She challenges one school book a week. She says she’ll never stop.

[Josie]

You seem to miss the point that we don't care because we trust school administrators, teachers, librarians to make these decisions for available books and parents to have a good enough relationship with their children to be able to work with them when it comes to books they are allowed to read.

School districts and staff are making these decisions, yet these threads complaining about those decisions still remain.

It will not harm a teenager to actually read a sexually explicit passage, paragraph, page, even few pages in a book. It will not hurt them at all.

We're not just talking about high schoolers.

 

[Josie]

They should have rights regarding their children, to a degree and within reason. They should not have rights in regards to banning things from other people's children simply because they don't want their children "exposed" to something. That is not reasonable.

They have no power to ban books from schools --- school boards and school staff oversee these decisions.

It was being made under duress in many cases though, where the schools are facing laws that require that they "review" such books and even give in or face lawsuits for parents who want to push further if they say a book is fine.

And? Schools should be held reliable for the materials they provide students. If they are found to be legally obscene, that's a problem for the school.

If something is not considered "age appropriate" what exactly does that mean? Should it apply legally to every child?

That's a subjective question as people will have differing opinions on that. A school, however, has to abide by the state and federal laws concerning obscenity. In the same vein, they also have to be abide by students' freedom of speech. Removing a sexually explicit book from a middle school library isn't a violation of freedom of speech. Removing a book simply because there is an LGBT character in the book with zero spice -- most likely is a violation.

 

[Josie]

The decision was not made by the school, as I've noted.

It was. It wasn't made by Jennifer Whatshername in the OP.

I've also pointed out that each book was investigated by committees composed of parents, educators, and librarians. And in each instance, recommendations were made that the books be retained in the library.

And their decision was overruled by a higher authority. If the school board has issue with the superintendent, it's their job to override HIS decision.

ONE parent's opinion resulted in other parents' opinions being overruled. And all students were denied access.

There's no way to frame this otherwise, if you're interested in the facts re what happened.

Again, you have no idea how many parents agreed with her. Just because one parent spoke up, that doesn't mean only one parent had that opinion.

 

[Josie]

And it is also pretending that every child/teenager is at the same maturity level when they are the same chronological age.

We have 12 year olds that are being forced to carry a pregnancy - even a pregnancy that has resulted from rape.

It is ok to force them to carry a pregnancy - but *gasp* they can’t read that book - it is too mature!

It is ok for kids to face the very real threat of dying in school but not to read something sexy?


And those who would dictate what books can be read…and force 12 year olds to carry pregnancies…would also dictate what can/cannot be discussed regarding sexuality also.

It isn’t about “kids”. It’s about control.

And their hypocrisy is amazing.

No one is pretending that all kids are at the same maturity level. And it's not just "something sexy" (at least, my opinion isn't). The most sexually explicit novels shouldn't be in middle schools. This isn't an extreme opinion.

And a 12 year old rape victim (or any rape victim) also shouldn't have to continue her pregnancy.

 

[Josie]

The moment they ask someone at school about them

Should a video be shown too so they actually understand exactly what the word means?

 

[Josie]

Pearl clutchers like to tell other people what to do, how to live and apparently what they can/cannot read

Having rules and laws about what is and isn't appropriate for minors isn't pearl-clutching.

It also doesn't mean that anyone who thinks some books are inappropriate for some minors also want to police what adults do. We're talking about people under 18.

 

[Josie]

Young girls are mature enough to be forced to endure pregnancies and to deliver babies they are then supposed to nurture and raise.

But they're not mature enough to read details of the sexual acts that can result in pregnancies.

There's a severe disconnect here that isn't beneficial to the kids.

Should very sexually explicit books be available in public schools for 12 year olds?

 

[Pyrite]

Should very sexually explicit books be available in public schools for 12 year olds?

Which books are available in middle schools that you believe are "very sexually explicit"?

Titles.

 

[Josie]

Which books are available in middle schools that you believe are "very sexually explicit"?

Titles.

Will you actually go to a library or bookstore and read it if I give you a title?

 

[Pyrite]

No one is pretending that all kids are at the same maturity level. And it's not just "something sexy" (at least, my opinion isn't). The most sexually explicit novels shouldn't be in middle schools. This isn't an extreme opinion.

And a 12 year old rape victim (or any rape victim) also shouldn't have to continue her pregnancy.

There is likely a gulf between what one person - Petersen, say, or you - and others believe is "very sexually explicit".

 

[Pyrite]

Will you actually go to a library or bookstore and read it if I give you a title?

My grandkids might have already read it.

I'm interested in which middle school library books you believe are "very sexually explicit".

 

[Josie]

There is likely a gulf between what one person - Petersen, say, or you - and others believe is "very sexually explicit".

Nah. What I say is "very sexually explicit" is very much sexually explicit. I read a lot. I know what is mild and what is spicy.

My grandkids might have already read it.

I'm interested in which middle school library books you believe are "very sexually explicit".

Will you go to the library or bookstore and actually read it for yourself?

 

[Pyrite]

Nah. What I say is "very sexually explicit" is very much sexually explicit. I read a lot. I know what is mild and what is spicy.

It's still only your opinion, and most likely is not shared by at least some other parents, teachers, and librarians.

Now, about those titles of books that are available in middle school libraries that contain "very sexually explicit" material.....Perhaps you don't have any particular books in mind?

 

[Josie]

It's still only your opinion, and most likely is not shared by at least some other parents, teachers, and librarians.

Now, about those titles of books that are available in middle school libraries that contain "very sexually explicit" material.....Perhaps you don't have any particular books in mind?

When you agree to read it, I'll give you one. I have many.

 

[Pyrite]

When you agree to read it, I'll give you one. I have many.

I've called your bluff.

(That you likely don't know the titles of the books on the shelves of middle school libraries is almost certain.)

But prove me wrong: List the titles of books available at middle school libraries whose content is, in your opinion, "very sexually explicit".

 

[Josie]

I've called your bluff.

(That you likely don't know the titles of the books on the shelves of middle school libraries is almost certain.)

I knew you wouldn't read it.

FYI -- "calling my bluff" would be you agreeing to read it and then me not giving you a book title. So ...

 

[j brown's body]

No. You don't get it. Anyone can complain about a book but they do not have the authority to ban any book. If a complaint is made it triggers a review process. A board votes either for or against the book being available to students and at what ages.

It's no different than what the left does to books like Huckleberry Finn because it includes racial slurs.

What libraries have banned Huckkeberry Finn.

 

[Pyrite]

I knew you wouldn't read it.

I don't agree to read unknown books.

All you have to do is demonstrate your knowledge of "very sexually explicit" books on the shelves of middle school libraries.

 

[Josie]

I don't agree to read unknown books.

You won't agree to read it unless you know the title? LOL!

All you have to do is demonstrate your knowledge of "very sexually explicit" books on the shelves of middle school libraries.

I have many times on this forum. This isn't my first rodeo, dude.

Will you read it?

 

[Pyrite]

You won't agree to read it unless you know the title? LOL!



I have many times on this forum. This isn't my first rodeo, dude.

Will you read it?

Again, I don't agree to read unknown titles.

I've called your bluff and challenged you to post the names of books that you know are on middle school library shelves and contain "very sexually explicit" material.

At this point, you're all talk and no hat.

 

[trouble13]

What libraries have banned Huckkeberry Finn.

Banned Books 2022 - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Marshall University Libraries - Banned Book 2022- Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Page on books banned/challenged around the United States for various reasons over the past year Ron Titus

www.marshall.edu

After parent complaints about the use of racist epithets in To Kill a Mockingbird; Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; The Cay; Of Mice and Men; and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, the Burbank (CA) Unified School District superintendent removed these titles from required classroom reading lists.

 

[Pyrite]

What libraries have banned Huckkeberry Finn.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/02/10/book-bans-maus-bluest-eye/

...Attacking books has been an American tradition since 1650, when Puritans in the Massachusetts Bay Colony seized William Pynchon’s “The Meritorious Price of Our Redemption,” labeling it blasphemous for saying obedience, and not suffering, led to atonement. In 1885, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was banned for “coarse language” (and much later for the use of the n-word). “On the Origin of Species,” probably the most influential book ever banned, was censored in 1895 for violating Christian beliefs. From 2000-2009, the Harry Potter books were the most challenged, accused of promoting the occult and Satanism. From 2010-2019, it was Sherman Alexi’s “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.” A key objection: The main character, Junior, masturbates....

 

[Josie]

Again, I don't agree to read unknown titles.

I've called your bluff and challenged you to post the names of books that you know are on middle school library shelves and contain "very sexually explicit" material.

At this point, you're all talk and no hat.

I could say the same for you. Fine. I'll play your way --- the entire ACOTAR series, but specifically A Court of Silver Flames since it's the most sexually explicit of them all. It's the most popular fantasy series on BookTok and BookTube and in several middle schools around me. Go read it. In public (since you think it will just be mildly sexual).

 

[Pyrite]

I could say the same for you. Fine. I'll play your way --- the entire ACOTAR series, but specifically A Court of Silver Flames since it's the most sexually explicit of them all. It's the most popular fantasy series on BookTok and BookTube and in several middle schools around me. Go read it. In public (since you think it will just be mildly sexual).

You're almost there!

You have to prove that this book is in the libraries of "several middle schools around" you. (No, your word isn't good enough.)

 

[Josie]

You're almost there!

You have to prove that this book is in the libraries of "several middle schools around" you. (No, your word isn't good enough.)

I'm not giving you my location. Look for yourself on WorldCat where the book is around you. Then go read it (you won't).