We read an article in the online Chicago Tribune -- Antioch district decides against book ban -- that discussed the efforts by some parents to eliminate an award winning book from the high school freshman summer reading list, despite having the option of reading an alternative selection. The article reports that parents' objections were based on their sense that the book uses "vulgar" and "racist" language.
The Tribune article describes the book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, as "a coming-of-age story about a 14-year-old boy who triumphs over obstacles after leaving an American Indian reservation to attend an all-white school."
The PRU Crew was reminded of a similar effort last year by parental zealots and the Illinois Family Institute to eliminate birth control information from the Maine South curriculum, despite the ability to have their own children opt-out of the class. In a twisted way we were gratified to learn from the Tribune article that Park Ridge isn't the only place where absurdly concerned parents try to dictate curriculum and values for an entire community.
We will never understand people who seem to fear information. Also, we will never understand people who seem to believe 14 year old boys -- and girls too! -- don't use vulgar language. The PRU Crew actually finds the judicious employment of some vulgarity is useful! Though we admit we'd rather not hear anyone under the voting age using it.
After reaching the voting age, paying attention to elections, public policy discussions, listening to politicians make promises, then voting, and the general condition of being a citizen of Illinois under what could be said to be one of the most politically corrupt State governments in the Union -- we don't understand how anyone over 18 isn't walking around muttering "Fuck!" to themselves all day long!
Because the PRU Crew loves to piss off people who piss us off, we asked ourselves, "What would piss off the thought police as much as possible?" The answer we came up with is, we think District 207 should consider adding an elective Junior and Senior level course to the high school curriculum devoted entirely to the reading and discussion of "banned" books.
With a heavy dose of Constitutional and public policy issues thrown into the mix.
Keep the thought police hopping!
June 23, 2009
Dangerous Thoughts!
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21 comments:
PRU:
I think many of these zealots (you used the perfect word) suffer from what I refer to as parental blindness. "My little boy or girl would never do those things" or, worse yet, blaming the information for the problem.
I've only read 29 of the books on the banned list. I've got some catching up to do!
I'm with ya 12:41, great summer reading list!
I'm such a bad parent! ...not only did I buy 'A Light in the Attic' for my kids, but also 'Falling Up' and 'Where the Sidewalk Ends'!
Seriously...I was suprised to see Shel Silverstein's work on the list! Then I clicked on the Wikipedia link to it and found...
"The book has been banned from some libraries,[1] parents claiming that the poem "How Not To Have To Dry The Dishes" encourages messiness and disobedience. Also the poem "Little Abigail and the Beautiful Pony"[2] describes the death of a girl after her parents refuse to buy her a pony which some parents are critical over believing it is too morbid for young readers. Other complaints included the mention of supernatural themes, including demons, devils,and ghosts.[3]"
...oye...
Zealots indeed.
A District 207 course on banned books, with Constitutional law and public policy issues thrown in? What a great way to learn!
Well done, PRU!
And make sure at least one reading and one day's discussion involves Griswold v. Connecticut (the birth control decision) for good measure.
I like the idea of a banned books class for jr. and sr. students. Not a bad idea at all.
Great idea PRU. If you really want to piss off everyone, add the Bible to the list.
We would welcome a social studies course that includes reading of the christian bible, torah, koran, bhagavadgitha, and any number of various faith-based literary works used by assorted religions in the promotion of their respective faiths.
PRU.ADMIN highly recommends taking such courses.
I was thinking about the language censorship just the other day, when I heard a nine year old boy react in outrage to a parent’s passing “what the Hell?” exclamation. “Mrs. X made a swear!!!” Curious terminology, yes? Mrs. X then amended her statement to the less offensive “H – E - double hockey sticks”, which is a tried and true way to fool God.
Although it seems vaguely correct that it is the Christian God whom is objecting to the use of the word Hell, it is not clear exactly why. Hell is merely a place where bad Christians go when they fuck up by swearing and violating Lent rules, but I don’t know why the rest of us can’t use the word. Perhaps there are people who choose to elevate themselves over the heathens by the simple and inexpensive method of self-defining themselves to be the kind of people who do not use “swears”, and who are furthermore offended when other people, who are not as morally elevated, use the sort of language that is frowned upon by people who are also morally superior.
While I have encouraged my kids not to swear, I have also asked them to consider how swearing is deployed and who decides what we are allowed to say and not say. I have asked them to consider how all of their language choices reflect upon them, and how they wish to be perceived by the listener. This also serves to neutralize the joy of rebellion aspect, at least I think so.
Although he may be cussing like a trooper in another year, my still innocent nine year old boy brought me a book he was reading about the Antarctic explorer Robert Scott. The passage that alarmed him mentioned that Scott had outfitted himself with several dozen sled dogs as well as thirteen bitches.
Sounds like a trip from Hell, yeah?
I have to deal with 13 bitches every time I go over to the clerks' office at the Daley Center. But seriously folks, it's nice to see you come out of retirement Prose.
How about we talk about the park ridge park district and corruption. Can someone tell me how our park district can not have enough money to purchase lap lanes yet have enough to have 14 lifeguards at the pool looking at themselves in aviators all day? Do the admin's at the prpd really deserve 6 figure salaries?
PRU-- you really have hit on something there with the suggestion to offer a banned books class to upperclass students in D207. I think the kids would be all over that. It's a seriously good idea, IMHO.
Parents of D207 students-- pitch the idea to the English departments. Problem is, there are so many banned books that you would probably have to offer Banned Books I and Banned Books II!
Prose...u friggin ROCK!
Of course, when swearing, adults can always request the kids use the "earmuffs"!!!
"Every now and then you just have to say 'what the fuck'"
PRU I love your idea of a class studying the works of various religions. It is offered at the private school my son went to and he took 2 years of it. It was excellent. Nothing like that at Maine South unfortunately.
um, where did PRU say something about studying the works of various religions? confused.
That banned book list is pathetically amusing. HEMINGWAY? seriously? I remember reading "To Kill A Mockingbird" my first or second year at Maine South. It opened my eyes to REAL literature, not the bestseller crap I was reading so much of.
Nice topic to fire everyone up, PRU!
Band books ? here in Park Ridge ?
Never.........
Just give them the Chicago test:
Q - How many ho's does one pimp have ?
Q - Who's the secretary of state ?
Q - How many L's in halsted ?
Q - How many rounds fit into a mag?
Q - What does catchin the " L" mean
Q - Have you been across Harlem ?
Q - Does Ogden run on an angel ?
Forget the books...
they need street smarts too!
Not just the mean streets of
Park Ridge that is.....
Anonymous at 124,
I took a class like that at the parochial high school I attended, and also when I got to college.
I remember asking my h.s. teacher, whom I'd grown close to, why a catholic school was offering classes that studied other religions? He smiled the biggest smile and said that [they], meaning he and the other faculty members, had faith...and that the information being provided would better inform us about the rest of the world, and that [they] didn't feel knowing about other people's beliefs was a threat to our own religious instruction or faith.
He was a completely faith-filled and honest man. It's been 25 years...and we still exchange Christmas cards, as he's now teaching Theology in Kentucky.
I whole-heartedly endorse study of things like world religions and controversial works that provoke thinking or...gasp..."dangerous thought", which I believe might be a substitute phrase for "skepticism" and questioning of the status quo...?
Collectively, we can't ever "move forward" if we don't understand where we've been and who we are.
I'm with you anon at 3:45. I think it was an amazing class for my son to have taken. He went to Catholic school as well. I wish I'd taken the course. One faith should not be threatened by another, nor should people of faith be threatened by those who do not believe. Mutual respect really does work best.
Gypsy, see PRU's post at 3:10, as well as the one prior to it. That's what I was referring to.
I haven't actually commented on the topic and I should. I oppose censorship of any type. I love books, and I love to read about all different things.
Stay Cool y'all! It's seriously hot!
These "parents" whine about everything, there too lazy or self absorbed in their self to really take the time and mentor their kids.
Case in point, for how many years these "parents" dump their kids off uptown allowing the elements to mentor their kids and when it turns to shit, they blame everyone, many times the police, for there failure to be a parent.
Ghost:
Nothing worse than being self absorbed in yourself!
It is amazing to me how you take an event like teens being in Uptown on a warm summer evening as an example of bad parenting. There is a part of growning up that involves independence and relationships with friends. While my kids are not yet in this age catagory, I feel confident that there are many great parents who allow their kids to go to Uptown with friends.
During my feckless (I love that word) youth, I hung and or snuck out in places much worse than Uptown.
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