This topic is so wonderful, and I am never going to get any work done
today!
I just had a conversation with a teacher, who presently teaches
kindergarten but until this year taught 4th and 5th grades. She says
she would like to see this kind of book in the professional collection
and would likely argue that it belongs in the kid's collection.
As to the letter below "There is a time and place for everything - but
books about gay princes do not belong in MY elementary school library."
There is a part of me that agrees. There is another part that
recognizes that books like Freedom Summer or The Other Side (about
friendships between white and African-American kids) would have been
abhorrent not so many years ago. Thankfully these books are now
completely acceptable, largely because authors began writing on the
topic, and librarians bought the books. We have to start somewhere. I
think I'm going shopping.
Cathy
On Monday, March 29, 2004, at 06:35 PM, Karen's Work wrote:
> TO continue the conversation:
>
> We were asked if this book should be in an elementary school.
> Interesting
> that most of the comments I have read after my post that were in favor
> of
> having this book were Middle Schools or High Schools.
>
> Maybe you feel you have been taught in library school to stay away from
> censoring. But no library school is going to tell you how to know what
> is
> acceptable in the community you are working in. That comes from
> experience.
> Those parents in that community write your paycheck each week.
>
> Would you buy this book just because it is an elementary level book
> about
> two gay princes? That isn't sound practice.
> Does the book have a wonderful review in SLJ?
> Does the book fit into the schools' elementary level curriculum?
> Does the school have a Objectionable Materials Policy in place, and
> was it
> followed?
>
> As I said before I can understand having books about all sorts of
> lifestyles
> at the jr. high and high school level. However, I would not purchase
> this
> book for my elementary school's collection. As some people mentioned
> it may
> be a book to share with the guidance counselor, or kept in a
> professional
> collection.
>
> However, at my level, in my community, I would not be able to justify
> the
> purchase of it. The teachers, administrators, and parents here would
> not
> tolerate it.
>
> Personally, I would be very uncomfortable if my 6 year old brought it
> home
> as a library book.
> There is a time and place for everything - but books about gay princes
> do
> not belong in MY elementary school library.
>
> Jumping off the soapbox, for the second time today,
> Karen DeFrank
> Bullock School
> Glassboro, NJ
> kdefrank@glassboro.k12.nj.us
>
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--------------------------------
Cathy Rettberg, Library Tech, SJSU MLIS Student
Brittan Acres Elementary School, San Carlos, CA
650-508-7307
crettberg@brittan.sancarlos.k12.ca.us
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