[CALIBK12] Challenged Books

[Blanche Woolls]

But, ah.... you may have ruined the life of a future bartender?

Or maybe one of your teachers sneaked it in as a hint that you should be 
serving after-school drinks. After all it is that time of the year when 
most teachers need a pick-me-up to make it out of the school and into 
their cars. Now that really would do you in.

I can just see the dismantled book, should you have opted to tear out the 
questionable pages leaving only the hors d'oeuvres.

You have made my day, one more time, Karen.

Blanche

On Fri, 22 May 2009, Karen Tukua wrote:

> Hi all,
> I had a funny thing happen to me yesterday. Once a month, Books are Fun, come to our
> school and set up a display in the teachers workroom. The books are discounted for
> teachers and cover a range of subjects. Many of them can be used for student use in
> the classrooms or the library. Depending on how may books the teachers order,
> determines how many free books Books are Fun will donate. They usually donate 3-4
> books. These books are put in the library for student checkout. I have made a request
> for cookbooks, because my students love these books. They take them home and with
> their parents, make the different receipies. I think its great, because they are all
> second language learners, and they are practicing with their parents, not only their
> reading skills, but their math skills. Yesterday, I had three free books in my box for
> the library. One was The Biggest Loser cookbook, the second was a Bar B-Q Cookbook,
> and the third was Cocktails. Yikessssss! I could see the headlines in the paper;
> "Elementary school librarian put on administrative leave without pay, until
> investigation over challenged book is complete." Dodged that bullet. lol
> 
> Karen Tukua, MLIS, LMT Cambridge Elementary School Concord, CA 94520
> librarykaren at hotmail.com "What a school thinks about its library, is a measure of what
> it thinks about education." Harold Howe, former U.S. Commissioner of Education
> 
> 
>  
> > Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 10:33:31 -0700
> > From: bwoolls at slis.sjsu.edu
> > To: wilkmike at earthlink.net
> > CC: calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
> > Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] Challenged Books
> >
> > Sometimes challenges are engineered by a group who remain in the dark
> > corner when these things surface. If her daughter is having nightmares
> > over the book, those parents better find out what else is going on in her
> > life. If it is a legitimate challenge (meaning only one parent with no
> > backup support in a dark corner) it may truly be that is the focus when
> > something else is there. One time a challenge came over a book on the
> > summer reading list (one of those 100 books you should read before you go
> > to college) given to juniors who were going to be seniors. What the parent
> > was really objecting to was assigning reading to her daughter, period. She
> > picked on a book, but it was the idea of assigned reading when she thought
> > her daughter should be book-free for that summer.
> >
> > And, you have been lucky to have 10 non-confrontational years. Hopefully
> > your colleagues can give you advice, too. It's always wiser to stand up as
> > much as you can. However, Judy Krug recently deceased Director of
> > ALA's IF office used to tell my students, "Don't stand up so long you get
> > fired because that will only intimidate your replacement. Rather read the
> > ALA Bill of Rights statement (all of it, slowly and distinctly, and in the
> > presence of those who have ordered you to remove the book or other
> > material) as you are removing it. Or maybe to your principal as you are
> > discussing removing that book from your list.
> >
> > You might suggest to him that sometimes challenges are made because
> > outside groups are going to target this school and that removal might be
> > just the first of several others.
> >
> > Please do know that, although Judy Krug is no longer in the Intellectual
> > Freedom Office of ALA, it is still staffed and they would be able to help
> > you if it gets more of a hot spot. 1-800-545-2433 x4222.
> >
> > Blanche
> >
> > On Fri, 22 May 2009, Shelee Wilkerson wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > I took one day off and this is what I come back to!
> > >
> > > Each year our school puts out a summer reading list. The lists are divided by
> grade
> > > level. The students are asked to read one book off of the list and two additional
> > > books of their choice. This year we went from three suggestions to eight
> suggestions
> > > per grade level. I was excited when I was asked to play a role in getting the
> lists
> > > together. I had several opportunities for the teachers, parents and students to
> > > contribute. When it came down to a sit down discussion there were a total of three
> of
> > > us participating (1 English Teacher, 1 Author/Parent, & myself) Preliminary lists
> were
> > > sent out and discussed at department meetings.
> > >
> > > The lists were distributed to our freshman this week. One of the parents (who
> wouldn't
> > > release her name) objected to the Time Traveler's Wife which is on the 12th grade
> > > list. I have only been at this school for a year. Unfortunately I had been working
> on
> > > a challenge policy to take to the board, but it was never finished. Policy aside
> > > (which is now at the top of my list) administration wants to nip it in the bud and
> > > just remove it from the list. I don't agree with this decision. There are plenty
> of
> > > "innocent" reads on the list. No student is required to read the book. I might
> add,
> > > the child of this parent will be a sophomore next year.
> > >
> > > Does anyone use Time Traveler's Wife for summer reads, book clubs or other
> programs?
> > > It has been so long I am going to have to reread it this weekend.
> > >
> > > To make matters worse, or maybe better, another parent stepped into the library
> while
> > > I was gathering materials for my administrators and wanted to challenge Memoirs of
> a
> > > Geisha. She wants it removed from the library. I had her fill out a
> "reconsideration"
> > > form, thus obtaining her name and information as well as getting her reasoning in
> > > writing. She has not read the book, but she doesn't like the title. She stated
> that
> > > nobody should read the book unless "your purpose is dirty-minded." Evidently her
> > > daughter is having nightmares about it. My administration agrees that this is a
> crazy
> > > request. Mom doesn't want me to check out any objectionable material to her
> daughter,
> > > so unfortunately I need to tell her it is all or nothing. I can't monitor the
> beliefs
> > > of 1500 students. Fortunately our public library is within walking distance and
> our
> > > students utilize their offerings. She will end up getting books there.
> > >
> > > I would appreciate any input. In my six years I haven't had to deal with a
> challenge.
> > > I guess it is about time.
> > >
> > >  
> > >
> > > Shelee Wilkerson
> > >
> > > South Pasadena High School
> > >
> > >  
> > >
> > >
> > >
> 
>