Parental advisories (was Self-Evaluation)

[jillily3g]

> Lynn:
> 
> I find the problem with banned book lists is that
> they seldom list the reasons why someone thinks
> the books should be banned and also seldom
> differentiate between an overall ban or an age
> specific ban.  All the books are lumped together
> and then you hear the huge outcry.  When a book
> list comes out that actually lists reasons people
> gave, most of the time you find that parents are
> asking that certain books be moved from the
> children's section to either the young adult or
> adult section due to inappropriate material for
> that age group and have not asked that the book
> itself be banned from the general population.

This was my experience with a book my daughter was supposed to read 
for her "accelerated" class. I didn't ask that the book be banned, 
but because I asked for a conference with the teacher regarding the 
content, the ALA would have considered that I "challenged" the book. 

As the parent of a 14 year old, I am especially intrigued by 
the "Young Adult" label. Who exactly is a young adult? And as 
regards the class, why is it assumed that, because they 
are "accelerated" readers they are accelerated in their maturity as 
well? 

I find it increasingly challenging to walk the line between 
overprotecting her and not overexposing her to the evils of the 
world. For example, last year she noticed that _A Child Called It_ 
was being passed around some of her classmates. She asked me if she 
could read it, too. (She asked! I was so thrilled.) I did what I do 
with movies I'm unsure of: I researched it. I told her that from 
what I understood, it was a pretty graphic depiction of abuse and I 
really would prefer that she waited until she was older. She wasn't 
happy, but as far as I know (and that's the sticking point, isn't 
it), she didn't read it. 

Was I wrong to "censor" her? I don't think so. She's a very 
sensitive girl and I think there are things that would haunt her at 
a time she feels powerless to change them. I don't think that's a 
lesson she needs right now when there are so many other positive 
things she could be focusing on. 

As a side note, my MIL is a former high school English and Latin 
teacher who proudly wears a banned books t-shirt. I discussed this 
with her once, knowing she is quite opinionated on the subject. ;) 
When I compared it to the fact that we don't allow her to watch 
rated R movies yet (unless we've prescreened them), she understood. 

I know that I may err on the side of overprotecting from time to 
time and I know that she may very well sneak a book that I've made 
seem more attractive by "banning" it, but I hope that we've 
established a relationship where she understands that I'm trying to 
feel my way through making decisions in her best interest. That's 
the best I can do.

Beth, who will go back to lurking now