Book Challenge (Banning)

[jenmunson]

Our summer reading for 6th graders coming to our Pre-AP and Gifted ELA classes is The Hunger Games. We are encountering huge opposition from a small group of parents about the violent nature of the book. It is going through a formal challenging process set forth by my district. I was wondering if anyone else has been through this and if you have some advice for me. Also if you have read/taught the book any info./insight you have would be appreciated too. THANKS!

[David]

It's interesting to take a look at some of the books that have been banned by schools in the past : Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Alice in Wonderland, James and the Giant Peach. Parents who ban books often are seeing things in them that totally escape the children.

[Melisa]

Don't forget The Wizard Of Oz. I took a class on juvenile literature. We went through and read a lot of the band books. Most were really relative to the students' current life issues. They were all really good reads. In my opinion the content of a book has already been experienced through media and general day to day life most students. I hope this works out for you. I have seen books banned before. In the school I attended the books were band to that school year. You could give permission slips at the beginning of the year with your book list on it. Maybe some info. Let the parents chooses each semester. Good Luck.

[silvana]

I agree, when my daughter was at high school parents tried to prevent her literature class from reading the color purple on the grounds of its highly sexual nature....they completely missed the point of the book or the things those students would learn by studying it. I agree that not all books are appropriate for young children but I tend to trust the judgement of the school who selects them

[jenmunson]

I understand parents that do not want THEIR child to read a book, but what bothers me is a small pocket trying to ban it for every child. Especially since kids don't want to read anymore. It is very interesting to look at the banned books list. I also teach The Giver but that book doesn't seem to be a problem, which also amazes me due to the themes in it.

[Boxcar]

I can understand if a book is seriously inappropriate. For example, I wouldn't read "Lord of the Flies" to my preschool students. First, they wouldn't actually sit for it. Second, it addresses things that they are not cognitively ready to process. There are other themes that 3 year olds need to focus on and learn. However, I would not have a problem having 12 year olds read the book in a classroom.

[dsmms]

I had a parent this year that didn't want their child to read Number the Stars by Lois Lowry in my 6th grade reading class! I had to offer an alternate selection.