From: Norma Jean <nsawicki>
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 13:55:51 -0500

I am not sure if the following post went through; if this is a duplicate, I am sorry. Norma Jean


Every parent has the right to decide what his/her children reads but no parent should be able determine what an entire community reads...a library serves everyone. As someone who lives in New York City where our mayor and his team are working hard to upgrade the public school system, the diverse opinions from parents regarding public school education is extraordinary. Parents have different values, boundaries, etc. but a library, public school must meet the needs/interests of every child. A few relatives are school teachers...all but one teaches in middle/upper class school systems. While in different parts of the country they all agree that many parents expect teachers/librarians to raise or baby sit their kids....the reason being, the parents are too busy to do this or that. I was raised by a mother who knew what I was reading, as well as watching on television. If she did not approve, we talked about it... if she still disagreed, that was that. A child's reading habits is a parent's responsibility...not a library that is designed to serve the public. Once parents or an entire community embark on censorship, then one must ask...whose values apply? why are his/her values better than mine?... a dangerous road to travel. Hope folk read The Language Police.

As far as GLBT books are concerned, a reference was made about" choice." While this is not the place to debate the issue, many studies show being gay or lesbian has nothing to do with " choice." That is FYI and no more. Norma Jean
Received on Thu 23 Jun 2005 01:55:51 PM CDT