Bob Cox spotted a Sacbee.com Article on the Galt, CA, Joint Union Elementary School District board who decided to ban a young adult novel from classrooms but keep it in middle school libraries.
The district looked at the issue of whether to remove “Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey,” a novel that chronicles the problems of a troubled teenager, as supplemental classroom reading after a parent complained. The book had been assigned in a seventh-grade English class.
Trustees voted 4-1 to stop the novel from being used for instructional purposes but will allow it to remain in libraries as long as students get parental permission to check it out. Trustee Susan Richardson cast the dissenting vote.
not another one…..
Another huge disappointment from those whose job it is to educate our children and from those whose job it is to protect children’s right to read. First of all, the book is so relevant to middle school children across this nation. How many middle-schoolers are so insulated that they don’t know someone- a friend, relative, or even themselves, who are dealing with these issues and the fear, anger, and isolation that they bring. To be able to discuss this as a piece of literature, thereby displacing the action to the “safety” of a third party (remember Psych 401- the puppet theory) affords those students suffering & those who wonder how to help the chance to discuss their ideas and hear others’ ideas; to know that they are not alone, and maybe, just maybe give them the strength to do something to fix the situation. As for those parent who truly still believe that THEIR middle-schooler has not been exposed to “sexual content” may I suggest a reality check?!
To the Trustees who begrudgingly agreed to keep the title in the library, but want parental permission for checkout- please review your local library laws- most of which protect ALL patrons privacy. No child should be forced to get permission to read any book. Again, I will stand on my soapbox- if a parent wants to know what the child is reading- ask, look, or accompany them to the library. The ones who need to read this book are usually the last ones who want to seek permission. Can anyone imagine a truly abused child asking permission to read a book about child abuse??? Yet because of this rule, the ones who really need access to this information are the ones to whom it is denied. Anybody ever hear of Intellectual Freedom?? Check your library code of ethics please.