I am in the process of challenging a book found in one of my children's public school libraries. The book itself has (blatantly) pornographic scenes, pages, and topics. One of the defenses I just don't get, is that 'Itellectual Freedom' should keep books such as this on the middle school shelves.

Reasoning:

1. Pornography cannot be defended as being itellectual material.
2. This defense of Itellectual Freedom, I assume refers to actual material that increases one's intelligence. Not all literature falls into this category yet apparently, all literature is defended as such. You see the contradiction?

 

I see what you are saying, however I believe that our society places to much weight on such material as compared to violance, which we seem to condone.

Now if these books are PORNOGRAPHIC as opposed to depicting nudity then I can foresee having a problem with that book in a public schools library, unless this book is required for some type of reading in a health or sex ed type class or some such. It does depend greatly on the circumstances.

 

What's the name of the book and who is the author and publisher?

 

Pornography/Obscenity is generally defined by "local" standards. Without knowing to which book you are referring it would be difficult to side with you on this one.

 

Intellectual freedom allows people to publish books like that, and that's a good thing.

Parental/adult oversight allows us to insist that such books have no place in a school. They are adult material. I wouldn't give a 12-year-old a glass of vodka, either.

 

I second this. What IS the book's title and author?

 

Got to have................... the name of that book.

 

What is your definition of pornography?

 

That is why we need the name of the book.
It has been and can be a bit subjective
and that is not to say sdloe is incorrect of his assessment.

 

I don't get to access my own computer as often as I like (read: KIDS!) so be patient if several days pass between my posts.

The name of the book is Forever, by Judy Blume. Ms. Blume has been writing books for decades, most of them promoting her versions of politics and social situations. This book was written in the seventies, and being one of her earlier books is often assumed to be 'child friendly'.

Regarding what defines pornography, the sections in question are no different than what one could find in Huslter or Playboy (been there, done that.) The explicit sections of the book could not be read in class, in school, and I question whether it could even be read in public. Check it out for yourself. I can give you page numbers and paragraphs if you need more info.

I am not challenging the publication of the book nor its place in the public library. But it should not be in a public school library were the kids are still described as being adolescent.

 

Operative word "adolescent", I read that as your issue?

 

Pretty much spells it out.

"No preaching (Blume never does) but the message is clear; no hedging (Blume never does) but a candid account by Kathy gives intimate details of a first sexual relationship. The characters and dialogue are equally natural and vigorous, the language uncensored, the depiction of family relationships outstanding."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults"

This is a review pulled from amazon.com.
The first line of chapter one mentions sex.
I wholeheartedly agree that this should not be on the shelves of a public school.

 

From Blume's own site:

"There are explicit sections in this book and it shouldn't be shelved in the children's section."

You can get to it at:

http://www.judyblume.com

 

SDLOE -
I have a 12 (soon to be 13) year old daughter in public school, so I took a personal interest in this. From your initial description, I thought you were talking about a book with explicit pictures, not a novel written for an older teen audience.

I haven't read the book, but I have read every review I could find online and several excerpts. I wouldn't want my daughter to read this book now because of her age. I agree that it doesn't belong in a middle school. But I sure wouldn't call it pornographic. That's a whole other category.

From what I've been able to gather, this novel uses some pretty frank language and describes the difficulty of virgin sex in some detail. That's not the main thrust of the novel, but it is part of it. Much of the story is about relationships and how they don't last Forever, even if it seems like they will.

I sure don't want my daughter having sex when she's still in high school. I hope she'll be smarter than that. If she reads this book when she's 16 or 17 or 18, maybe it will answer some of the questions she has that she's too embarrassed to ask. Maybe reading about it will satisfy her curiosity to the point that she won't be compelled to find out for herself what it would be like. I hope that's the case.

But even if it's not, I couldn't ever censor what she or anyone else chooses to read, as long as they're emotionally old enough to understand the material.

Middle school - NO. High school - yes, at least for the older kids.

 

You know, if you preview it ahead of time then read it WITH your kid it might help you and them have 'the talk'. But I agree, there is an age appropriateness about the book that should be observed.