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DvChWi
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« on: March 07, 2004, 03:06:42 PM » |
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I was inspired to create this thread because of the Fallen Angel thread, which mentioned that the book had been banned in area high schools. When books are banned at high schools, what is the rational behind this? Is it in the name of "protecting the children" or what? With all the stuff the goes on at high schools, you'd think books would be the least of these peoples' concerns. Any thoughts on this, or, in the spirit of protest, favorite banned books?
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Fun facts about Chuck Norris:
Newton's Third Law is wrong: Although it states that for each action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, there is no force equal in reaction to a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick.
Chuck Norris can divide by zero.
Chuck Norris CAN believe it's not butter.
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Josh
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« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2004, 04:04:48 PM » |
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Farenheit 451 was banned in some schools. Ironic, since it's a book about censorship...
Also, Flannery O'Connor's short stories are banned in many schools to this very day, due to the use of racist terms in them. This is again ironic, as anyone who's read anything by Flanno knows that she's about as anti-racism as they come. Clearly the schools who banned her fiction never took the time needed to properly understand it.
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ThePurplePerson
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« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2004, 04:31:57 PM » |
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There was a huge stink this summer over, as I mentioned "Fallen Angels" being banned, and also "Lord of the Flies" which I'm also supposed to read this year.
Frankly, the only reason I think a book should be banned is if it has no redeeming value whatsoever. And I don't know if I'd call it banning, even. Books like that just don't belong on the library shelves, wasting space that truely excellent books could be occupying.
Wasn't a book called Ask Alice banned way back whan? Because it was about drugs, graphically so? Seems like there was a huge tiff over it...
Anyone read The Day They Came to Arrest the Book? It's a book abtou a fictional school banning Tom Sawyer...also reading it for 9th grade, and it looks really fascinating...
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-ruth ann
it's like God himself is coming home to say:
"I, I can do anything, if you want me here.
and I can fix anything, if you'll let me near.
where are those secrets now (that you're just scared to tell)?
I'll whisper them all aloud so you can hear yourself."
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Skrappybiskit
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« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2004, 05:02:50 PM » |
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Why in the world would they ban LotF? It's the perfect extended metaphor for the way the nation's schools work: like an island where the boys run amuck.
Personally, I think a book with themes in it like Moby Dick or The Scarlet Letter is much more dangerous than F451, even though MD and TSL don't say "damn" and "hell" as much, if at all.
Skraps
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linds
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« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2004, 09:31:04 AM » |
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i used to go to a fundamentalist christian school, where 'the grapes of wrath' was banned.
oh, yeah, and don't even mention harry potter...
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\"I saved Latin. What did you ever do?\"
--Rushmore
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oneafroboy
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« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2004, 02:27:12 PM » |
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I wouldn't teach Harry Potter in schools, but I know some Christians who think those are the devil's books.
I liked Scarlet Letter, actually. And I don't understand why Farenheit 451 would be banned. What a great book with a powerful and urgent message. I also don't get Lord of the Flies being banned. I liked that book, too.
In public schools aroung here, Huckleberry Finn is banned because of the "n" word. Mark Twain was very anti-racist, so I don't understand that. I'm not particularly offended by the book--I quite enjoy it.
And at my Christian school, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston is banned. Something about extramarital relations... I still thought it was a great book. But alas I guess they didn't ask for my opinion...
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\"Living your life like you're trapped in a bad rap video is just not that appealing.\"
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linds
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« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2004, 02:57:15 PM » |
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that's weird b/c somehow, at my old school, it was okay to read the word 'nigger' in twain's books, but it wasn't okay to read the word 'damn' in other books. legalism can get so twisted...
has anyone read 'the chocolate wars?' it is about a school that is taken over by kids...i'm not surprised that it shows up on a lot of banned books lists.
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\"I saved Latin. What did you ever do?\"
--Rushmore
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oneafroboy
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« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2004, 08:08:29 PM » |
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has anyone read 'the chocolate wars?' it is about a school that is taken over by kids...i'm not surprised that it shows up on a lot of banned books lists.  |
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\"Living your life like you're trapped in a bad rap video is just not that appealing.\"
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Vlad!
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« Reply #8 on: March 15, 2004, 10:29:28 AM » |
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Banning books has always struck me as being narrow-minded and provincial...especially in high school. I can see the logic behind keeping middle schoolers away from material that might influence them unduly, but once a person is in high school it's time to start treating him or her as an adult capable of thinking, not a child who must be told what to believe.
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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linds
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« Reply #9 on: March 18, 2004, 10:04:42 PM » |
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i wish more people thought that way (esp. teachers)!
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\"I saved Latin. What did you ever do?\"
--Rushmore
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