From September 6, 2000 USA Today

[Ebony Elizabeth]

No: HPFGUIDX 1159

Interesting USA Today article.

You never know *what* will offend parents.  This week I've been 
dealing with parents who want to opt out of this theme's Challenge 
Reading Selection, *Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind*.  It's about a 
Pakistani 11 year old whose marriage is being arranged.  Shabanu 
resents being forced to leave childhood before she is ready.  
Although this book is a Newberry Award Winner, suitable for ages 11 
and up, and there is nothing graphic or profane about it, I've 
received two parent "opt-out notes".  The rationale?  "I don't want 
my child being exposed to this."  Interesting note:  the few parents 
who are opting out are all educators.

As if that wasn't enough, the first parent who objected thought it 
her duty to warn me that a local suburban school district has banned 
all Harry Potter books.  I told her with a smile that the suburb in 
question wasn't the gritty inner city.  Our school district is much 
more concerned with getting kids to read than restricting their 
access to good books.  To show you how uncensored we were, I didn't 
even know there *was* a Banned Books List/Week until college.  

You don't ban books in places where children's reality is a lot 
bleaker than anything they could ever read on the printed page.

I know one thing.  I don't mind opt-outs, but until DPS bans HP, I am 
doing HP in the classroom.  Period.  I've seen too many children's 
reading habits changed because of the series to drop it from my unit 
plans.

Ebony AKA AngieJ