Mirror Tunnel(Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikedefiant/; Flickr Creative commons licensed image)
For the next two weeks of our discussion we're going to be using "A Dirty Little Secret: Self Censorship is Rampant and Lethal" (by Debra Lau Whelan, School Library Journal, Feb. 2009) and "The Never Before Published Diary of a Closet Censor" by Melissa Comer. Both articles discuss similar issues, focusing on the fear most of us have about providing students with books that 'somebody' will object to. Please read the articles before you respond to the post. The articles includes the voices of media specialists, teachers, and authors and raise many thought-provoking and challenging ideas.
You may encounter a new word your reading this week: bowdlerize. Way back when, Thomas Bowdler decided that all of the racy bits in Shakespeare's plays were just not appropriate for families. So Mr. Bowdler published his first edition of The Family Shakespeare in 1807, minus all of those bad words that could cause offense. This practice is still alive and well today. Occasionally when an edited anthology is published someone will examine it closely and discover that only certain kinds of content have been edited out before publication. Several companies supposedly sell "clean" versions of commercial movies, although they have been the subject of several copyright lawsuits. In school media centers we all too often hear about the media specialist taking out the BIG BLACK MARKER and marking through offending words and/or passages in books. I was recently making a site visit for one of my practicum students and her cooperating m.s. and I were discussing some new young adult titles. The media specialist told me about one book she'd been reading and that she KNEW that the language would cause a problem at her school. So, she was going to get out that marker and mark through the language. What should I have said to this media specialist? Given what you've shared in your posts on your values and beliefs, how can you guard against heading down the slippery slope of self-censorship?
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First I would like to comment on a couple of things from the articles and then answer the questions.
ReplyDeleteThe Comer article was appalling. I am sure that this sort of censorship happens, but the idea of not exposing kids to things that they (adults) deem inappropriate...wow! And then I could not believe what this article said some people consider inappropriate. I work at an inner city community center near downtown Atlanta. I have 30-50 kids who can't read anywhere near their grade level. I can't tell you how many funerals I have been to of teens in the neighborhood who have been killed as a result of gang activity, but people don't want them reading about a dog dying? I simply cannot believe it. I especially appreciate the line that reads "...deals with real issues and real characters who encounter real problems." Our kids are dealing with issues that most people cannot fathom, yet that is their reality, and we owe them the trust and respect to allow them to choose what they want to read and to allow that book to change their lives.
I went and heard Manual Scott speak Monday night, one of the original Freedom Writers, and to hear him talk about what the teacher brought into the class to get them to read...it was amazing and inspiring.
Okay, stepping off my soap box, now......
To the media specialist in question, I would first be sure she was aware the legal concerns of her action. I would also offer that marking through the words will only want the kids to know what's being covered even more and they will get access to it no matter what. I would also remind this ms about what kids are exposed to in their normal lives anyway, and that reading objectionable language in a controlled setting is not a bad thing. I would also remind her why kids read, why it's important for them to see all types of literature, and ultimately, suggest she not mark through the words. (Then I would probably be asked to leave her library!)
I think it probably comes across in this post that I am a person who is liberal both politically and conservative and do not think I would be prone at all to avoid objectionable topics. I almost worry that I would allow too much objectionable content into the collection, but I would be prepared with a justification as to why I am choosing that book and would be willing to talk to parents with concerns. I have also been in schools where parents do not care what happens, so although that is frustrating at some times, it also gives me the freedom to make choices based on what's best for the kids, not what's best for the parents' thoughts about what's best for the kids.
When I was in high school, I remember reading a book that I felt was rather explicit. Even though it shocked me a little, as I had a very sheltered childhood, I was secretly thrilled at the chance to read something that was relevant to my age group. I am going to think of that time when considering titles that may be controversial, because it really is for the good of the students. Just because a student reads something does not mean its going to change that student's belief system or values. It just brings more awareness and perhaps understanding to the world they live in.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of marking out words in a book is ridiculous – it brings even more attention to the word! As I read the Comer article, I highlighted several points that I thought were especially insightful. A particular point that was made over and over was that most of the things that might be censored are things that many students see and deal with on a daily basis. Most commercials contain more sexual content than any piece of young adult fiction – the same goes for homosexuality and violence on movies and TV shows. As mentioned in other posts, lots of times the parents make a big deal out of things that kids often times just gloss over. The issue is not the students, it is appealing to the parents and keeping them happy! Holly Boykin
ReplyDeleteMy fifth grade class is reading Where the Red Fern Grows by Rawls Wilson. Chapter 13 had several "bad" words as my studnets call them. We talked about how we shouldn't use those types of words and why. It also described the death of one of the little boys. Some of my studnets were upset by this, but it can also be used as a teaching moment for vaules. So many of the studnets are latch key kids that I used it to talk about how you deal with death and that everybody sooner or later will die.
ReplyDeleteI am chuckling as I write this because I have just received the novels I will be teaching next year. My class set of "The Education of Little Tree" has been bowdlerdized. There were parent complaints about the profanity, so to avoid further complaints the literature teacher black marked the curse words.
ReplyDeleteBack to the question at hand... I might would question her understanding of the "Readers Basic Bill of Rights". I would ask her if she has the support of her administration. (Sometimes principals overide what the MS thinks is best, and make decisions that will cause less controversy.)As for the media specialist,I would also suggest she possible revisit the first amedendment.
Censorship will be an issue I will always deal with in my media center. Our parents are overwhelmingly conservative in my system. I'll admit that I would not want to loose my job because the Smith's don't want their children exposed to "gay"themes in a book. I appreciate the fact that Whelan addresses this very issue in her article.(budget cuts, need for insurance, etc.) I agree that parents are the ones that have the hang-ups, but these same parents are who pay my salary. I also agree with Holly Boykin. As public school teachers, we are at the mercy of our parents.I guess if you stick to the thought that "it is not the MS job to impose your own personal beliefs. It is the job of the MS to offer books that are relevant to all students" you are doing what is best for the kids.
I would have reminded the MS that they would be vandalizing public property, infringing on copyrighted material and violating the First Amendment. Keeping in mind those principles, I think I would be able to keep my beliefs from affecting my position as a ms. I also know that offering a variety of materials to students is of much greater benefit to educating them than a restrictive collection. So, within the constraints of the community and administration I am working under I would try to make the collection as varied as possible.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Candace that just because a student reads about something it does not necessarily change their beliefs. It can however help students that need to feel a kinship or sense of self not feel quite so alone or outcast. It may affect one student and have no impact on another but it is censorship to mark out words or sections of a book. Let it go through the accepted challenged book process and do not make the decision to not use a book without due process.
ReplyDeleteIn the last system I worked in when a parent complained about the vocabulary in the novel the LA class was reading, the board told the teacher that she would have to provide an independent study for just that student with a different book. How can the child sit in class for several weeks and not read the same book? So the next year the teacher decided just not to teach that novel. It is amazing to me that just one parent can change the content for everyone.
ReplyDeleteWow - what incredibly interesting readings for the week. I really enjoyed reading about censorship. I agree we should not be the gate keeper of knowledge, but we are still human. I am not sure that we can completely take away our biases and convictions. I do agree with Brittany that our kids face things that are more difficult situations found in many books. However, I am not sure we should force such strong issues like the ones mentioned in the Whelan article. I agree fully with the second Diary article about the author that self censored the manuscript for his daugter and then later for all(quote is listed below). I think that as parents we should know what our children are reading especially if it is a controversial topic. I know I want to be able to discuss topics with my daughter and give her our view of the topic not just some author's view. It has been my experience that normally whatever view is read first or encountered first typically becomes an individual's view. I also agree with Brynn we as educators often give up the fight too quick about controversial issues. Our country is a democracy why can't our schools be run in a similar fashion. Just because one parent is offended we should not change an entire practice or book. "Cormier says, “I
ReplyDeleteknew instantly what I had done: I had been willing to inflict that chapter on other people’s
fifteen-year-old daughters but unwilling to inflict it on my own daughter” (Cormier, 1992, p. 71).
He removed the chapter and “learned the lesson of self-censorship” (p. 71). Of interest, this
same book, even with the self-censored removal of the chapter, heads the list of the most
censored books (Weiss, 2005)."
I think perhaps the only way to truly safe guard against self censorship is to add items to our collection using an advisory group made up of a variety of personalites. Now, we as MS would ultimately be the ones to make the final decision, but getting a variety of input we can make more well-rounded decisions.
ReplyDeleteI had recently read the first of these articles because I came across it while looking for information on books being banned as my district just had a knee jerk reaction and banned a book from the entire district because of one complaint. This did not go through "due process" even though we have a good process in place for this. What's worse, now the next county over has removed it from their high school. Yet another county librarian was interviewed for the paper and said she would review it and decide if it should stay - she hasn't even received a complaint. Now, it looks like my county is going to re-write their selection policy (which was just updated and is pretty good). Our newspaper's second article on this mentioned the Pico case, but reports it was a 4-4 decision and that the case was sent back to the lower courts without a ruling - which seems different to me than what this article says. This issue hasn't been settled here, but being a pretty conservative area, I am concerned about where this may lead.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought would be to tell the media specialist with the black marker to grow up - and that the fact that she wants to be the censor is of more concern to me than the words in the book. However, what I would probably say to her face is, "Are you sure that's the best way to handle this?" and try to start a dialogue and remind her of what her obligations are to her patrons, etc., etc. And in the long run, I would probably be asked to leave just live Brittany in the first post! This whole issue in my county has me fired up! (Some of the info about this was posted the first week in all three blogs - the book is "The Burn Journals.")
The importance of selection policies and media committees, and even in-school committes to decide on what material is selected is growing clearer and clearer. What bothers me is that even with all these checkpoints in place just a threat of a challenge can cause censorship.
ReplyDeleteWell, this is a huge issue! I don't think any MS or teacher wants to be a censor, but they are constantly reminded of "who" is paying their salary. The tax payers, specifically students' parents, do have a lot of leverage in some systems. The MS, teacher, or principal may choose to censor rather than to go through the hassle of a "major" ordeal from a challenge. As the old saying goes, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" and the school employee sometimes gives in to the pressure of public or sometimes private opinions. Because of this, every school must have a strong policy on file to deal with possible challenges.
ReplyDeleteI would ask that MS if she had followed the policy when she used the black marker and if she realizes that she is practicing censorship. One of my fellow teachers was really upset when she received a class set of a new, "popular" novel a few years back. It is a good book that the students love to read, but it had too much bad language in it. Therefore, she went through each and every copy and marked out all the words that were unacceptable. I remember how she complained that she didn't understand why authors had to ruin a good "children's" book with bad language. At the time, I was new to reading and had no clue about censorship and assumed this must be common practice. However, I never did that to any of my novels because something just didn't feel right about it.
Since then, I have had a few complaints from parents about different books I read in class. Many times, it is the students who initiate these complaints because they want to get out of an assignment. I find it very interesting that some of these parents claim that they are trying to guide their children in the "right" direction when , in fact, their "little angel" behaves quite the opposite at school.
Parents usually have another agenda when they complain about such small issues that appear to be the basis of their complaint. We must try not to let this affect our teaching goals or let it affect other students and their education in any way. We must also be prepared to deal with these issues in our schools, media centers, and classrooms.
I agree with Faith Design Photography's post, we are not the the gate keepers of knowledge, and we cannot completely take away our biases and convictions. However I agree with the
ReplyDelete...Closet Censor article by Comer and it has opened my eyes more to what self-censorship really is. I thought the different types of censors example was good:
the- " I know what's best for you type"
" I wouldn't do that if I were you type"
" Don't you dare teach that filth to my
children type"
Even though we all have strong values and beliefs as to what is right and wrong, we need to know and protect the rights of others to have access to a variety of information and differing viewpoints. To answer what should be said to the ms with the big black marker- remind this person what intellectual freedom is and the Library Bill of Rights. Also suggest that if this person truly feels the material is offensive, talk with the media committee about it and follow due process. As stated in the Comer article, our goal should be to foster reading so that students develop into lifelong readers. If we self-censor, we deny those affect the opportunity to learn, think, and grow.
In regard to marking out words in black marker or bowdlerizing a book; I have seen it first-hand. I was volunteering at my daughter's middle school media center when a girl asked if she could talk to the media specialist about why someone would damage a book by blacking out the words in a book. The media specialist told her that maybe there had been some inappropriate words and someone had marked them out. After the girl left, I asked about it and the MS told me that the book contained some curse words and that a previous student complained so the MS took a Sharpie to the words and blocked them out. This was a Judy Blume book and I wish I could remember which one! I wonder how many other books are also bowdlerized in the collection. I do not like curse words either, but understand that at times the author feels such words are needed to convey the character’s voice or to make a point as stated by the article in this week’s reading (by Debra Lau Whelan, School Library Journal, Feb. 2009). Looking back at the situation, I should have brought up censorship and discussed this with her, but didn’t feel it was my place to do so. I am sure she is aware of the issues of self censorship since she is a very intelligent and well educated individual. There is no selection policy established in the school district and this may hinder the abilities of the MS to defend controversial books and therefore it is just easier for them to apply self-censorship to avoid controversy.
ReplyDeleteI often have these same issues about profanity come up in my class. I am a 5th grade teacher and authors in this reading level will often use a curse word here or there. If I come across them when I am reading, then I read them. It is the text and that is only appropriate. However, if I have my students reading in partners or groups, I tell them to either read it or don't. I also try to explain to them that the author is just expressing his/her emotions in the book. We discuss the fact that it is not appropriate to use these words in regular conversation, but some people choose to do this.
ReplyDeleteAs far as blacking out words, I would never dream that I would do this. I have seen it in the past when I was younger, and the other people who have posted are correct...it make me more interested in seeing what was blacked out. I don't think that if the word was left in the book it would have sparked much of an interest at all. I believe when things are forbidden, it makes kids want to do or say them even more! Look at prohibition...did the laws actually stop people from drinking??? You have to teach responsibility with everything, including language.
I really enjoyed this week’s articles as well. Perhaps if the diary writer had continued she would have settled on a safe book such as "Pooh Corner"...of course this is a book about a boy whose best friend is a boy bear who runs around with an over-active tiger, a depressed donkey and underage roo...maybe best to stick with harmless fairy tales - never mind, way too much violence and lets not get into the sexist princes and such.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is although many books are more obvious targets for censors, someone will find something wrong with almost anything. And the words that someone blacks out are probably words that the students have already heard more than once. As so many have stressed, it is not our job to second guess or take the easy way out by avoiding hard choices; our job is to build a media center with books that support the curriculum and hopefully create lifelong readers. We are there for our students and as Scales said “You won’t ever make a difference if you don’t step out of the box…That very book that you thought was inappropriate may be the one that turns a child in the direction that he needs to be going or that gives a child quiet hope about a situation.” That child is reason enough to risk putting the book in the media center.
Of course reality is that, like the librarians in the first article, none of us want to get burned by the experience of a protest. No matter how well it turns out, it will not be pleasant. So it is understandable why censorship slips into our selections. Our aid and protection is a good school policy. If the policy emphasizes intellectual freedom then we have that basis to stand on and refer to. If we have a good media committee that has input on selection, we have them to back us up. And several librarians have assured me that if we have a detailed process to follow when (not if, they say – when) we are faced with the problem, the problem will often solve itself somewhere along the process.
Lately, censorship has become a hot button word especially in regards to books. I think that ms all over have to put aside their beliefs and feelings when it comes to what books should be "black markered". Although she has not said, I think the ms at my school does a good job with keeping "appropriate" books on the shelves. I think it also comes back to a matter of opinion about what should and should not be censored for young children to read. It has been very enlightening to read everyone's different beliefs and feelings on this topic.
ReplyDeleteWow, the media specialist must have felt quite comfortable with her decision to share it with you. If I had been in your position, I would have shared with her the fact that she may be committing an illegal act by altering a published work. I would have also shared that it is impossible to really know what may happen if we add titles to our collection that we feel may be challenged and if a title is challenged, as long as we’ve followed our selection policy, we have protections by a number of associations. Plus, if she censors due to concern of a title causing “a problem at her school,” that censorship can quickly get out of control and before she knows it she will have a media center collection that more closely represents her needs or the needs of those she fears rather that representing the needs of her patrons. Lastly, I would have told her that we never really know how a book may help someone through real-life struggles. An example is the student Carolyn Mackler shared about that is now successfully “working through depression, bulimia, and low self-esteem—and is actually starting to feel proud about her shapely figure” after reading The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things. Dr. Repman, when you feel it’s appropriate to share, I’m very interested in hearing what you did say to the media specialist.
ReplyDeleteIn just my short time as a media specialist, I have already been confronted by how easy it would be for me to self-censor my media center collection due to my conservative beliefs. This issue is compounded because the other two media center employees also have conservative beliefs. In order to prevent this, I am going to have to stay informed about the difference between selection (looking for reasons to include a resource) and censorship (looking for reasons to exclude a resource). I will have to constantly remember that I am setting an example for my patrons and coworkers about the importance of intellectual freedom to support an educational environment where students can become critical thinkers. I will also have to remind myself that it’s not necessary for me to “put restrictions on kids, because they’ll regulate themselves if given the freedom to read.” Also, to create a learning environment that encourages a love of reading, I have to ensure I’m providing resources that patrons are truly interested in reading. Lastly, I will have to educate myself about my media center’s resources so I can intelligently discuss them with any of my patrons that seek my input.
Brittany,
ReplyDeleteIt does seem ludicrous that we would not allow students to read a book about a dog dying when they’re dealing with deaths of loved ones on a regular basis. It does sadden me that such young children are dealing with such devastating events; however, having grown up in Los Angeles, I know how true it is. Often times, I found books to be a beautiful retreat from the realities of what was happening in my neighborhood. We do not have the right to prevent today’s children from experiencing the same type of retreat and we must remember that times have changed; therefore, what would equal a retreat for today’s children is much different than what was a retreat for me.
You’re so right that we would only pique interest by removing access to certain words in a book by blacking them out. In fact, sometimes our imaginations concoct worse things than what were actually written. You being in school where most parents do not care puts new meaning to the term “in loco parentis.” Although I can see how that would be so frustrating, it also provides an opportunity for you to impact the lives of students who probably feel like no one else cares about them.
Paula,
ReplyDeleteYour first paragraph made me smile because it showed the ridiculousness of censorship. There isn’t a single written book that someone couldn’t find something in it that offends them. This brings to mind a statement I read earlier in this class, or maybe one of my other classes. I can’t remember verbatim, but it mentioned something about how empty book shelves would be if we removed everything that had been challenged or could result in a challenge.
While I agree that, as educators, we want to support our students' right to read, we are constantly worried about criticism from parents, administration, and students about the reading selections we make. Both articles address the issue of supporting students' right to read, and I support this one hundred percent. I believe that the media specialist must select books that students will want to read. After all, when a student visits the media center, he or she is free to make a personal choice of books to read. We want them to have access to books that deal with topics that they can relate to, and as others have mentioned in their posts, many of today's students, unfortunately, can relate to profanity,gang life, unanswered questions about sexuality, and other negative aspects of growing up. So, to the bowdlerizing media specialist, I say,"You need to dispose of your black marker, give your students a choice, and be prepared to support your own choices."
ReplyDeleteThe best way to avoid self-censorship has become clearer to me this week. It seems the answer is to have a selection committee. We are all human with our own belief systems and wether intentionally or unintentionally, we will self-censor as part of our thinking process. Now that we are aware, through this class and these articles, we know that we must censor our tendencies to self-censor! As for the black marker MS, I would have asked if she understood the basic principles of Intellectual Freedom?
ReplyDeleteI must admit that, while reading Holes to a fourth grade class, I did edit out several curse words. I had in my class at the time a child whose parents had already stated that Satan lived in our school, and these same parents were caught watching the home of one of our best teachers. What would you have done? Self-preservation or self-censorship?
I hope I never feel differently, but right now, the idea of actually taking out a marker and blacking out parts of a book is appalling. (I imagine writers would be devastated.) I would explain to that m.s. that children cannot be "protected" from language. Children are going to encounter "bad language" in all forms of media and from actual people. And they can handle it. The m.s. must be reminded that a book should be removed or not selected only if it is actually going to cause harm to a child. Is the language in the book actually going to harm the reader, or does she simply not like it? IF so, that is censorship. I believe that in order to make sure that I never self-censor, I would have a clear and definite selection policy based on the principles of intellectual freedom and stick to it. And as has been mentioned in our readings, this will also protect me when challenges arise. I realize that there are gray areas that I will encounter that will make sticking to the policy a challenge. I also believe that is important to read, in their entirety, as many books in the collection as possible. As Comer mentioned in her article, challenges are often based on specific passages in a book when the whole book has not been read or understood. If the m.s. knows and understands the book, it will easier to refute the challenge by explaining to the challenger how the passage fits in to the context and the meaning of the book.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Pauline, I agree about books offering a wonderful retreat for children living in a tumultuous and often times painful world. Children and adults both need such a retreat sometimes! I also agree that children benefit by reading books that deal with death and other painful subjects. Parents may not want their children to read these books because they love them and want to protect them, but they are actually doing their children a disservice because those books can help them lean to cope with death on a child's level in a way that their parents may not be able to. Avoiding certain subjects will only lead to children being more confused about them.
ReplyDeleteCheck out this poster I saw at teacherlibrian ning:
ReplyDeletehttp://teacherlibrarian.ning.com/photo/library-secrets-poster-4?context=latest
First I would have asked her if she had read the book in its entirety. Does she know what the book is about and why it is in the colllection to begin with? I would have asked the ms if she was familiar with the Library Bill of Rights, intellectual freedom, and the 1st Amendment. Then if she said no, you could take that opportunity to teach her about those things and help her see that what she was doing was breaking copyright law and was censorship. I hope that as we want to educate children, we want to help each other learn as well. If she knew that what she was doing was breaking copyright and censorship, then I would have asked her about her selection policies and what the due process was at her school for challenged books. Perhaps she was unfamiliar with these or her school had old, outdated policies. I would have encouraged her to become more familiar with these or to get the policies updated so that she felt better protected and didn't feel like she had to censor what was in the books in her collection.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Faith Design Photography's view that "normally whatever view is read first or encountered first typically becomes an individual's view." I am sincerely hopeful that we are teaching our students in school to look more critically at information that that and to look at all sides of a situation before making a decision. I don't think that if a child comes across a book where children are stealing or lying or where they see that there is a homosexual relationship that they are going to agree with those things or think they are okay or not okay. Lots of other things come into play when a child is trying to decide on what is right and true for him/herself. My daughter and I have lots of conversations about religion, conservation, politics, etc. and I always encourage her to think for herself. I always point out that there are other people with different opinions and that we are neither right or wrong about what we think and believe, just different. I really want her to grow to respect the differences she sees in others, not judge or believe that just because someone believes something different than her that she is better than they are. I hope as teachers we are all working toward that same goal with all the children we teach.
To rebeccarussell31-I agree with her statement "I also believe that is important to read, in their entirety, as many books in the collection as possible. As Comer mentioned in her article, challenges are often based on specific passages in a book when the whole book has not been read or understood. If the m.s. knows and understands the book, it will easier to refute the challenge by explaining to the challenger how the passage fits in to the context and the meaning of the book." Only by being knowledgable about the content in our library can we intelligently defend our selections and avoid cesnorship.
I have always loved book stores, libraries, and reading, in general. I did not once think of becoming a Librarian (and that blows my mind) until four years ago. I was a volunteer in my daughter's school library. I re-shelved books and straightened things up when the Librarian wasn't there. Our school only had 32 students back then, so the Librarian was only there two days a week. One day, I noticed a book lying on the printer behind the desk with a note on it. The note said, "Take this book out of the system and throw it away." At first, I thought it was damaged somehow, but the more I looked it over, I couldn't find anything wrong with it. Turns out, a parent (of a fifth grade student) had complained to the school secretary about the use of the word, "sex" in the book. The secretary, without asking the Librarian or the owner of the school, just decided to rid the school of the book. Well, I took the book home with me and read it in about 45 minutes. The book was about 100 pages long, and seemed to be aimed at 10-14 year olds. The mention of the word sex, came when the main character in the book was telling her mother that she didn't think that Rhett took Scarlett up to play chess or some board game when he carried her to the bedroom. She was pretty sure that they had sex. That was it. Less than half a page, and the book was condemned. I raised a big uproar, as a parent, and the book was put back on the shelf. A month later I found out that the secretary had secretly taken the book back off the shelf at some point and thrown it in the trash in the cafeteria, so the book would be ruined. That's when I became somewhat of the Library guardian, and ultimately the Librarian.
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say, censorship is a HUGE, HUGE, hot button for me.
The "Dirty Little Secret..." article made me nuts. I realize that I'm in unique situation in that I'm in a private secular school, and my Principal actually ends the tours for all perspective students and their parents in the library and says, "We do not ban books here." I'm also pretty sure that is a direct result of the hissy fit that I threw years ago when I asked the owner if we were we living in 21st century America or Hitler's Germany. In all fairness, the owner had no idea the secretary had done that, and was just as horrified as I was when she found out. By the way, that secretary is no longer at our school. Back to the article, I was stunned to find out that the survey done by the School Library Journal showed that 23% of Librarians won't purchase a book for their library because of personal objections!!! What?! I know I shouldn't be so nieve, but that made me mad. Then there's the whole gay issue. Librarians get around purchasing books about gay issues or characters by saying, "It doesn't fit in our curriculum" or "We don't have any gay students." How do they know they don't have any gay students? They don't, or they do, and they just don't want to admit it. This just makes me crazy, and it's down right criminal in my eyes. It's a form of discrimination plain and simple. I could go on and on about this topic, but I'll step off that soap box for now.
We don't ban books, but parents can keep their children from reading them...for now. One parent would not let her child check out any books until she had read them first. If there was any mention of death, specifically, the parent would not let the kid check the book out. This kid was in the fifth grade, by the way. The parent said she didn't see the reason for children be burdened with death at such a young age. The other parent won't let her child read anything that she doesn't research first. She says that because of their religious beliefs, her child can't read materials that will "corrupt" her. It doesn't sound like they really have that much faith in their beliefs to me, but I do feel sorry for the kid. The quote from Sonnenblick, "These parents don't want to believe that their little darlings know this vocabulary so they edit reality," had me saying, "YES!!" , when I read it. I don't l know what will become of some these children when the protective bubble is finally popped, and they have to see and live in the real world.
As for the Media Specialist with the marker, I would have asked her if she was crazy. I really would have. I would have also asked why she chose her profession. I truly don't see myself succumbing to the temptation of censorship no matter how much I disagree with something, or if I think I'll lose my job. I'll find another job if it comes down to it, but I don't know if I could stand myself if I don't stand up for what I know to be right. My husband tells me I'm obnoxious that way. My school is secular though, so we do avoid religious conversion sorts of materials, but that's it. That just reinforcing the separation of the Church and State though.
I really enjoyed these articles though. It made me open my eyes a bit more.
I would first refer her to the county selection policy. Hopefully, this policy would be clear enough for her to make a judgment call. I like Kelly Outzs idea of having a selection committee. This committee would need to have a wide variety of personalities and political and religious backgrounds. The main goal of such a committee should be intellectual freedom. I grew up in a very "censored" household. My parents did not allow me to watch Gone with the Wind because of the one scene, Frankly my dear .....
ReplyDeleteSo, coming from an overly protective family, I understand parents concerns. However, I was not adequately prepared for the real world either. I went to a Christian school until I entered a public high school in 9th grade. Boy, was I in for a schock!!! I had no clue what the real world was about because I had been sheltered all my life. I think this is where common sense should come in to play. Today's generation is not unlike my own. They are curious, questioning, and anxious to make their own mark on society. They need characters they can identify with. I don't know any teens who do not use curse words. And I don't know any middle schooler or high schooler who does not think about sex or have a conversation with friends about it. I think by leaving controversial topics open, students will be more tolerant of people who are different from them. I also think they will make better decisions because they will be better prepared to do so. After all, it is our responsibility to foster independent thinkers. How can we do this, if we stifle their creativity and free thinking? It scares me to think of what we might miss out on because we are afraid of the possible consequences.
I have to add a slightly off topic bit of information about The Education of Little Tree (mentioned in Delta Casey's post). This title has been controversial b/c of the background of its author. If the book is read as a work of fiction, that's one thing. If it is read as a biography that's something else all together.
ReplyDeletehttp://archive.salon.com/books/feature/2001/12/20/carter/print.html
The articles we read were enlightening to say the least! I can not imagine taking a black marker to a book, but I'm not sure how I would react if my principal told me to do it-guess I'd be looking for another job or do it to keep the one I had. Something to think about, for sure. I would have probably asked the MS if she was crazy too! Lol. I'm rather impulsive that way, and sometimes I speak before I think, which has landed me in trouble more than once! I would have asked her about the First Amendment, as well as the Library Bill of Rights, and that students have the right to make decisions for themselves. I agree with Candace and Renee about just reading a book will not change a persons belief system. We need to trust kids to think for themselves and make good decisions, but if we censor everything for them, how will they ever learn to make good decisions? Out job is to pick resources that support our curriculum, and help these kids become life long readers. If we don't accomplish that, then we haven't done our jobs.
ReplyDeleteBobbie, It’s wonderful that you feel so strongly about preventing censorship in your media center as all media specialists should feel. What that secretary did was absolutely wrong and I was thankful to hear that she no longer works at your school. However, I have to admit that your comment, “My school is secular though, so we do avoid religious conversion sorts of materials, but that’s it” seems like censorship to me. If your media center were challenged for not carrying “religious conversion sorts of materials,” would your selection policy be able to support this stance? Does this stance reflect the needs of your patrons?
ReplyDeleteI agree with much of what Faith Design had to say about the MS not being the gate keeper of knowledge, but like she said, I also do not believe that we can take away our own biases and convictions. Many of us stated in last week’s postings on our wrestling with our own values and beliefs that we would have a difficult time selecting some materials b/c of our values and beliefs. I believe that it would be difficult not to be guilty of some self-censorship. Many of us confessed that it would be hard to select books with certain religious beliefs. Therefore, we would be guilty ourselves of self-censorship. I agree that it is not the MS job to impose their personal beliefs but to offer books that are relevant to all students and to meet the curriculum needs of the students. I do not believe that MS should mark out words in books either. Like someone else said, that just draws more attention and curiosity from the students. They are more likely to check out the book just to try and figure out what is blacked out rather than to read the book.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Paula about our aid and protection to parents wanting books banned is a good school policy. A good policy will emphasize intellectual freedom and a process to follow when issues like the ones from the articles this week arise.
I just have to add a comment about the one who wanted the book banned b/c of the book scrotum. I teach 4th grade and most of the boys probably wouldn’t even know that word. They have many other colorful words than that to relate to that part of the body! Now that is a ridiculous reason for wanting to ban that book!
I like what Faith Design says about the only way to truly safe guard against self censorship is to have an advisory group made up of a variety of personalites. I like that idea. I believe that our teachers should definitely have a voice in selecting materials.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Paula about making sure you have a good policy in place to back you up and having a process that is clear. Whenever there is a a good policy and process in place, then hopefully the needs of everyone are met in the best way.
ReplyDeleteWow, I have so many thoughts that I am not sure where to begin, and we don't have enought time for all of them.
ReplyDeleteFirst to the MS with the marker. I would do the same as many of the above and ask her if she was familiar with her district's policies. As well, I would try to have a friendly conversation about Intellectual Freedom, and copyright laws.
I think that such censorship really makes our students even more curious. I currently live next door to a family that doesn't allow their children to listen to or watch anything from Disney. My children think they are crazy, but they are still good friends. I have just told my children not to take such things to their house, and I have tried very hard to respect their wishes when they come to our house. However, recently, we were gone for a couple of days and when we returned, things just didn't look right in our house. We chalked it up to messy children and went on... the following weekend, we left for the day, but one of my children grew sick on the trip, and when we came home we were quite surprised to find their oldest daughter (7 years old) camped out watching Disney in our living room. (we have hidden key and she knew where it was) Obviously, we walked her home to tell her mother, but sadly their children are no longer aloud to play outside of their fence. I believe this is what happens when we try too hard to protect our kids. They will end up exposing themselves and there will be no education or parenting that goes along with it. I think being a good MS doesn't stop with just putting the books on the shelf.
As a 5th grade teacher, I have to admit, I too am guilty of omitting words when I read aloud to my students. Not that it makes my actions right, but, I really consider the novel I am reading. If the book just has curse words for the sake of curse words, I have to consider the backlash. There are other times I have read the words and then explained why the author may have used them in these situations. In Bridge to Terabithia, it is important for the students to see the two different types of parenting.
In today's society, we cannot place our own beliefs and values on everyone. All children are not going through the same issues and it is not our place to decide what is good for one, but not good for another. I currently have a child in my class who just moved to our county. He lives with his two fathers and he has had a very difficult time adjusting. It is important that he reads books about his life too. I think the idea of a selection committee can help a MS to have a broader look, but I also think such a committee can help hold such censorship to an accountability.
Wow, the story of Asa/Forest Carter shows just how careful we have to be. I read the book and saw the movie. I really liked both and thought them important, now I don't know how to feel except confused and angry at being misled by an author who took lied for his own advantage.
ReplyDeletePauline said:
ReplyDelete"However, I have to admit that your comment, “My school is secular though, so we do avoid religious conversion sorts of materials, but that’s it” seems like censorship to me. If your media center were challenged for not carrying “religious conversion sorts of materials,” would your selection policy be able to support this stance? Does this stance reflect the needs of your patrons?"
The students at my school come from many different (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc.) religious and non-religious backgrounds. Religion rarely comes up at our school, because that's not what we're there for, and it's not what our parents and students are there for. Probably the number one question that is asked when parents call our school is, "Are you affiliated with any church?" When we say we are a secular school, people seem to be genuinely relieved. Maybe that sort of literature will be an issue once our high school is built, but somehow I don't think so. Most of our families seem to understand that religion is a personal thing that is taught and discussed within the family and their place of worship. We do have a religion section in our library. It has Bible stories in it and Greek and Roman Mythology but there's nothing there preaching that one religion is better than another. If our library was challenged for not having any religious literature that's purpose was to convert the reader, I'm pretty confident that our owner would tell them that there are an abundance of religious private schools in the area if that is what they are looking for to improve their child's educational experience. However, our school's goal for our student's is to master the skills necessary to become independent and resourceful thinkers. That is clearly stated in our general school policy.
My school is only six years old, and up until this year, we have not had a library policy of any kind. That is in the process of changing thanks to this class. Religious conversion material will be addressed in the policy.
The realities of the "self-censorship" issue to me boil down to issues of job security. Few media specialists would be in a financial position to risk sudden firing over adding a very controversial book or allowing very explicit words, photos, etc. to their school's collection. It is in the best interest of everyone to avoid such situations as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteHowever, with cases in which books with high educational merits also contain some material that might be controversial, I think it would be best for all concerned to address the situation with a school media committee, principal, or even the school board if needed. As long as a media specialist has the support of the principal and/or school board regarding a particular book, he or she should have nothing to worry about. From what I have seen and heard, media specialists that have gotten into trouble over such matters have not exercised good judgement and sought proper counsel on the matter before adding a controversial book to the collection.
After reading the Comer article, I was surprised about Where the Red Fern Grows being so controversial. I remember my 4th grade teacher reading a chapter a everyday before lunch. I can not imagine taking a black marker to cross out words within the book or any book. I believe it would make the kids more determined to find out what the black marks were covering and causing more chaos than leaving the book alone. I really like what Faith Design Photography said about" not sure that we can completely take away our biases and convictions." We have to remember it is not about us but about the readers. In Information Power, it states that "Attempts to restrict or deprive a learner's access to information representing a variety of viewpoints must be resisted as a threat to learning in a free and democratic society." As far as a comment being made to the ms, I would have asked about her policy regarding challenged books and what she thinks about Intellectual Freedom. I would also, for future reference, have a media advisory committee to help discuss such issues so that challenged materials addressed would get the proper treatment so that all involved would feel validated. I believe that the committee would help relieve some of the stress or self censoring feeling that most ms' feel when having to deal with such an issue.
ReplyDeletesleighbelle- Stacy Eastwood
ReplyDeleteFaith by design and Kelly O. both made good points of having an advisory committee, or a selection committee to select materials for a media collection. I think that it would help tremendously by taking the weight of choice off the shoulders of one person and place it in the hands of a large group of people all of whom have different beliefs and ideas of appropriate literature. An advisory group would allow for more discussion about a selection prior to automatically ruling it out because it might be objectionable to someone.
Several have been up in arms about the black marker used in books. I have personally seen several books marked up and it makes me sick. Although I don't agree with profanity on a personal level, the author chose to put the words in the selection to convey a meaning and by marking it out you are altering the author's view. I have seen several teachers who don't mark out the words, but refuse to read them aloud in a classroom setting. I feel that if the words are said in context with the book selection that the book needs to be read as written.
The Diary article really brought home to me the idea that any given book can be the subject of a challenge. It was almost ridiculous how each book had something someone would find objectionable. Have we as a society really become so judgmental? With all the different religions and lifestyles that make up America it seems that every book ever written could have something objectionable in it to someone. That is what is so great about literature, it allows us to think beyond what we find acceptable and gain some understanding of others around us. When a child is exposed to only one viewpoint, or one side of an objectionable subject, how are they to ever learn to process and decide for themselves what is right or wrong?
I know that my section of the class has heard me talk about this before, but for the benefit of the other sections, I am volunteering in a school library that bought an entire collection of books from a Christian school. In my attempt to help weed these books, I got to the dinosaur section (which I LOVE teaching) and was appalled to see that the phrase "millions of years ago" was blacked out with a marker. Apparently that goes against the idea that God created the world in exactly 6 days and then rested. Come on! What a tragedy that children are being robbed of knowledge and information. Let them help decide what is true and what is not for them. Your posts have reminded me of that for sure as I have read your experiences.
ReplyDeleteFirst, let me say that I believe I will struggle with these same issues being addressed. I will have to remember the audience I serve and make sure that my selection policy is being utilized when considering a book. I always try to take the book as a whole and not extract one part so I can censor it. I would also like to have an advisory committee which consists of differing viewpoints, religions, races, etc. This will help me monitor myself as well as others.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what several of you have said that books help students grow, deal with personal issues, etc. and can often be used to help students. I personally have used some books to do this and some parents may have found offensive but never complained. One year I had a very "clickish" group of girls, so I ordered the books Define Normal and The Girls. Of course I read them first, read reviews, etc. and yes there were a few cuss words, and no I didn't use a black marker. I did,however,explain to the girls that some language was in the book that they might find offensive but the author was using it to prove the theme of the book. No parent or student ever complained. These books changed the attitudes of some of my students and continue to be widely read in my classroom. One year I had a group of boys who were beginning to display signs of gang affiliation, so I decided to order a book that dealt with a student who struggled with this issue. The book Trino's Choice continues to be one of my most read books by struggling readers. One reluctant reader came to me and said that was the best book he had ever read in his life. Why? It was his life in a book-he was struggling not to join the gang and had actually witnessed a shooting. As was noted in the second article, any book could probably be challenged if studied long enough. That's why our audience, selection policy, and reconsideration of materials need to be fully addressed in our policy so we have a plan when it does occur.
On to what I would have said to the ms. I believe I would have started with questioning her so as to lead to a conversation. If you often begin with accusations, you lose the person you are trying to convince. I would ask her how she decided to mark out these words. Is it addressed in the school's selection policy? Is this always handled this way? How do kids handle this? In her opinion does this infringe on the student's intellectual freedom? This would hopefully have her questioning what she is doing without feeling attacked and allow me to share my beliefs and thoughts as well. I believe that the next time the marker was used the ms would think about our conversation and the school's policy.
Such an interesting Wow! Such an interesting topic. I think I could read on censorship all day long!
ReplyDeleteTo the MS with the black marker. I would ask, is this a common practice in your media center? I would also ask why put the book on the shelf if you know there is going ot be controversy. I would also ask about administration, does it support to black marker practice? Coloring through words only makes them more pronounced. Students will ‘fill’ in what they think it maybe – and at times are worse than the original.
I think censorship is what makes a selection committee so important. You are not solely responsible for the books in the library and can not be ‘charged’ – hehehe for lack of a better word – for censoring.
I think marking out passages is such a shortsighted, archaic practice! If a book is deemed age appropriate, then in my opinion, the Media Specialist has no right to question it's use with students.
ReplyDeleteAs discussed in the article, many times the very items being marked out are the ones of the most interest to students. I feel we are doing a huge disservice to our students if we feel that we have the right to decide what they should be allowed to read within a certain text.
Students are inundated with sexual and violent stimuli online and television, most of the time when these topics are covered in books, they are less explicit and more positvely thought provoking.
I feel the protecting our students Intellectual Freedom is one of the most important responsibilities we take on as a media specialist and cencorship works in direct oppostition of this goal.
I agree with Jessica, if you have a well staffed selection committee with knowledgable members, then many of these issues could be avoided. If the board policy is to trust the decisions of this committe, then that takes the guess work out for the Media Specialist.
ReplyDeletePosted for Jess Miles, whose computer woes continue:
ReplyDeleteThat sounds a lot like when I was in school. We had dictionaries, I kid you not, that a former Media Specialist went through with a marker a “blacked out” inappropriate words, like sex, homosexual, and even heterosexual. It wasn’t like we didn’t know what those words were. It actually became a game to see who could read the most through the marker.
I would mention to the media specialist is that she has just made those passage, regardless to their point in the story, IMPORTANT. Students’ eyes will be drawn to these passages and they will look them up. The issue has just become important. I also agree with Teresa Maddox that dealing with these topics offer students a chance to grow. But to ensure they grow and learn properly, we have to make sure they learn in context. If blot out part of the book, they will get a skewed version of what is in the book. It is important that we not censor a book, instead let these “controversial” sections lead into discussions and become a learning experience.
In a sense, that is what censorship does. The more issues you raise with a book, the more spotlight you put on it. That is why the self-censorship articles hit me so hard. In writing classes, we are told to “Go for the jugular.” We are supposed to write stories that mean something and talk about controversies. In those classes my own writings dealt with abortion, drug abuse, death, etc. We learned to not censor ourselves, though it is tempting to do. If librarians censor that work, they have done the same thing as burning the book. It erases the book.
However, when we are in a media center, why do we self-censor? The more I look at it, the more it seems like it is to avoid confrontation. Sure, we want to protect kids, but most have already heard of subjects like death and sex. Or do they skip that in Life Science now? After reading about how schools didn’t see a problem in asking an author to not discuss their work and then act like it was no big deal, I just couldn’t believe it. Why would you invite a writer that you are censoring?
I agree with Jessica, JB & Ryleigh that a committee would relieve some of the pressure. It would remove self-censorship, but how would a committee be picked? How could we guarantee that the group would be diverse in ideologies?
In my second year as ms I really have to work hard at selecting books without forcing my values and beliefs on my patrons. After reading the articles and other posts I can understand why this is such a huge issue in the world of school libraries. My main focus when selecting books is to make sure I am choosing books that meet our GPS standards. I agree with other posts in that a committee is helpful when trying to decide if a book is appropriate for our elementary students. Keeping in mind that our patrons come from a variety of backgrounds and have many personal "situations" should be a reminder to all ms to be open-minded about materials to have on the library shelf. The majority of students can deal with a lot more than their parents "want them to" deal with.
ReplyDeleteCindy Pletcher
ReplyDeleteSarah,
Your next door neighbors are doing such a disservice to their children by limiting their TV watching so extensively, and access to the outside world. What will happen when Mom and Dad aren't around to "protect" them? They'll experiment, just like the child did, but possibly with worse consequences.
Jess Miles,
I loved what you wrote about the MS and the dictionary. It makes me think back & wonder if my HS LMS had any "black-outs". She fit the mold of the old spinster librarian to a "T". I think that you are 100% right - as soon as the students figure out what the black marks mean, it certainly does put the spotlight on those parts.
How can I guard against heading down the slippery slope of self-censorship? I think that the first step is being aware that it can and does happen, so that I need to be careful to prevent it. I would also be sure that I had a good selection and reconsideration policy to back me up along with a selection committee to help review these controversial titles. I really understand the part about being worried about losing your job if you don't have the necessary support from the principal and the superintendent. Sometimes it certainly seems easier to just avoid the confrontation. I loved what Debra Whelan said about "parents don't want to believe that their little darlings know the vocab, so they edit reality." Was she sitting in our school listening to the parents whine and complain?
What should Dr. R have said to the MS with the black marker? Before I said anything, I'd make sure that she didn't have it in her hand, so that I didn't end up wearing some of it. I think I would bring a cup of "coffee" and have a chat with her about IF and try to get an idea of where she stands on the topic, and take it from there. Sometimes you have to speak your peace, and other times consider the source and realize that the only thing you'll do is get your own blood pressure up.
The idea of having classroom teacher input on selection is an awesome one. The teacher's feel ownership toward the collection and THEN if anybody has a problem with the works in the center there are others responsible besides just the MS! Yeah!
ReplyDeleteI think that if a topic makes us uncomfortable – it’s all the more interesting and worthwhile to read. I feel like, in this world there are many “uncomfortable” realities that my students face each day. Unlike students at other schools or kids in other communities, my kids are not censored from harsh realities at home and I do not intend on censoring what goes into my collection. Dr. Repman, I would have asked the MS you talked to why she felt she needed to black-out certain words in the book. Was it her own judgments? Was she afraid “they” would object (like the article discusses)? Did she feel the words or subject matter would be harmful to students? Lastly, how would you feel if you authored a YA book and someone else took the liberty of blacking-out your words?
ReplyDeleteI like that Jessica brought-up the idea of the selection committee with regards to censorship. I think it’s important to note that the people on the committee should be acutely aware of their own judgments and beliefs because I can think of many teachers in my school that would choose books to force their views and beliefs on students.
ReplyDeleteKelli,
ReplyDeleteI agree with allowing teacher input also. Thank you JR for the article on Carter. This gives me a whole new perspective to consider.
I really like Pauline's idea of looking for reasons to include a book in the collection rather than looking for reasons to exclude a book from the collection.
The articles and posts this week have been very interesting. The discussion last week and this week have really made me think about what I will do when faced with book challenges and ordering. I can see how over the years it would be easy for an MS to slip into censoring books without even realizing it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with many of the points made. Blacking out words and sections of a book just draw attention. I don't recall encountering this growing up, but it did make me think of my high school Spanish class. We would watch videos every week that were made to help people learn Spanish. They were like a soap opera, but with very tame content. Occasionally their was a kissing scene. Our rather eccentric teacher would run to the front of the room and try to fast forward through the kissing scenes while muttering "ay carumbia" (spelling?). Needless to say, the class could not wait for the kissing scenes because our teachers reaction was so funny. Unfortunately, I did not learn any Spanish, but I can remember exactly what my teacher looked like as she sprinted to the front of the room to fast forward the video.
As for how to broach the topic of blacking out words and parts of a book, I really don't know. It would need to be done very carefully or the MS would just get defensive. Starting a discussion about the right's of the reader would be a good way to start. Maybe that could lead to a friendly debate on the subject.
I was glad the articles pointed out that reading can be very important with helping young people realize that they are not alone. Others have faced the same tough issues. Reading can definitely be therapeutic.
Since I started this program I have been watching the media specialists at my high school very carefully. Since I know one of them very well, I know her beliefs and what she stands for. I have had discussion about censorship with her. I understand now that there will always be something in literature and the resources in the media center that directly contradicts my beliefs, but it should be available for all of the students because of its informational content.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading a book in 11th grade that shocked me with its explicitness and crude topics. I know now that it is a classic and I know what it is about, but when I first read it I was shocked. I think that opened my eyes a little to the wealth of information that is available through public school media centers.
When I was in 10th grade one of the movies that we watched in Biology had a scene that was uncomfortable. When the scene was over, our teacher just explained that what was shown is part of life. I remember that because the teacher was calm and did not try to shield us from something that we would eventually encounter.
I will probably struggle with trying not to censor the sources in the media center by what I believe to be right, but that is what the selection committee and the second media specialist can help with. I will be glad to have many people to keep me in check and help me to make all the information that the students need available whether or not it corresponds with my beliefs.
This is really a tough subject. It's hard not to let personal beliefs and values get in the way of the books we choose to carry in our Media Centers. However, getting a marker out and marking through all the bad words in a book should not be the answer. I know that most people that do this kind of stuff are truly trying to "protect" the kids that might read it. But, what are we protecting them from? All this does is to keep them from reading it now only for them to find it at some point later on. I also think that if kids are allowed to read about certain issues(such as drugs, sex, violence, etc.) and see how they affect the characters in the book, they may be less likely to get involved in them. The only thing that will come from sheltering a student from these issues is more curiosity from the student. They might as well read about it first.
ReplyDeleteTo the media specialist blacking out words, I would remind her of the students' rights to intellectual freedom and point out that marking out words is censorship. I would also make the argument that marking out the words draws more attention to the words and raises the students' curiousity level.
ReplyDeleteI do think that I will have a hard time not unintentionally censoring what is purchased for the media center. Being a parent myself, I would always be thinking about whether or not I would want my child reading that - kind of like the author who censored his own manuscript before his daughter read it and then ultimately censored the final book. In order to keep myself from censoring, I would remind myself of the students' right to intellectual freedom and the library bill of rights. I would make it a point to remember that not everyone shares the same values and beliefs and try to see both sides of the issue. I agree that books can help students deal with issues they are facing. I also agree that it is ridiculous to think that kids live in a bubble and aren't exposed to controversial topics everyday. Lastly, I agree that simply reading about something doesn't change one's beliefs; therefore, there are many reasons to include a variety of topics, even controversial ones, in the media collection. As others have stated, I think a media committee would be beneficial as would teacher input.
When I was growing up, my mom took me and my siblings to the library and/or bookmobile ALL the time. We also received gift certificates to book stores at Christmas from my grandparents every year. We grew up with tons of books as we read all the time. We were taught to treat books with respect; we were never allowed to leave them lying around on the floor with bent covers. Books were precious as they were a gateway to our imagination. I shudder when I see writing in a book, so the thought of someone actually taking a black marker and marking through words just horrifies me. To know that the black marker represents more than just "writing in a book" is also horrifying. I honestly believe that if the media specialist in my school was to do something like this in front of me, I would immediately ask her (in a not so nice tone) "What do you think you are doing?" However, to be professional, I would ask her if this was something that she did regularly and what the procedures were in the school (or county) for "getting rid of" questionable material.
ReplyDeleteI am certain that this self-censorship happens far more often than what we are aware of. I have a friend that just finished this same program over a year ago. In her first couple months on the job, she removed a book from the shelf that a parent did not like. This friend of mine went a long with the parent and agreed that the book did not belong on the shelf. Our county has a wonderful handbook with strict procedures to follow when a book is questioned. Absolutely none of that was followed. Quite disappointing!!! I do realize that it is far easier to just remove the book or mark out words that parents do not like, but kids need to be aware of what is out there. You can teach your child that curse words are wrong to say even if they are to read them in a book. Kids will learn if you teach them.
You all have raised some valid points that I feel I need to comment on. First, I don't believe in cutting out words while I read aloud. I believe it is the author's interpretation and I am going to respect that author and read what he/she wrote. Even if the curse word is for the sake of cursing. Trust me, the kids have heard and probably said worse!
ReplyDeleteThe comments about an advisory committee are exactly true. There should be a committee in place that deals with the issues that can be raised about a particular book. My school happens to have one of these, but they don't seem to actually do the job that it was intended to do. Over time, I feel that a great idea can change based on a requirement or lack of focus. So, yes, a committee is ideal, but it also has to be a committee with a goal and purpose in mind!
"Just because a student reads something does not mean its going to change that student's belief system or values. It just brings more awareness and perhaps understanding to the world they live in." I completely agree with this quote. I think every student in the world should be required to read books outside his/her comfort zone just to be made aware of the content in these books. I don't believe this will change their view, it will just open their eyes that there are other thoughts and beliefs out there.
I had an instance that came to my mind as I read this quote. Earlier this year, we read Ghost Cadet (which is an amazing book!!). One of my parents would not allow her child to read the book because he is a Jehovah's Witness and they do not believe in ghosts. I told her that this book did not condone the belief in ghosts and it might be good for him to read it in order to broaden his horizons. She said no. I asked another lady who also happened to be Jehovah's Witness and she told me that their belief is that they are their child's protector until they come of age and being that she was in charge of his belief system, she was not willing to allow him to read a book that may make him question these beliefs. So I had to find another book for him. I think it was not right for this parent to censor the book for her child, but my administrator told me that there really was nothing I could do. Was he right in telling me this? Was I right in finding another book for him? How does this fit into first amendment rights and all that???
Mrs. Davis,
ReplyDeleteYour comments about how you were taught to respect books brought back memories for me. I was also taught to respect books. I would never have dreamed of writing in them and never dog-eared their pages. And, you're right about taking a black marker being even worse. In my media center, I'm afraid that many patrons do not respect books like you and I were taught. The condition some books are returned to us is shocking! Even more shocking is when the patron doesn't see it as a big deal (that is until they have to pay for the damage). With that in mind, how is a media specialist that blacks out words in a book any different than a patron that damages a book? What kind of a example is being set? Even without knowing that blacking out words in a book is censorship, my respect of books would prevent me from pulling out the black marker!
I actually appreciated and agreed with Brittany's comments about how some students deal with way more issues than inappropriate content in a book and how we, as adults, could possibly decide for those children what should be considered inappropriate. I,too, have dealt with inner city kids as well as those who have been taken out of undesirable living conditions. These kids have seen, heard, and done things that I cannot imagine. I don't truly think that keeping books away from them shelters or helps them in any way. Kids who live in desirable homes see and hear things they shouldn't, and you can barely turn on the tv these days without sexual content and language being an issue. As my husband and I routinely say, "some people just have to have something to complain about." Same with those who come to the mc and complain about curse words or topics they think are delicate being in books their kids will read.(Those same people probably purchase video games that depict far worse!)
ReplyDeleteTo the ms who wanted to mark out words she was afraid would cause controversy, I honestly think I would have been speechless. I feel like Pauline, my respect for books would have kept me from marking it up. Our budget is too tight to mark up new books because of fear of reprisal from a complainer.
I also wanted to comment to Nikkilynn that she is correct, in my opinion, that we should all read books out of our comfort zone. That is how we grow.
If I were present when a media specialist vandalized a book, I would hope I speak up and explain why the author chose specific language. If she chose to continue destroying certain text, she was destroying the individuality of the character. This is truly illustrated in “A Dirty Little Secret” when readers realize the emphasis and anger behind the sentence with a curse word – the impact is just more – and yes, it is necessary.
ReplyDeleteEven though I consider myself to be a very open-minded person, I do sympathize with media specialists who debate over what is appropriate for a specific age group. I think that it is even more difficult for me because I do not have children, and I am at times clueless when certain ideas and language are introduced to children – especially since children seem to be exposed to what was once considered adult ideas at younger ages. My struggle is not a matter of keeping things away; it is knowing when it is the best time to introduce new topics and ideas. This struggle is made even more difficult when various pieces of literature and journals make different age recommendations. So where are we to turn? Should all media centers in a county buy the exact same books so that a united front is presented?
I am not really sure how I will prevent myself from falling down the slippery slope of censorship. As I previously stated, I am confident that my open-mindedness would assist me in choosing a variety of literature; however, I can also see myself wanting to avoid backlash from parents. I think that a well-defined district selection policy will be most important.
By the way, the mere mention of the banned books in the first article makes me want to read them immediately! That is the beauty of saying something is off limits!
The articles for this week’s post were very interesting. The media specialist said that she KNEW that the words in the book would cause a problem that is why she had to take out the black marker. Sometimes, we think too much. How does she KNOW that it would have caused a problem? We put our own values on others. If I was reading a book when I was younger and the words were marked out, I would probably have tried harder to figure out what the words actually were. It would have probably gotten my curiosity up more. When if she had not marked out the words, I would have probably read the words and went on my merry way. If I would have been standing by her when she said this, I would have probably looked at the media specialist in a shocked manner that she would have known that I thought it was ridiculous that she was doing this. I would have probably talked to her about Intellectual Freedom and copyright issues. Some of the books that were listed in these articles, I would be leery about letting kids read them based on my values but you never know what book may change a child’s life. We have a tendency to try to protect children but the children of today know a lot more than I did when I was there age. Books that interest students, even if they are topics such as these, may help a child become a life long reader versus making them read books that don’t interest them.
ReplyDeleteWorking at Barnes & Noble for four years has given me insight into people complaining about books.
ReplyDeleteI am one of the most sensitive people you will meet. When I receive criticism, I don;t cry because it hurt my feelings, but cry because I realize the high standard I set for myself has not been met. However, when I am out in public, as I was working behind the counter at B&N, I am able to put on a hard shell, and not take things perosnally.
Sunner reading was ALWAYS the bane of existance for any bookseller at B&N. Avanced Placement teachers would send us their required/summer reading title and it was always inevitable that we'd have returns over language. I did not write the book, so I don't see what the issue is. Of course we'd also have people who would complain about our company being too liberal. Funny too, because the B&N sales motto is "We do not censor." We'd have people who'd complain about the Playboy cartoon anthology (shrik wrapped) being on a display table for Father's Day, but yet also have people who would try to find the MOST contorversial book in existance and ask why we don't have it in the store (ummm sales...). Election season would always bring about issues as well. Oh we are a liberal sotre because we have x amount of books that bash one candidate, or x amount of books that promote candidate x. The Bush/Kerry election was a very difficult time, and thankfully I became a SAHM and quit working before the McCain/Obama showdown. Another popular thing for people to do at B&N, is turn around the books of issues/people they don;t like. A few years ago a Hillary Clinton book came out, and for a week we would constantly find the table displays turned over or shelf displays turned around where the cover could not be seens. There also a popular avatar on the 'net that reads "I got kicked out of B&N for putting the Bibles in the fiction section," yes that would happen to us too. And there was the one time when an entire shelf of the homosexuality section went missing. we foudn the books neatly stacked by a trash can (not in the can, but beside it -- good thing we had small trash cans in the store). i think people have waaaaay too much time on their hands. Anway, those experiences have given me a tough shell to public outcry over "book issues."
I'd have to remind the MS who is blacking out words that she is vandalizing material, blockign stduent's rights to the 1st Amendment, and trying to predict the future when she cannot.
What I find the most silly, is people who complain about characterizations in books. Not language, nit "mature situations" but charcter traits. I had a cusotmer at B&N who returned a set of Junie B. Jones books, because she didn't like thst the character of Junie B. said the word "stinky" and was bossy.
I lso like was a previosu poster (PP) had to say abotu setting our values onto someone else. That is not our duty to do.
I do love how Candice said it - "Just because a student reads something does not mean its going to change that student's belief system or values". I could not agree more. And it has also been mentioned by a lot of others here and I think it applies that reading something you do not believe in can only strengthen what you DO believe in a little more. Parents of today's school children have the opportunity to make just about every decision for their kids from allowing pictures, attending dances,and participating in extra activities both on and off campus. The explanation that they can also choose what books THEIR and not EVERY child reads from the media center should be enough. And we have been taught that it is. And I am just liberal enough to hope that will never be an issue for me.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that having certain things read in a controlled setting (class, or when the kids discuss it around you) is the best case. You can support why something is "good/bad or desirable/undesirable". It is not like years past when you could manage, if you wanted to, what information kids were surrounded by. These days information comes from everywhere, is constant and it usually up to date. It makes sense to me that they get it in the form of reviewed (because some would still argue the term "quality") sources.
The articles for this week were very interesting and enlightening. I agree that having very definite selection and challenged books policies will prevent the media specialist from being afraid to meet the needs of ALL students.
ReplyDeleteThe situation at my school (and probably most) really upsets me. Many of our students live in really run-down neighborhoods. There parents are rarely home and never contact teachers. The students take care of siblings. They roam around the neighborhood, buy, sell, and do drugs, and visit their boyfriends or girlfriends without any supervision. Most of them are very good, sweet children at school, but we have the hardest time getting them to read.
There is also a group of students at our school who are the children of the PTO moms. They go to dance classes, play softball, etc. There parents are very protective. The parents are always at school, and if they complain, there needs or wants are quickly addressed.
While I understand the desire of parents to protect children, I do not agree with self-censorship. I am very conservative and have always been very picky about my reading. However, last summer, I had to read a few controversial books for a class. I loved them. I could relate to the books due to problems I had in my early teens. As I read the books, I thought about my students who these books would apply to. I would just read and cry because the books were so real. Now I have a collection of challenged books.
Why should one parent or media specialist determine what other students should or shouldn't read? The complaining parent is usually not representative of the general population. The parent may have no idea what other students are facing. When students read, in their minds, they become part of the story. It's like the book is about them, and through that experience students can find help and understanding in so many situations. So my advice to those who mark out words is that you are not only taking away part of the character or book, you are taking part of the reader. I feel Blume's concern for the books that may never be written, which may mean students who never find themselves or someone who seems to understand. I do often think that the best authors are those who can address real issues that real kids are facing without being too explicit or vulgar.
This has been a wonderful discussion. I think that this is going to be one of our toughest challenges as media specialist.
ReplyDeleteThere can be a fine line between censorship and selection. It seems that my county, which just banned a book without using it's own policy for this, is now going to change the selection policy to "prevent" this kind of problem in the future. It will be interesting to see what they come up with, and more interesting to find out how the media specialist react to this. As mentioned by others, it is hard to rock the boat these days with all the budget cuts.
It also seems strange to me that so many people seem to want to complain about the language or actions in a book, but those same people let their kids watch tv shows, play video games, or see movies with the language or action in it anyway. Do they think it affects them differently if it's in print? Like Kelly said above - kids are surrounded these days by all kinds of information. The best thing a parent can do is to try to talk to their children about what they might be reading (or watching or hearing) and keep the lines of communication open. Not always an easy task with teenagers, especially.
On another note, I am amazed about what softballrr13 said about the way people act at B & N! I especially can't imagine carrying a stack of books and leaving them by the garbage can. I don't get to B & N much since I have moved here, but spent a lot of time there in Orlando and haven't really noticed this as a customer, but now I want to go to the controversial sections and see if I can spot someone moving things around. I guess now I have to wonder if the public library has this problem, too.
I believe this is one of the hardest parts of being a media specialist. We have to put our personal beliefs to the side and use our professional evaluations of what is best for the school, students, and faculty.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the other comments about the need of a selection committee and a strong policy should be in place. No one person should shoulder the responsibility of placing a book of controversy on the shelf.
Age appropriateness should also be considered. For instance, a book such as "Forever" by Judi Blume should be in a high school media center. I could see a big controversy if it was placed in an elementary media center.
I was brought up with strong christian beliefs, but I love to read about other religions. It doesn't mean I am going to convert to Judaism just because I read about it. Reading any type of literature should promote thinking. It does not have to mean change. However, the society we live in has become so diversified that even our mc should keep up with this change. As a classroom teacher I see a range in ethnicity, single family homes, teenage siblings of some of my fourth grade students become pregnant, and same sex parents. The society is changing and we must realize that we are not all the same and must offer our readers information related to these changes that may affect their lives.
What to do? Remind her of the reader's rights and ask if the book has been challenged -- isn't that the reason to have a policy in place? I think more on this subject now than ever before since taking this class. How do you keep yourself from self-censorship? Be aware of the school climate, appropriateness for that student's age, and be ready to defend your choice. I probably wouldn't choose a book to see if it would cause a problem, but if I know that I have students that it could help I would have my defense ready just in case.
ReplyDeleteBecky Henderson -- boodlesblatherings
These readings were definitely interesting. The children/students in our world today face many things I would have never faced as a student. Looking around, you can tell that the times have changed. Children and teenagers today often read books that they enjoy based on content or themes. When a student chooses a book that appeals to their life, I do not feel as though a teacher should step in and tell them they cannot read the book. Yes we often look around to make sure we as teachers are not going to make another person mad by allowing him/her to read a specific book. That student could be searching within literature to find some unanswered questions he/she might have about life. If the student is not comfortable talking to other about it, a book might be the safe route.
ReplyDeleteI was shocked to hear about using the marker to black out parts of a book. I feel if teachers and media specialist do that, it is drawing more attention to those words. Instead, use the word as a learning experience for the students. Before reading, have a discussion about how curse words are inappropriate and cannot be used on the school grounds. If students understand they are inappropriate and hear them in the book, they will know to skip over it and go on. I do not think the marker is the way to go on this situation. I also believe that a teacher can sensor as he/she reads. I a book you are reading aloud to the class has inappropriate parts, edit those parts out as you read aloud to the class. This does take planning on the teachers part to read ahead and know what is coming, but it will benefit the students in the long run.
I have also had a MS take a black marker to books in our media center. It is true that usually this only makes the student more intrigued to figure out what they're missing. It also ruins the book b/c of the marks bleeding through.
ReplyDeleteI believe that most of us would be lieing if we said that we have never practiced censorship of some kind as parents or teachers. However, I believe that as a MS we have a responsibility to make sure that our collections reflect society even if the subject is controversial. Most students have been exposed to bad language, sexual content, homosexuality, etc. via movies, television, and/or in their own families. We can't ignore a segment of society just because we may not agree with their choices. We have to allow children to explore and learn through literature, and it is important that students are able to read about people who are similar to themselves.
However, I did note in the articles the importance of choosing books appropriate for the ages of the students we work with. As an example, the middle school MS who decided to add a book to her collection that was really more appropriate for high school students. That wasn't a good idea. The age of the child MUST be a consideration when ordering materials.
As far as students reading books with inappropriate words...whenever I had students bring books to me that had vulgar language or cuss words, I always pointed out that many people speak using inappropriate language, but it isn't something that they (nor I) should do. This was a good "teachable moment." They are going to be exposed to things so we must teach them how to respond correctly. Most of the time, they won't make a big deal about something if we haven't made a big deal about it.
I believe that censorship is probably going to be the most difficult thing to overcome as a MS. As mentioned, I certainly don't want to lose my job over a challenged book but I do believe that we've got to encourage intellectual freedom.
While I don't believe gay lifestyles, profanity, or violence should be condoned or encouraged in any way, I also agree that students should be allowed to read any text deemed appropriate for their age level.
ReplyDeleteI found the articles to be very interesting and very familiar. For example, I know our m.s. is guilty of using the "big black marker." Earlier this school year, I told her that an eighth grade student had reported to me that his library book contained several "bad words" and I asked her what we should do. She replied that if the book had 10 or more bad words, she would use a marker to blacken them. At the time, I thought this was appropriate. (I had not taken any media courses yet and was familiar with other books having marked words.) Now, I realize this isn't the appropriate steps to take.
I am currently completing a novel unit with my 8th grade classes on That Was Then, This is Now by S.E. Hinton. While students love the books by S.E. Hinton, this book contains some profanity. Instead of marking through the words, I simply skip over them when reading or substitute a "lighter" word. Each student has a copy of the book and can plainly see what is stated in the text; however, I don't feel comfortable saying the words aloud to my kids. Am I guilty of censorship? I certainly hope not.
To the media specialist in question, I would probably respond by asking if her school has a selection policy and reconsideration policy in place? If so, then I would advise her to use those guidelines in determining which books to purchase for students. If the book in question meets the needs of students and supports the curriculum, then it should be made available.
Teresa, I really enjoyed reading your post! It sounds like you did a great job of searching for materials that were suitable and fit each situation well. I also liked the way you researched the books before introducing them into the groups. That is probably one of the reasons that you never had complaints by parents.
ReplyDeleteI know that there are many books that I probably wouldn't have picked out by myself but once introduced by someone else, I loved them! Sounds like you did a great job of this!
I agree that a committee would be helpful in "keeping us in check" on the issue of censorship. They could also help circumvent problems before they arise.
Censorship in the school media center seems to be a sticky area. It is a challenge that I never imagined, and I clearly see how some librarians fall victim to it.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading Whalen's article, I must admit that I was a little shaken by the content of some of the books described. However, one key thing stood out to me, and has been mentioned in several posts, students can handle sensitive subject matter. Adults try to dictate what they should and should not read, but, for some, these "hot button" topics are a daily part of the teenage experience. (I speak from the vantage point of a high school teacher.)
Therefore, as media specialist,we have an important job to defend students' rights, and that starts with not participating in self censorship. I will do this by reminding myself that it is not my job to put by belief system on display. My job is to provide materials that will give insight into all human experiences, even those that I am not necessarily comfortable with.
Commenting on Candice
ReplyDeleteI remember reading a few things that were racy as well. Those things didn't taint me or make we want to go and do the things I was reading about. If anything, it made me appreciate even more clearly the value system I had. It helped solidify in me that there were some things I would and would not do and I had go reasons for making such decisions.
The same will be true for many students that we meet in the media center. They have a right to freely select reading materials. We should not stand in the way of them being exposed to materials that may be beneficial in helping shape themselves.
As an educator and future m.s., I must admit that I was shocked and appalled that a media specialist would even suggest marking out the words that are deemed inappropriate from a text due to the fear of making parents upset. First of all, marking through the text would be the destruction of school property. Secondly, it is a violation of the First Amendment. Lastly, I would remind the m.s. that there is media center committee involved in the selection of material for the media center and it would be in the best interest of its patrons if the media specialist, as a member of this committee, brought to its attention that if a parent does not like the content of a book, due process must be followed. It is the only way our society can make any progress in getting our students to think for themselves and trust that they are capable of making sound decisions, no matter what books they read.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to censorship, I have to agree with the ALA’s Caldwell-Stone—censorship should only be used when the content is blatantly illegal. Students should be allowed to read any book that is reading-level appropriate—not necessarily age appropriate. I feel students are sheltered from too many things now, and I think we tend to take political correctness to unnecessarily high extremes.
ReplyDeletePart of me finds it hard to believe MSs really mark-out “obscene” words in books; but, I would not be surprised if this tactic were taking place in my school’s MC. I think we give parents, administrators, and board members too much control over the content of MCs. Parents are good at parenting, administrators are good at managing a school, and board members are good at managing a school system—none of these individuals are qualified to determine the appropriateness of a book. Many individuals ban books because they conflict with their beliefs. Beliefs are a personal aspect of our lives—they do not apply to all individuals. Parents and administrators need to understand this as well.
When we censor books, we are keeping real-world content out of the hands of students. When we become politically correct, we enforce negative attachments to the banned alternatives. I do not believe in “curse” words, and I hate it when articles in newspapers and magazines blank out letters in these words. We all know what the word means, yet they censor the words for those who do not want to see them. If I were to say “shit” in public, many people would find that morally offensive; however, if I were to say “poop,” nobody would blink an eye. We have associated a negative attachment to a word that has the same meaning as its alternative words. If anyone reading this comments feels I should have written “s**t” instead, then you might subconsciously support a form of censorship.
Many people do not want kids reading about sex. I understand where they are coming from; however, sex is a very real part of students’ lives, especially those in middle and high school. Homosexuality is another hot topic these days. Many heterosexual people want these books banned; but, what about the homosexual individuals who support these books? The role of the MC is to serve the students. By not providing books on this topic, you are performing a disservice to a specific class of readers.
Last but not least, we, as MSs, should not have to fear disciplinary action for challenging a banned book. I was glad to hear the ALA has a special fund setup just for these types of situations. Many school boards and administrators will side with the parents just to prevent uproar; but, they frequently fail to remember the students who would find pleasure and a sense of connection from reading these book are left behind.
I have never really thought about how I choose materials for the media center as a form of censorship until I started this program. At my school we have a committee vote on whether a book should be removed from the collection (if it is a controversial topic). Our county has banned all schools, classrooms and mc's from having a Halloween displays. We can have books on Halloween, but we cannot make a special display of them. To me this is a form of censorship. Not because I am a huge fan of Halloween, but I am not a horrible person because I was exposed to costumes and trick-or-treating. There are some really great pieces of literature which would be just as effective if the "language" wasn't in it, but if the author's chose to use it, we should honor and respect their writing.
ReplyDeleteThe Wheeler article has a very appropriate name, censorship is a dirty little secret. No one wants to be accused of censoring materials BUT, no one wants to have their collection challenged so we err to the edge of caution. One quote that stuck out to me was "Librarians need to remeber that it is not their job to impose their own ideologies on the kids they serve or to parent and protect them." This is so true! We cannot parent our students, that must come from home. As a mother, I understand the difficulty that this places parents in, but if I have done my job right then my child will not be swayed in her beliefs by anything peers, teachers or books. It also is not my job to dictate what other people's children get to read! What are we teaching our children? That we don't trust them to make informed decision? Isn't our mission to educate children into well informed adults capable of making responsible choices? It is so unfair that to not stock different types of titles in a collection, that we take the decision from the student. It would be no different if I snatched a book out of a child's hand. Now saying all that, I am in a county with tremendous parental involvement, so it would be difficult to make a decision to stock books that would be objectionable, but how do you know what book is not okay? I feel like if you follow the procedures in place for selection of materials then you have done your job.
ReplyDeleteThis topic is very timely for me because I met a former student of mine in our media center,who had me for 8th grade ELA Honors and is now in 10th grade. She asked me to help her because she is writing a persuasive essay about the importance of intellectual freedom and the ability to read banned books. I told her that very subject is a topic we are sharing in this class. We talked about what Intellectual Freedom means and what it means to censor material. We talked about topics that get the most censorship. She read me her first paragraph, and I think she has the making of a good persuasive essay.
ReplyDeleteThe articles about censorship are eye-opening to say the least. I have never thought of myself as homophobic, but I did not really consider the fact that my mc collection would need to include well written books about sexual orientation. To think about reading these materials and putting them on the shelves makes me reach beyond my comfort zone a bit. (Although I think I need to read them for just that reason). I teach in a very small rural community. I think the possibility for challenges to these types of books is possible... but at least that would mean the parents of our students ARE reading! The articles made me realize that to be a great media specialist means to be open to books we may take personal issue to and still order and have them on the shelves anyways. Keeping in mind what is good for my students helps me to get beyond my personal biases and learn from the controversial topics I will have on the shelves of my future media center.
I can understand a MS not wanting to make "waves" in the school with the administration or parents over the subject area or language in a book. But, this does not make it an acceptable practice. Do I think that I would be a censor, hopefully not, but the articles do make me think about it. Although I do have my personal beliefs, it is not up to me to decide how my students think and what they do or do not believe in. There is a big world out there with lots of different people and ideas, and as the person in charge of enhancing a child's mind by reading, it is up to me to keep my mind open when selecting materials for the MC.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statements that we are not supposed to impose our personal beliefs onto our students, but we also are given the task of choosing age appropriate books for our students. There are some books that are too sexually explicit or violent for students in middle school. How do we know when we are being overprotective (self-censoring) or making good collection decisions? It seems as though now looking at the situation in which I'm not in, it would be very easy to make the tough decisions, but would I really follow through? As a single parent and the sole income provider, could I put my family on the line. I really hope that I will make the best decision for my students, but I understand the feelings of those self-censoring media specialists.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I may contradict myself a little with this post. While I do have a hard time with certain topics I find myself not as worried or alarmed with bad language in books. I guess you could say I have been a little desensitized by all that you hear on the radio and TV. It saddens me to think of someone defacing books by marking out the words. Like Mrs. Davis, I was brought up to take care of my books. I do not earmark my pages (hate this), write my name in them, or use them as coasters! Simply marking out a word is not going to protect a student from anything. They hear these words on a daily basis in most situations. While I would not mark out the words I have found myself censoring what I read out loud to a class. While they may hear these words at home I still think there are certain things that should not be said at school. From experience when I have read questionable words or phrases it stirs up the students with giggles and laughing. I guess this qualifies as border line self- censorship. To clarify while I do not want to read offensive words to a group of students, I believe there is more to worry about than whether or not they read these types of words.
ReplyDeleteWhen responding to the media specialist with the marker, I would say, "Do you remember what self-censorship is and what your school policies/procedures tell you to do about challenged books?" "You might want to rethink about the BIG BLACK MARKER." Adam states, "if everyone had the right to veto what he or she didn't like, nothing would be left." Having guidelines to follow in the media center when problems arise are important. I have learned first hand by working in the media center this year that rules are not desired by adults, especially when they are not what is wanted by the individual. They believe they can do what they dared well please, but I can tell you I am by the book kind of girl. I have fought and stood my grounds on several issues this school year and we are currently updating our policies and procedures due to incidents I have encountered.
ReplyDeleteTammie, I appreciate you reminding us of Adam's quote "if everyone had a veto..." It made me think about that in terms of the even bigger picture. What if people had the right to black out TV shows because they didn't like them, or take the books out of book stores because they disagreed with their beliefs. We would end up losing most of the material out there. Just this week, I noticed that we had a children's Bible in our MC. I had never noticed it before. It was the kind that is mainly pictures and gives simple sentences to describe the stories. It dawned on me, my media specialist allows this because she believes in it. I then took a trip to see if we had any books on religions of the world or other religions, and I was sad to see that there was only one reference book (the kind that can't be checked out). This is a form of self censorship as well. Who are we to decide that what we believe, is the ONLY thing to believe. This really broadened my perspective on this issue to an even greated degree.
ReplyDeleteSarah we have two Bibles available for check out as well as books on religion. For example Easter books and witches. This school year is my first year in the media center and my principal made a statement about Halloween books. "Don't display them or allow check outs, but you can read them for storytime. I ignored her comments and went on about business in the media center as usual.
ReplyDeleteI go back and forth on this issue. I admit that I've conveniently left out certain words when reading aloud to my fourth graders-There are certain things that I really don't want to expose really young (elementary age) children to, but I also want to give them the chance to experience different types of literature. This is a tough question for me!
ReplyDeleteThe previous comment from melcain47 was from Melissa Otwell-Sorry!
ReplyDeleteBrynn: I completely understand your position. With the economy the way it is, it is certainly far easier to do whatever makes the fewest waves. We were actually told a couple of months ago at our faculty meeting to be positive on the job, and that if we could not, there were many people that did not have a job waiting in the wings to take over. While you want to do what is right and not censor, you also want to please your superiors. This is really tough!!!
ReplyDeleteTammie - good for you for showing and checking out the books!! It was gutsy given the econony - as Brynn pointed out - but to not allow a book to be checked out is the same as banning it and taking it off the shelf. Why else is the book there? And does your principal realize that if you read the book at story hour 15 - 20 students hear the story, if it is checked out only one reads it, so I don't understand her reasoning at all. I would love to know the reasoning behind the principals ban - was she totally against Halloween or are you in a school where parents or outside forces were pressuring her.
ReplyDeleteIn reading our question as well as postings for this topic, I can SO put myself in the shoes of Candice McPherson when she commented on reading books with explicit words in high school as a bit shocking due to her sheltered childhood (which I too had), but secretly being thrilled at a chance to read and enjoy something that was not only relevant to that age group, but along the same lines as what others were ‘into’. That was my first reaction to this week’s question too.
ReplyDeleteI also very much agree with scestechlabreflections in that more attention is paid when something is notably different or purposely prohibited. Undue attention is then given rather than perhaps discussing why that term or word was used, why it is inappropriate in most context or how the author used it for emphasis on either the character’s life, historical relevance, etc… and moving on.
Finally, Faith Deign Photography made an excellent point in that safeguarding can only be done when following the proper channels; that being an advisory group or selection committee, followed up by selection criteria policies. I think that is what I would have had to bring up with the LMS that mentioned pulling out the big black marker and relieving the book of it’s problematic language. I would have inquired about the district’s policy on book selection and asked if this book had been chosen through the proper channels, what he/she was worried about. That is why we have selection committees and policies, to preserve the integrity of our choices as well as to ensure freedom for the readers while maintaining a defense for the LMS should a challenge arise.
Shelly
To tell you all the rest of the story...I told the m.s. that if she believed that there were words she should mark out in the book it would be better to simply not include the book in her collection. Of course we also have patrons (students or teachers) who will take their own personal markers to titles too.
ReplyDeleteYour comments about making waves in tough economic times certainly are true today. And really who would ever want to be vilified in his/her own community b/c we have purchased a title for our media center that has become a huge issue? But at the same time, the bottom line is the first amendment and our basic rights and freedoms as US citizens.
Great discussion everybody!
I really enjoyed reading the articles this week. I feel like the librarians of the schools I attended could have written them.
ReplyDeleteI am from a very small town. I went to a small private elementary school where the BIG BLACK MARKER was something that my classmates and I were very familiar with. I remember finding phrases in books and actually showing them to the librarian so she could black them out! Isn't that crazy!?! It wasn't until much later that I realized this was very wrong. This is the reason I am strongly opposed to blacking out words in books.
In dealing with a librarian who uses the BIG BLACK MARKER method, I would suggest that she set up a committee to handle issues such as these. The committee could decide whether or not the book was appropriate for the school collection.
I definitely agree with others who have posted that blacking the words out only makes kids more interested in the blacked out words.
I hope I always feel as strongly about this as I do now.
I also wanted to share this quote:
“Fear of corrupting the mind of the younger generation is the loftiest form of cowardice."
-Holbrook Jackson
The articles were enriching an brought my awareness to several issues. I couldn't imagine watching an elementary or middle school students check out certain books containing topics that I deem as inappropriate. But I know that I have to do. As a Social Studies teacher, terms have come up in class that I have tried to skip over or speed through. Most of the words the students catch and ask. Sometimes I answer with hesitation and sometimes I tell to write it down and ask their parents. With 8th graders I usually answer them when I taught younger students, I sent the note home. In February, an original Freedom Rider came to speak to my students. He mentioned castration as a form of lynchings. Several students asked what did the word mean. I try to expose the students to society but I am still hestitant about certain things.
ReplyDeleteI definitely do not agree with the big black marker. Students should be exposed to life and life experiences in their reading. Parents need to be aware of what their children are reading so they can share it with them. I would tell the MS that it is vandalism to mark the book. If a parent did it, they would have to pay for the book. As several others have posted, I believe there must be a selection committee. One person's opinion is never enough. Bringing other to the table with differing or similar opinions.
It was hard to believe that Judy Blume's Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing was almost banned because of the death of the turtle. Media specialist feel threatened by how the parents are going to respond to the books the children are reading. Our students need to be exposed to various literature because it just might help them with an issue they have or to just help them understand what is going on in the world around them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with ORhonda about how students should be exposed to life and life experiences through their reading. I also agree with that it is a good idea to form a selection committee, because this will allow you to see where others stand on the issue.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I can remember I don't think that I ever encountered a book with blacked out words in any of the libraries I have been to. I do know that if I had encountered this, I would have worked really hard to find a copy of the book without anything blacked out so that I could see what I was missing.
ReplyDelete“Fear of corrupting the mind of the younger generation is the loftiest form of cowardice." I really want to thank SWMcWilliams for this. I know that there are some adults who never discuss the hard topics with their children out of fear. These children are going to find the information that they need someway, and personally I think it would be better to hear it from a trusted adult or parent. Cowardice should never keep us from discussing anything with the children in our lives. We need to take a hint from them and be brave. They will be better off for it. This can translate directly into the media center by making information available that can help students through some tough situations and times in their lives that they are most likely to encounter during the time that they are in school. This is a hard thing to do, but definitely worth it.
I feel that I lived a sheltered childhood and having the opportunities to read things that were on controversial issues and may have been viewed as inappropriate by some, was sort of an excitement to me. Reading those books on certain issues didn’t change me or my beliefs, just like it may not for other children who read them. It just opened my eyes up to the many different opinions and thoughts that people have on the same issue and them many different issues that are in the world around me. This childhood experience will help me when considering books for my collection that may seem controversial to some. From personal experiences, one book isn’t going to change you as a person unless you decided to change yourself. These books give children more knowledge about the world around them. Sometimes I am concerned if I would allow too much controversial topics/issues in the collection. I know I would have my reasons for the books if brought up by someone. I feel that you have to try and make the best choices of literature for what is best for the kids in today’s world not what the parents think because times are different than they use to be when they were growing up.
ReplyDeleteAs a future MS, I appreciate the wake up call of this week's article. I would not have really thought about including this type of material in a school media center but I see how important it is to include. Not only for students that might be searching for their identity but for all students. Not including these books would be as bad as marking out words with the black marker. It is the same problem - censorship. I would have had to have pled ignorance but now, I have no excuse. I do think that it is amazing that some people still think that homosexuality is a chosen lifestyle that could be influenced one way or the other by reading a book.
ReplyDeleteSWMcWilliams...I completely agree with you! What an excellent quote! In fact, that might make it into an interview in the future!! :)
ReplyDeleteWow I've been on Spring Break and coming back to such a hot topic is very intriguing. While reading A Dirty Little Secret: Self-Censorship, I agree that everyone knows someone who bypasses good books due to fear of raising a "stink." This is my first year teaching, but I've already had some encounters with self-censorship. During college I read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and I really wanted to read it to my class this year. However, after talking to my lead teacher (who I borrowed the book from), she said she would not recommend reading it. She said when she read it as a teacher she omitted words for the sake of the children. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this. We teach in a small town suburban area and I can understand the concern with "raising a stink" with second grade parents. However, I do believe that my students could reasonable handle the situation.
ReplyDeleteAnother situation in my own classroom library, there is a book that labled a "jack ass." Of course second graders where shocked, but I left the book in the libarary and talked with them about how words are used in context to define their meaning and that that word "ass" can be used inappropriately, but not in this situation.
The article that talked about how her students have seen teen suicide in their own area, but she refused to let them read about it made no sense to me. By allowing the students to read the book, it would open up confersations that the students will remember for the rest of thier lives and could even save a life.
No matter if we want to face it or not we are all human..we all have the same basic intincts and needs. By allowing students to openly talk about their thoughts and needs it could prevent future mistakes.
Kayla,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about talking to kids about words in books. My 3rd grader reads constantly and she has been encountering words in some books (harry potter is the most recent) that are curse words. She comes and tells me about the occasional bad word that she reads and we talk about why it was used, etc. I feel like you must expose children to some of these words so that you can teach them what is appropriate and what isn't. How else will they learn? maggie davis
I enjoyed reading the articles and the discussions. It was great! I would not agree with the media specialist using the black marker to cover the words. I would ask her to follow the selection policy and then also to let the media committee look at it. I know anybody will try to protect their job and would not want to risk it and that's why we have policies in place. If she selected the book she should keep it and may be nobody would have questioned it and if somebody would question then she can follow the reconsideration process of challenged books.
ReplyDeleteAs many of you mentioned that the marking would cause more curiosity and students will be more keen trying to find out what words are covered and may replace them by more inappropriate words.
Last month in my daughter's class they were reading the book "Sounder by William H. Armstrong" and one of the student's mother sent a note to the teacher saying that she would not want her daughter to read the book as it had a curse word. The teacher simply emailed the media specialist and let the girl choose other book. That girl was my daughter's friend and she shared this with her. My daughter came home and asked me about that word and I took that as a teachable moment to share with her that it is a bad word and now that you know you should also make sure you don't use it as she was not aware of it before.
The purpose o sharing this incident is that even though we want to make sure our children are reading appropriate books but sometimes it also helps them to be aware of the wrong things if we discuss with them why it was used and in what situation and also explain them why it is not appropriate.
Aysha
Mrs Davis, it is so true that we respected books so much that we never left them lying or even thought about destroying it. I agree when you said "Books were precious as they were a gateway to our imagination." There is a saying in our country that if you can't respect the books then you can't learn. Now when I see students not respecting the books and throwing them or I have also see students kicking and standing on the books. I get very upset and tell them how important it is to respect the books.
ReplyDeleteI believe the same thing that Danielle mentioned that reading the controversial books is inappropriate to some and is exciting to that reader. I agree that reading those books shouldn't change their beliefs but instead it makes them aware of different issues that are in the world. With so much access to technology and different media, we might stop them from reading but we can watch them all the time so it is better to help them lean to make appropriate choices based on readings.
I really don't understand her thinking when she talks about blackening out words from a book. This makes kids more curious and it certainly makes them focus on the one part she did not want to be noticed. I would have told her to leave it as is and deal with what comes from it. Also, I wonder if this is the same thing as self-censorship. I have been reading a book and come across a word that I know students would be shocked by. I have skipped that word and kept going as though it was not there. I too did not want to deal with parents who have received mixed up information from the students. I was not wanting to be the one to explain what certain words mean and clarify what the author was saying by using that word. I wonder if this is the same. When a librarian includes titles and items that deal with sensitive issues in the collection, they may not necessarily be the one around when the student wants answers to certain questions. They can direct students to ask their parents if questions do come up. However, during a read aloud the escape is a lot harder. I am sure I could come up with something, but I think this is my way of avoiding the issue.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading "A Dirty Little Secret," and the one quote that stuck with me is: "The truth is, no one ever really knows which books might end up changing a kid’s life, helping him find comfort, or gaining a better understanding of a subject."
ReplyDeletein response to what should have been said to the MS with the marker- you should have asked her: "Now that you have removed the inappropriate words from the book with your marker, can you also use it to mark out similar words on television, the radio, and in your students' homes?"
I feel that books are an art form that should be fully expressed. Some books are racy and inappropriate, but they correspond with the lives that some students have to live. I would definitely look at a book for its content before choosing it, but I would not reject it because of subject matter. If it is meaningful to life, it might well end up in the media center. Bowlderizing books these days is a waste of time too, because students can put the words and ideas together.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Shelia’s post. In many of the smaller communities, there is certain pressure to “not” include controversial media and in truth the MS has no real choice. For fear of getting on the wrong side of administration or even with the local BOE, many MS choose not to challenge them for fear of losing their job. I believe I would be equally as worried that a parent might come across a book that underwent the “black marker” treatment and recognize it as a violation of copyright laws. Many parents have strong beliefs on this subject in favor of inclusion of all information. I would be afraid that at some point I would be defending myself in a lawsuit. Better MS focus their attention on not avoiding controversial subjects, rather using them to educate the public and administration on the ethical responsibility of offering balanced information in our libraries.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t realize that media specialist in the United States actually blacked out words. It reminds me of how surprised I was on my first trip to Saudi Arabia when I found books and magazines with words blacked out and pictures of women with blackened arms and legs. These were for sale at a news stand. I’ve always had this image in my mind of a large room with men setting at long tables going through books and magazines with a sharpie. Not something I would expect in the US.
ReplyDeleteI think that I would need to remind the media specialist that we have basic freedoms such as those protected by the First Amendment. I would also remind her that we are not the thought policy and that we need to do the opposite and promote the free exchange of Ideas.
I know that it will be difficult at times for me to not be a sensor. I plan to follow my counties selection policy and to provide my students with a broad spectrum of ideas and viewpoints.
After hearing many opinions expressed in this blog and talking with several students, teachers, and media specialists concerning this topic, I have come to the conclusion that the whole idea of “self-censorship” needs to be redefined. Moreover, the “self-censorship” as presented in the context of the Whelan article is not “self” censorship at all; rather it is “imposed censorship”. I say this to make a point. Those who are censoring materials by discreetly avoiding potential controversial materials or using the “black marker” technique are not censoring for themselves, rather they are imposing their beliefs on others. They are choosing what they feel is appropriate for their patrons to see, and it appears they do it for two basic reasons; deep convictions (usually religiously based) or they are non-confrontational and do not want potential problems (wimps)…Sorry
ReplyDeleteAnd it's illegal!
I think one of the most valuable lessons we can teach our kids is how to “self-censor”… you know… just deciding for one’s self that, “this is something I don’t want to know about!” An example of personal self-censorship was, when at the beginning of the Iraqi war I wouldn’t watch the beheading of our boys that were posted all over the Web. It wasn’t that I couldn’t watch, it was because I just didn’t want that image permanently etched into my memory.
We need to teach students to think, choose wisely, have informed opinions, and not to believe something just because they are told, but to look for reasons to believe. We must teach them to know “why” they believe what they do… to exercise their intellectual freedom.