Banned Books Week - question

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Beth" <jillily3g at y...> wrote:

> ...edited...
> 
> I accept that it is my responsibility to decide what is and isn't
> appropriate for my child,.... But is it really wrong to ask that 
> certain books be moved so that children prove by their tenacity in 
> searching them out that they are ready for them? ...
> 
> Beth

bboyminn:

"But is it really wrong to ask that certain books be moved...?"
Answer, that depends. If you express your opinion to the librarian,
then you are well within you right, it's called 'freedom of speech'.
But if you bang your fist on the counter and say, 'move that book or
you'll hear from my lawyer' then you are attempting censorship. Of
course, I know they you intended nothing that extreme, I'm just
contrasting the two approaches. 

If the former case, you express your opinion which is added to the
opinions of others and if enough opinons are expressed the librarian
will probably review the book and make a judgement call. In the later
case, you 'challenge' is likely to be tallied by the ALA. Unless I am
mistaken, 'challenges' are under-reported, so anyone who things the
ALA is totaling up every little comment are probably wrong.
Substantial challenges that require action on the part of the library
are the one that are counted.

In a sense, I suspect that, in general, the problem is self-limiting.
A book that is too deep or extreme for a child is probably a book that
the child will quickly grow bored of or have no interest in in the
first place. In rare cases a book may be very captivating but have
dark, scary, or adult themes, in this case, the parent should have
reviewed the book and told the child that as a parent they didn't
think it was appropriate. It's called good parenting. 

Sadly, too many parents raise their kids on autopilot; just close you
eyes, grit your teeth, and hope the survive childhood. Too many
parents assume their children know what are appropriate limits, but
they never have the courage to sit down and clearly draw that line in
the sand. Frequently, we hear, 'well, if we tell the NO, it will just
make them want to do it more', which in my opinion is the sadest
excuse in existance for abidcating your parental responsibility. Like
it or not, it's your just from the day they are born to set and
enforce the limits. Then when the time comes for you teen to make a
decision, while they may choose to go against your standard and
limits, you have at least given them reference point; they are least
know where you stand. Without those clearly defined limits, no only
don't they know where you, the parent stands, the don't really know
where they, the teen, stand because, as I said, they would have no
reference points.

If, as a parent, you have done and are doing your job, then your child
will know reasonable limits and will try to work within them. If you
clearly state that it's not appropraite for them at their age to read
about adult intimate romantic situations, then they really are likely
to stear clear of the subject. At least, until that limit becomes
unreasonable for their maturity level. 

Research has shown, as much as kids hate restrictions placed on them
by their parents, they really do appreciate it, and respect their
parents for their efforts.

Just a few thoughts.

Steve/bboyminn (was bboy_mn)