Well Banned Books week is right around the corner and while I was going to have something fun for that week planned, when the firestorm that is Dr. Scroggins arose I decided to push my giveaway up...and voice my opinion with Bloggers Speak Out, organized by Natalie at Mindful Musings and supported by many blogs.........Bloggers Speak Out is a movement sparked by the recent article, "Filthy Books Demeaning to Republic Education" by Dr. Wesley Scroggins that was published in the Springfield, MO News-Leader on September 18th. In this article, he requests that the following books be removed from the Republic school system: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler, and Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. When I first read Scroggins article, I was immediately mad because I felt he misrepresented the book Speak. I found nothing about that book pornographic and while the book touches on “touchy” subjects, I thought it presented a fairly well picture of high school. Scroggins claims the book makes teachers and adults look like losers, but I had a teacher like Mr. Neck, they do grace the doorways of the classroom and not all teachers are good teachers. I found nothing in Speak to promote the disrespect of teachers but the message to stand up for yourself. I also thought it was written in a way to relate to teenagers, and why would reading a novel about rape and a dysfunctional family be anymore offensive then say a story about 13 year old cousins who secretly get married, have sex and then kill themselves???? In the right setting and aimed at the appropriate age group Speak can be a very beneficial novel for teenagers, it has the power to reach, heal and change....especially a teen girl who has dealt with date rape. I wish there had been a book like Speak out there for me when I was 16. Perhaps it would have helped me SPEAK out about something that I went through my sophomore year of high school.....I completely disagreed with Scroggins opinion concerning this particular issue.
I have not read Twenty Boy Summer or SH5 so I don't know the content of those novels, so I don't have an opinion regarding them. In all fairness, I do believe Dr. Scroggins has the right to his opinion. I reread his article a few times and have to agree there is really no business for sexual education in fourth grade. As a parent and a tax payer I would have deep concerns about my 12 or 13 year old middle grade student being exposed to what they are teaching. I'm not against sex ed, my daughter just went through it and we discussed everything before hand, but I wouldn't want a teacher talking to my daughter about the appropriate ways to perform certain acts....that's crossing the line for my child and my opinion is just as valuable as the parent who does. I’ve always been one to say I don’t support book banning and I still don’t, but are school libraries and public libraries the same thing? Should a 14 year old freshmen have the same access to material an 18 year old senior has? Is having an opinion and strong viewpoint on what children should be taught in their own community’s closed mindedness? Are we only deemed wise and worldly if we support 15 year olds reading about (Scroggins example)...naked girls drinking from beer bong’s? Isn’t it up to the community, the tax dollar paying parents to decide what should and shouldn’t be acceptable for their children in a school setting? If its ok to promote Slaughter House Five, why are people suing to take the Pledge of Allegiance out of schools? Where is the uproar on freedom of speech for those issues? And furthermore just because Scroggins is using his uproar behind the use of his Christianity....not ALL Christians would agree with him, take me for example, while I don't use my blog for religious outlet, I certainly see the world through my faith.
I freely admit I censor myself from certain things, I refuse to watch horror movies nor will I let my children watch them. I censor books from my young teen everyday. A huge reason why I read YA is for her. And while she has read titles like Twilight, The Hunger Games and The Dark Divine, in no way is she mature enough to read titles like Before I Fall or Twenty Boy Summer. As she is only 14 yrs old it is my job as her parent to protect her and try to limit the things she is exposed to. I do not want to shelter her from the harsh realities of the world, but arm her with the knowledge to make appropriate decisions at the appropriate mature stages in her life. I don't believe this makes me a censor fueled burn books crazy person, it makes me a responsible parent. There many awesome, wonderful books out there that can be beneficial for kids, teens and adults but there are also many disturbing books out there that can harm a young child's mind. One comment on Dr. Scroggins article reads as follows:
.....ALL books should be available to EVERYONE! Any child of any age should be able to read any book he/she wants to. If they are to young, mentally, for the content of said book, they won't understand it and will stop reading. Leave the CHOICE to the individual................
That is one of the most asinine statements I have ever heard, so four year olds should look at playboys? And 6th graders should read titles from say authors like Holly Black or J.R Ward? Don't mistake open mindedness for ignorance.When it comes down to it reading is a choice, where we cannot ban and burn books, we as parents should be vigilant in what are kids are reading and watching.
.....ALL books should be available to EVERYONE! Any child of any age should be able to read any book he/she wants to. If they are to young, mentally, for the content of said book, they won't understand it and will stop reading. Leave the CHOICE to the individual................
That is one of the most asinine statements I have ever heard, so four year olds should look at playboys? And 6th graders should read titles from say authors like Holly Black or J.R Ward? Don't mistake open mindedness for ignorance.When it comes down to it reading is a choice, where we cannot ban and burn books, we as parents should be vigilant in what are kids are reading and watching.
Footloose Wisdom
SPEAK it Brother Shaw!!!!
GIVEAWAY
In support of the book Speak, I will be giving away one copy to one winner.
To enter please leave a comment and fill in the form. Open to everyone 16 and over. Will end Oct 3, 2010.To get involved, voice your opinion or see all the blogs participating head over to Mindful Musings.
Below is a list of links of bloggers speaking out against book banning and censorship--in the form of giveaways, posts, and reviews. Some are "officially" participating in what we're calling Bloggers Speak Out, and others are posts that we've found around the blogosphere. If you get time, you should definitely check them out!
Giveaways of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
**All giveaways will end on 10/3, unless otherwise noted**
Other Giveaways
Other Posts Against Book Banning and Censorship
Authors Speak Out
Important Articles on the Subject
"Filthy Books Demeaning to Republic Education" (the article that started it all)
"Republic School Book Choices under Fire" (Springfield News-Leader)
I had never heard of this book before the other day. I am going to read it as soon as I can. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteamandarwest at gmaildotcom
I think this would be an interesting read and would love to be included in your draw. Thanks.
ReplyDeletewandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com
Wow, I love the video! I've seen that movie so many times I've lost count, but I always forgot this scene.
ReplyDeletehopester777 at gmail dot com
thanks :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway. I think everybody is going to buy (or have a copy of) SPEAK in their houses,
ReplyDeletedani dot prmr at hotmail dot com
I can not believe that such things happen, this guy must really be sick!
ReplyDeleteI also had never heard of this book before Sunday. It sounds like a book teenagers and their parents should read. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletemlawson17 at hotmail dot com
Speak sounds a very powerful book, it would be a shame if if was banned .
ReplyDeleteI think it's ridiculous that someone is actually equating rape to porn ... it's just disgusting and says a lot about his own mental state, if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe we're still banning books in this day and age. I definitely want to read these banned books now.
ReplyDeleteWho would ever tought that 'speak' would be published?
ReplyDelete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteHi, Tina!
I think your post is very balanced and sensible, and I believe it comes from your experience as a parent. I've read a couple of anti-banning posts that basically repeat the asinine statement you've quoted, and it's clear that those were written by bloggers who have never had to worry about children.
In a world full of adults, book banning would be an obvious evil--but children do bring on the grey areas, and their parents have the right to "censor" their reading until they're ready for it.
I have never read the book but have heard alot about it this week.I do not think this book should be banned. Thank you for speaking out about it with so many people :) tishajean@charter.net
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this book, but I want too because of all of the publicity it's getting, good or bad.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that anyone shoud be told what they or their child can read unless they, themselves make that decision. I don't believe any book should be banned if its going to help someone.
But thank you for speaking out and making this contest!
It has been less than a week since this issue of Speak exploded on Twitter and around the blogosphere.
ReplyDeleteI am proud to defend books.
I am proud to be a book blogger.
I am proud to have the freedom to read.
Thank you for your post. Here is a link to mine:
http://www.alisonsbookmarks.com/2010/09/be-heard.html
Speak sounds like an excellent book! Thanks for your post on banned books, a subject which today remains ever important.
ReplyDeleteSarah E