books about many religions, in part because we
serve a
diverse population, and in part because I feel it is necessary. I do
not
feel it a need in an elementary library to include a bible, torah,
Talmud,
Koran, or any other sacred text. Do your students use the bibles you
have?
If so, then perhaps you should consider adding other religions.
Certainly
informational books like the "I am a ..." series that has children of
various religions talking about their faith is really helpful.
*********
I have a Torah and Koran. I also have religious stories from world
faiths.
*********
Thanks to everyone who responded.
Geneva Johnson, NBCT 2004
Library Media Specialist
Ator Heights Elementary
Owasso Public Schools
johnsong@owasso.k12.ok.us
"The limits of your language are the limits of your world." -- Ludwig
Wittgenstein
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"Quid quid Latine dictum sit, altum videtur."
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