Parents of three elementary school students filed a lawsuit this week against the Ojai Unified School District, in California, alleging a teacher made them read a book that contains graphic language, violence and explicit sexual content, and then faced retaliation from school officials for complaining about it.
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Ventura County Superior Court, the parents allege they never gave permission for their children, who were in the fifth grade at the time, to read the book “Please Stop Laughing at Me,” by Jodee Blanco.
VenturaCountyStar.com Has More [[email protected], lisnews]
Fantastic notion!
Then I want to sue my school district for forcing me to read Lord of the Flies. After all, it had violence, carnage, and weird sexual references involving the rape of pigs. (I wish I was making that part up.) There was also the murder of a geek involved in the story, and as a geek, that deeply offends me.
Oh yeah, and the book sucked too. There’s a month of my life I won’t get back. While I’m at it, can I sue my PE teacher for making me shower in front of other boys who damaged my self-esteem by comparing my manhood to more equestrian varieties?
Re:Fantastic notion!
were you made ot read it in the fifth grade?
Re:Fantastic notion!
I’m with you, gwd! I’m a voracious reader but I simply could NOT read that book to save my life. First and only book I’ve ever had to buy Coles Notes for!
s/
Re:Fantastic notion!
I hadn’t read the book mentioned, nor ever seen it in catlogues…according to the Library Journal review as posted on Amazon.com it’s a High School/Adult level book. Which would explain why I hadn’t seen it.
Personally, I think it looks like an interesting book; the author describes her school/high school years and all the bullying she went through. I haven’t read it but if it’s rated as at least HS level by LJ then it probably isn’t appropriate for fifth grade.
Of course suing the school isn’t a great answer either. But then again suing is one of the great industries in America.
s/