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L.A.C.K. & Censoround
February 27, 2004
"It doesn't belong in public schools."
A sixth grader was suspended from Belpre (OH) Middle School for having a copy of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. The thing about this story that gets me is school superintendent Tim Swarr saying that he had never seen the issue before. They just celebrated the 40th anniversary of the swimsuit issue last year, and he's never seen it before? Either this guy is a Seymour Skinner, or the kids used to be a lot better at hiding that issue from teachers.
[TT] CNN.com via Library Link of the Day
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
3:10:14 PM
"See the juicy irony here..."
Erie County Library has named Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 the latest novel in its One Book, One Erie program.
[TT] Erie Times-News via Google News
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
1:28:00 PM
"I'm an ex-sailor and I was offended."
The Jay School Board of Portland, IN has taken Mark Mathabane's Kaffir Boy off the high school reading lists for being too violent, although school principal Wood Barwick said the book will remain in the library.
[TT] The Star Press via Google News
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
1:22:00 PM
"It's a hypothesis - a theory - and it needs to be presented that way."
A parent of a student at Smith Elementary School in Helena, MT, has challenged Juliet Clutton-Brock's Horses because it contains two pages about evolution. Roxanne Cleasby has asked for either the book to be taken out of the library or the two offending pages taken out of the book.
[TT] Helena Independent Record via Google News
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
1:15:00 PM
"You're literally ... close to book burning."
Tom Griswold of the syndicated morning radio show Bob & Tom admits that since Clear Channel took Howard Stern and Bubba the Love Sponge off the air, "We've already pulled dozens of pieces off the air because we just don't know what's going to be actionable." He added, "I think politicians on both sides of the aisle want to protect children, but no one's standing up saying 'What about free speech?'"
[TT] WTHR & Motley Fool via Google News
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
1:00:00 PM
February 26, 2004
Newsblog update
I've switched from hand-updating the newsblog to using Blogger. I have a love-hate relationship with Blogger. However, the convenience of using it outweighs the annoyances.
None of this matters much to you, obviously, but I feel informative, a key requirement to librarianship.
[EDITOR'S NOTE] I've fixed the news feed, which will make LISFeeds.com users happy.
[EDITOR'S NOTE] Actually, my relationship with Blogger borders on "really like" right now. Google has done a lot to improve the service.
[EDITOR'S NOTE] Grammatical error in second Editor's Note fixed. Also, I really wanted to add a third note.
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
1:43:00 PM
"I don't think 'Eat Me' is for everyone -- but what book is?"
The library director of the Marion County (FL) library system has reinstated Linda Jaivin's Eat Me to the stacks, saying her personal hatred of the book clouded her judgment.
[TT] Miami Herald via Google News
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
12:52:00 PM
"Precedence between elders and youngers, support between friends, Respect from the sovereigns, loyalty from the subjects."
China has lifted its ban on Sanzijing, a kindergartener's guide to Confucianism that was pulled from schools 55 years ago for spreading medieval morals.
[TT] Hindustan Times via Google News
Incidently, in light of recent discussion over crediting your blog's sources, I have dubbed these bibliographic references at the bottom of my posts Teachout Tags.
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
12:48:27 PM
February 25, 2004
Hopefully, he's not going to hold his breath
Howard Stern has been suspended from Clear Channel-owned radio stations as part of the company's new zero-tolerance policy towards obscenity. Chief Executive John Hogan said, "We will not air Howard Stern on Clear Channel stations until we are assured that his show will conform to acceptable standards of responsible broadcasting."
[TT] Forbes via FARK.com
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
8:07:13 PM
February 24, 2004
"This issue has been immensely logistically problematic."
An Alaskan state senator has introduced a bill requiring libraries to give parents access to their children's circulation records.
[TT] Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via LISNews.com
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
6:58:20 PM
"Last year, OIF received reports of 458 challenges..."
The Alice books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor were the Most Frequently Challenged Books in 2003, according to the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom.
[TT] American Libraries
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
6:52:00 PM
February 22, 2004
"If you've always wanted to field queries, read to kids during story hour and make book selections, tell us about it."
Woman's Day is having a contest where two winners get to be a librarian for a day. THRILL... to getting a pantsless perv off the public terminal! WINCE... when someone asks for that book that that guy wrote last year, you know, the one with the horse! CHILL... at the sight of your paycheck! SHIVER... at the latest covert visit from the FBI about little Jimmy who once looked at a book about Middle Eastern culture! It's like all your dreams have come true!
[TT] Woman's Day via librarian.net
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
6:27:23 PM
February 20, 2004
"... the pornographic materials in the book is not acceptable."
Beaver Local High School in Lisbon, OH has decided not to ban Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale from the advanced placement English class, although the novel isn't presently on the class' reading list. You have got to read this article. It might be one of the most poorly written things I've ever seen at a legitimate news outlet. Apparently it was written by someone who failed advanced placement English.
[TT] WTOV9.com via Google News
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
11:04:00 PM
"No lawyer is allowed to argue the validity of my beliefs..."
The Justice Department is trying to stop the publication of a book by Irwin Schiff that claims to show how to legally avoid paying taxes. However, judges hearing the case were skeptical of both their efforts to ban The Federal Mafia and their efforts to get Schiff to provide the IRS with a list of everyone who bought it.
[TT] Las Vegas Sun via Google News
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
10:51:00 PM
"I take back nothing because they are true."
The controversy over Taslima Nasrin's book Dwikhandito is still raging in the West Bengal region of India. The area's government banned the novel due to concerns that it was offensive to Islam.
[TT] Times of India via Google News
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
10:44:27 PM
"All I'm saying is the material is harsh."
The Seminole County (FL) School Board voted unanimously to keep Mildred Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry on the middle school reading list. A parent fought to have the book removed because she found it offensive. The school will provide an alternative for parents who disapprove of the book.
[TT] WESH.com via Google News
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
10:36:00 PM
"I am, of course, disappointed and I am scared for not only my children, but for the children who belong to Washington Township."
The Washington Township Public School (NJ) school board voted to keep The Devil's Storybook and The Devil: Great Mysteries (Opposing Viewpoints) on the shelves of the middle school because they have educational merit. The group of 20 concerned parents who protested the satanic theme of the books vowed to appeal the decision.
[TT] Gloucester County Times via Google News
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
10:30:00 PM
"...a challenge to the ideology of lying..."
The works of Boris Pasternak will finally be published in Russia, 46 years after they were banned by the Soviet Union, and sixteen years after the ban was lifted.
[TT] BBC News via Blog of a Bookslut
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
10:18:15 PM
"It's definitely not over because something has to change."
The Blue Valley (KS) school board unanimously voted to keep Tobias Wolff's This Boy's Life on the list of approved reading material. Janet and Tim Harmon, who challenged the book because of foul language and adult situations, vowed to fight the decision. They will soon be launching a website to tell other parents of students in the district about the offensive material on the recommended reading list.
[TT] Johnson County Sun via Google News
[EDITOR'S NOTE] The ClassKC.org site is operational, decrying the "poor quality of literature" in Overland Park, KS.
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
10:12:00 PM
"The department is now applying puritanical values to its funding."
The Bush adminstration has slashed funding for close captioning, a move disabilities advocates say is tantamount to censorship.
[TT] Chicago Sun-Times via TVtattle
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
10:01:56 PM
"Some people are offended by the content. Others aren't."
Judy Blume's Deenie will remain on the shelves of Hernando County, FL, school libraries, but students will need a note from their parents if they want to check it out.
[TT] St. Petersburg Times via Google News
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
9:35:00 PM
February 12, 2004
"I'm disappointed, but I'm not surprised."
The Wauseon (OH) Exempted Village Board of Education voted to keep Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye on the AP English reading list despite concerns that the book is too explicit.
[TT] Toledo Blade via Blog of a Bookslut
posted by Chris Zammarelli at
3:24:00 PM
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