[CALIBK12] handling Golden Compass Challenges

Mon Feb 4 09:48:33 PST 2008

Since its publication, The Golden Compass has won the 1996 Carnegie Medal,
the 1997 American Library Association's Best Books for Young Adults as well
as the ALA's Notable Children's Book award. It was nominated for the
American Booksellers Book of the Year Award - Children

http://www.kentucky.com/454/story/247106.html

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Letter regarding challenges to the Golden compass in winchester, kY 

Site-Based Decision Making (SBDM) Council Members
c/o Principal Luke Wright & Susan Mitmesser
Conkwright Middle School
360 Mt. Sterling Rd.    
Winchester, KY  40391 

October 29, 2007

Dear Members of the SBDM Council: 

We write to oppose efforts to remove the book, The Golden Compass by Philip
Pullman, from Conkwright Middle School's 6th grade Language Arts curriculum.
We understand that the book has been challenged by concerned parents and
local Christian leaders because they believe it is anti-Christian.  We also
understand that a committee of parents and teachers who reviewed the book
has recommended that it be kept a part of the curriculum and that you are
meeting on November 8th to make a decision whether or not to follow its
recommendation.

The Golden Compass is a popular and well-respected book.  It has won the
Carnegie Medal for children's literature, the Guardian Fiction Prize, and it
is one of the Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults listed by the American
Library Association.  Furthermore, according to a report in your local
paper, The Winchester Sun, the book is currently in "high-demand in
Conkwright's library."  The book is clearly exciting young readers from your
community.  We urge you to encourage this impulse to read and keep the book
in the classroom.

The task of selecting readings for the curriculum properly belongs to
professional educators. Parents may be equipped to make choices for their
own children but, no matter how well-intentioned, they simply are not
equipped to make decisions that address the needs of the entire student
body. Without questioning the sincerity of those seeking removal of the
books, their views are not shared by all, and they have no right to impose
those views on others or to demand that the educational program reflect
their personal preferences. 

As many courts have observed, public schools have the obligation to
"administer school curricula responsive to the overall educational needs of
the community and its children." Leebaert v. Harrington, 332 F.3d 134, 141
(2d Cir. 2003). Thus, no parent has the right "to tell a public school what
his or her child will and will not be taught." Id. Any other rule would put
schools in the untenable position of having "to cater a curriculum for each
student whose parents had genuine moral disagreements with the school's
choice of subject matter." Brown v. Hot, Sexy and Safer Productions, Inc.,
68 F.3d 525, 534 (1st Cir. 1995), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1159 (1996). See
also Swanson v. Guthrie Indep. School Dist., 135 F.3d 694, 699 (10th Cir.
1998); Littlefield v. Forney Indep. School, 268 F.3d 275, 291 (5th Cir.
2001). 

The practical effect of acceding to any parent's request to censor materials
will be to invite others to demand changes in the curriculum to reflect
their beliefs and to leave school officials vulnerable to multiple, possibly
conflicting, demands.  The most satisfactory way of handling situations in
which a parent or student objects to a particular assignment is to offer the
opportunity to request an alternative assignment, which we understand the
school has done. This addresses the concerns of those who seek to limit
their exposure to certain words and ideas, without infringing the rights of
the many others who are eager for a more inclusive and expansive education. 

We strongly urge you to keep this book in the curriculum and stand by the
principle that is so essential to individual freedom, democracy, and a good
education: the right to read, inquire, question, and think for ourselves.

If we can be of assistance in this matter, please do not hesitate to call
us.  

Sincerely, 

Joan Bertin 

Chris Finan 

Executive Director 

President

National Coalition Against Censorship 

American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression 

http://ncac.org/literature/20071029~KY-Winchester~Letter_Regarding_Challenge
s_To_The_Golden_Compass.cfm

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Express Yourself! Op-Eds

<http://www.ncac.org/yfen/ExpressYourself_Op-Eds/Op-Ed_TheGoldenCompass.cfm#
menu#menu> Main Menu 

The Golden Compass: Why I won't Boycott by Kate Havard 

I read The Golden Compass and His Dark Materials when I was a little girl. I
enjoyed reading them. And no, they CERTAINLY did not turn me into an
atheist. 

People often underestimate children when it comes to books- and believe that
they can't separate reality from fiction- Remember when people thought the
Harry Potter books would turn kids into Satanists? All they did was turn
kids into readers.

Anyone who thinks that His Dark Materials (series) is an attack on God
probably hasn't read it. I don't think one can boycott anything until they
know what it is- so I mean, you don't have to contribute to Phillip
Pullman's profit margin by actually buying the books, you could use the
library. However, before you boycott the books-- you should read them.
(Think "keep your friends close, and your enemies closer")  Read them, and
THEN disagree with them, hate them, boycott them (but please don't burn
them). 

And I know a lot of people say, "I don't have to read the books to know what
they're about" but that isn't really true, because everyone interprets
literature differently. 

I think a book series whose main characters abandon faith and "kill God" in
order to "do as they please" would be despicable. I very strongly believe
"His Dark Materials" is NOT that book series.

And even if they WERE that book series, I wouldn't try to stop people from
reading them- because faith is stronger than a movie or a children's book
series. Nobody (not even a child) will read these books and stop believing
in God. No one can "make" someone else stop believing in God. 

I am not saying I agree with Phillip Pullman, or the movies, or anything. I
am just saying that you can't accept that these books are wrong just because
someone tells you they are. We have to think for ourselves. I am very much
pro-thinking. And I am certainly pro-books. 

We can't challenge something by hiding from it, by boycotting it- I mean,
obviously, it's not the movie itself that people dislike, its the ideas
behind it--and you can't boycott an idea. In fact, boycotting an idea just
makes it stronger, it gives it credibility. Which is the last thing this
group wants, am I right? Does this group consider His Dark Materials to be a
threat to the Bible?
Of course it isn't! 

If these books are anti-religious? Well, then Phillip Pullman has the same
rights as you or I have- the right to be wrong.

If we believe, and others don't, does this somehow lessen our faith, make it
smaller?

I think not.

http://www.ncac.org/yfen/ExpressYourself_Op-Eds/Op-Ed_TheGoldenCompass.cfm

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Book Censorship in Schools: A Toolkit

NCAC presents the following collection of materials on the topic of
censorship in schools for the use of students, educators, and parents
everywhere. This information is not intended as legal advice. If you are
embroiled in a censorship controversy, we hope you will consult the
resources below for guidance - if you need additional assistance, please
<http://www.ncac.org/contact.cfm> contact us.

Contents:

1.  <http://www.ncac.org/literature/bookcensorshiptoolkit.cfm#tips#tips>
Tips for Responding to Challenges

2.
<http://www.ncac.org/literature/bookcensorshiptoolkit.cfm#sampleletter#sampl
eletter> Sample Letter to School Administration (Principal, Superintendent,
School Board Members)

3.
<http://www.ncac.org/literature/bookcensorshiptoolkit.cfm#objections#objecti
ons> Types of Objections against Books

4.
<http://www.ncac.org/literature/bookcensorshiptoolkit.cfm#policies#policies>
Model Complaint Policies and Procedures

5.
<http://www.ncac.org/literature/bookcensorshiptoolkit.cfm#resources#resource
s> Resources 

6.  <http://www.ncac.org/literature/bookcensorshiptoolkit.cfm#links#links>
Links 

http://www.ncac.org/literature/bookcensorshiptoolkit.cfm

J. Selkye, MLIS

Teacher~librarian

Riverview Middle School

205 Pacifica Avenue

Bay Point, California 94565

(925) 458-3216 X 5284

(925) 458-0875 [fax]

Poetry is

"Thoughts that breathe, 

and words that burn."  

- English poet Thomas Gray, (1716-1771)

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