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Teenager censors school library
Filed under: Teens, Relatives, Day Care & Education, That's Entertainment
I think it's great when kids check books out of the library. It gives them a chance to explore new genres of literature to which they might not otherwise be exposed. Apparently, that's exactly what happened to fifteen-year-old Lysa Harding of Brookwood, Alabama. She checked out the novel "Sandpiper" by Ellen Wittlinger and found it was not to her liking. Instead of returning it and selecting a different book, however, she and her grandmother decided to keep it.The novel's protagonist is a teenage girl who is known to offer oral sex but wants to find a way to change her reputation. "While heavy on message and mature in subject matter, the novel is notable for the bold look it takes at relationships and at the myth that oral sex is not really sex," writes Susan W. Hunter a teacher in Vermont. Lysa Harding feels it's inappropriate and has thus decided to save her fellow students from making the same mistake she did in checking it out.
"This book is sick," said Pam Pennington, the girl's grandmother. "I'm 50 years old, and I've raised 11 sets of kids and been through many a library, and I've never seen a book like this in a school library before." Because our culture hasn't changed one iota in the last fifty years and even if it did, schools certainly shouldn't change to reflect that!
Meanwhile, Lysa is equally horrified. "I honestly believe that it should not be at school, because at my school they teach abstinence and no sex before marriage, but then all the book is teaching is how to do those things," she said. I wonder if she actually read the book all the way through or if she just got so caught up in the naughty bits that she couldn't think of anything else?
The school library, on the other hand, says that Lysa will not be allowed to check out another book until Sandpiper is returned and will assess late fees and a $25 charge to replace the book if it's not returned. Lysa may think she's doing the right thing, but just wait until someone tries to ban a book she likes. Further, all she's really done is generate a whole lot more interest in the book and probably spurred a lot of kids to read it who wouldn't have otherwise. So, I suppose that some good came of this after all.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
9-14-2007 @ 3:34PM
laura nason said...I hate to break it to this student and parents but the Young Adult section in the library should read "xxx adult"
Bottom line, read what your children are reading.My parents did.
Reply
9-14-2007 @ 8:49PM
Uly said...Once again, people are unable to comprehend the difference between portraying an activity and endorsing it.
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9-14-2007 @ 8:23PM
SKL said...Roger, I can't wait until your daughter is 14.
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9-14-2007 @ 9:58PM
jcs said...Or may some people might want to consider that asking for age appropriate books in a school library isn't the same as book burning.
And the fact that the characters are young doesn't mean the content is always appropriate for young readers.
Reply
9-15-2007 @ 1:13AM
Messed Up Mama said..."Or may some people might want to consider that asking for age appropriate books in a school library isn't the same as book burning.
And the fact that the characters are young doesn't mean the content is always appropriate for young readers."
If Lysa and/or her Grandmother had asked that the book be removed I wouldn't have a problem with them. I might wonder if they had actually read the whole book, and if they did if they had understood the message, but I wouldn't think they were horrible. They didn't ask for a book they believe to be not appropriate for a High School (I think it's a High School) Library, they removed it themselves. They seem to think that THEY have the right to decide for everyone else.
The fact that a student isn't mature enough to read such material doesn't mean other students shouldn't be allowed to read at a more mature level.
Maybe such books should have some kind of advisory on them or on their cards, or computer entry. So that students who don't want to read things like that would know, in advance, which books to avoid.
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9-15-2007 @ 1:58AM
Gry said..."Roger, I can't wait until your daughter is 14."
Why? You know something the rest of us don't? Please share :D
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9-15-2007 @ 3:24AM
W. H. Heydt said...Okay....if you're going to ban books from High School libraries, check out some of the juicy bits in the Bible--then ban it.
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9-15-2007 @ 2:33PM
DaMoKi Bob said...Vigilante: a person who imposes their will upon another without all the messy legal procedures. This is a steep slope slathered with silicone lubricant, goose grease, and little frozen balls of ice. Be advised to avoid it. Those who do not are the real danger. How you live your life is your business as long as it does not bleed over into how I live mine. Regarding my families selection of reading material, I do not need or want to be saved by anyone, and certainly not a 15year old with post-puberty oral issues.
I believe generally, child and adult experiences should be segregated… by a screen more than a brick wall. This would facilitate communication, which is so often missing, and allow time, age and circumstance driven questions and curiosity to be addressed by Mom and Dad.
Those claiming no danger in the sudden exposure of a 15 year old to the concept of oral sex are occupants of the opposite side of the coin from those saying it will scar them for life. What is needed is the voice of a reasonable parent! By the way, where were the parents? They seem to be missing in this story.
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9-17-2007 @ 4:20PM
k said...To those who think "people do not know the difference of doing the act and reading about it" WHY THEN did Jesus say not even to think about a woman in a lustful way whome isn't yours??? Our society pushes the bounds further and further out until one day, if your a nudist, well then you go ahead and show it!! AND I will be wearing very very dark sunglasses when that day comes. Already too much is shown by younger women. It sickens me to walk in a store and see someones butt hanging out of their shorts. And this is coming from a 105lb engaged 19 year old :)
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9-17-2007 @ 6:17PM
KC said...please, i hate how people always try to protect their children form the big bad world. The world is a big horrible place. Im not saying its appropriate for 12 year olds to read, but hey, if a 16 year old would want to read if why not? Its not like they don't already know AND do that stuff anyway. Seriously kids these days know more about sex at age 10 then most adults knew till they were in their 20s or late teens.
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9-18-2007 @ 4:59PM
DaMoKi Bob said...k,
Please reconsider your judgmental nature. Let me pose two questions. 1) Would you let your kids play football? Better not! Leviticus 11:7 says that you cannot touch the skin of a dead pig, (the covering of many footballs), because it makes you unclean. 2) Do you have a younger sister? You had better hope so! Exodus 21:7 says a father can sell the youngest daughter into slavery (See ‘ya).
I suspect you get a feeling of superiority from your higher plane of judgmental existence, but I invite you to plant your feet firmly on the ground of reasonable behavior or you will spend your life in the shadow of your dissatisfaction with others, rather than the bright light of your own individuality.
Best of luck!
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9-18-2007 @ 5:05PM
DaMoKi Bob said...KC,
You make a valid point. Kids are exposed to and posses more adult knowledge earlier than in the past. However, I submit there are a couple of long stone throws between having knowledge and having the emotional stability and maturity to use it appropriately and effectively. Therein is the major concern... I think... It seems parents simply do not know how to deal with it and ultimately do not want to.
Nevertheless, to me the answer will come from the parents not the kids, and it would not hurt if the companies responsible for supplying the exposed material had an iota of concern about its effects on the civility of our culture.
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