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Parents Against Bad Books
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From: Norma Jean <nsawicki>
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 16:20:04 -0500
Until today's postings, I had not heard of Parents Against Bad Books in School and while I well understand why people are offended for remarks taken out of context and included in another web site without permission, and distorted, this particular group does not do its homework and for that reason, it is difficult to believe a school district, etc., would take them seriously. All one needs to do is print out, and send some of their inaccurate postings, and the group would lose its credibility ...that is if they have any credibility among official agencies right now. I am not suggesting there are not school administrators, etc., who do not believe in censorship but a group that makes public and irresponsible noise may not be valued even among censors.
I agree with the person who said she is not bothered by this group...they have a right to their opinions. I think too, parents should know what their kids read, look at on the computer, which movies they see, know their friends, where they are after school and at night, etc. It is part of being a responsible, and interested parent. But under no circumstances should any parent have the right to dictate what another kid may, or may not, read. As a kid in Utica, New York in the 1950s, I wanted to read adult books when I was twelve which was against library policy. In order to do so, I selected the books I wanted to borrow which were held by the librarian, ran home to get a note from my mother who had to list title by title the books I wanted to borrow, and ran back to the library with the note. It was a nuisance, and there were times when I was furious. My mother offered to write a note saying I could borrow anything I wanted but it was against library policy... permission had to be granted title by title. Luckily, we lived two blocks away from the library.
If there is an issue about censorship in a community, I believe it is important for people who are opposed to censorship to become involved whether it means going to meetings, writing letters to the appropriate people, etc. To oppose censorship is a way of saying... what you read is none of my business... but that very sensibility can also cause people not to become involved; the censors make the loud noise, not the opposition. Censors are controlling, the opposition is not but there are times when it is imperative to become interested/ gain, control. Norma Jean
Received on Mon 18 Jul 2005 04:20:04 PM CDT
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 16:20:04 -0500
Until today's postings, I had not heard of Parents Against Bad Books in School and while I well understand why people are offended for remarks taken out of context and included in another web site without permission, and distorted, this particular group does not do its homework and for that reason, it is difficult to believe a school district, etc., would take them seriously. All one needs to do is print out, and send some of their inaccurate postings, and the group would lose its credibility ...that is if they have any credibility among official agencies right now. I am not suggesting there are not school administrators, etc., who do not believe in censorship but a group that makes public and irresponsible noise may not be valued even among censors.
I agree with the person who said she is not bothered by this group...they have a right to their opinions. I think too, parents should know what their kids read, look at on the computer, which movies they see, know their friends, where they are after school and at night, etc. It is part of being a responsible, and interested parent. But under no circumstances should any parent have the right to dictate what another kid may, or may not, read. As a kid in Utica, New York in the 1950s, I wanted to read adult books when I was twelve which was against library policy. In order to do so, I selected the books I wanted to borrow which were held by the librarian, ran home to get a note from my mother who had to list title by title the books I wanted to borrow, and ran back to the library with the note. It was a nuisance, and there were times when I was furious. My mother offered to write a note saying I could borrow anything I wanted but it was against library policy... permission had to be granted title by title. Luckily, we lived two blocks away from the library.
If there is an issue about censorship in a community, I believe it is important for people who are opposed to censorship to become involved whether it means going to meetings, writing letters to the appropriate people, etc. To oppose censorship is a way of saying... what you read is none of my business... but that very sensibility can also cause people not to become involved; the censors make the loud noise, not the opposition. Censors are controlling, the opposition is not but there are times when it is imperative to become interested/ gain, control. Norma Jean
Received on Mon 18 Jul 2005 04:20:04 PM CDT
