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[CCBC-Net] Lucky
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From: TERRY M CLAUDIA F JOHNSEN <tmjohnsen>
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 14:30:04 -0600
To: CCBC List
Remember that buried in the definitions of sexual harassment law is the assumption that an environment can be made that makes someone
"uncomfortable" (my emphasis) through the use of words. Harassment law uses words like intimidating, threatening, harassing, etc. but it all boils down to what someone has previously posted - that harassment is in the eye of the beholder. If you feel "intimidated, harassed, threatened" by words, you have a right to complain. And if a student becomes uncomfortable, you put you and your school at risk, regardless of how we feel that it may be "much ado about nothing."
So a teacher that uses words to educate (such as the aforementioned doggy part from "Lucky") could find themselves making someone "uncomfortable." Is it any worse than recommending "Walter the Farting Dog"? That makes me way more uncomfortable than "Lucky."
I am amused by the praise lavished upon Lucky as the award was announced, and the current focus on "scrotum" - let's not forget the lyrical story that Patron has written - if you choose to book talk Lucky find a way to deal with her choice of words - if you focus on the word you only play into the hands of those who choose to censor and who haven't read the rest of the story. Over the past three days over 50 posts have dominated this listserv, all to comment on Patron's choice of words.
Now if we can just get this kind of dialogue going every month about the current topics, this can be a much livelier and interesting forum.
A former lurker
T Johnsen Parent/Student/Teacher
Received on Mon 19 Feb 2007 02:30:04 PM CST
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 14:30:04 -0600
To: CCBC List
Remember that buried in the definitions of sexual harassment law is the assumption that an environment can be made that makes someone
"uncomfortable" (my emphasis) through the use of words. Harassment law uses words like intimidating, threatening, harassing, etc. but it all boils down to what someone has previously posted - that harassment is in the eye of the beholder. If you feel "intimidated, harassed, threatened" by words, you have a right to complain. And if a student becomes uncomfortable, you put you and your school at risk, regardless of how we feel that it may be "much ado about nothing."
So a teacher that uses words to educate (such as the aforementioned doggy part from "Lucky") could find themselves making someone "uncomfortable." Is it any worse than recommending "Walter the Farting Dog"? That makes me way more uncomfortable than "Lucky."
I am amused by the praise lavished upon Lucky as the award was announced, and the current focus on "scrotum" - let's not forget the lyrical story that Patron has written - if you choose to book talk Lucky find a way to deal with her choice of words - if you focus on the word you only play into the hands of those who choose to censor and who haven't read the rest of the story. Over the past three days over 50 posts have dominated this listserv, all to comment on Patron's choice of words.
Now if we can just get this kind of dialogue going every month about the current topics, this can be a much livelier and interesting forum.
A former lurker
T Johnsen Parent/Student/Teacher
Received on Mon 19 Feb 2007 02:30:04 PM CST
