David-
There is a distinction between selection and censorship.
You should make sure that your principal understands your selection process. (And
your superintendent) It should be in writing and a solid part of school policy. I'm
lucky (and gracious) to have administrators who would tackle any such confrontation
with--"Have you spoken to the librarian yet?"
To level the playing field here-let's look at the list of awards for the book in
question "No, David" by David Shannon:
Alabama Emphasis On Reading Childrens Choice Nominees 1997-98 (And Ongoing)
Alaska's Battle Of The Books 1998-99 (And Ongoing)
Baker & Taylor Elementary School Core Collection - Level 1 (1997)
Baker & Taylor Forecast - August 1998
Baker & Taylor Forecast - October 1998
Baker & Taylor Preschool Core Collection - Level 1 (1998)
Best Books For Children 7th Ed (2002)
Booklist Reviews 1998 September #1
Books For Growing Minds - September/October 1998
Bulletin Of The Center For Children's Books - September 1998
Bulletin Of The Center For Children's Books-Recommended Titles 1996 (And Ongoing)
Caldecott Medal/Honor Books (Ongoing)
Children's Catalog - 1999 Supplement 17th Ed
Children's Catalog 18th Ed (2001)
Children's Catalog 19th Ed (2006)
CLS Basic Picture Books
CLS Basic Picture Books - Fiction (1999)
CLS Opening Day Collections Audit-June 2002 (And Ongoing)
Collection Connection: Grades K-8, 2000-01--Catalog Edition (Formerly School
Selection Guide)
Colorado Children's Book Award Nominees 1998 (And Ongoing)
Delaware Libraries' Blue Hen Award Nominees 1996 (And Ongoing)
Elementary School Core - Easy And Picture Books, Priority 3
Nominees 1997-98 (And Ongoing)
Horn Book Guide Reviews 1999
Judy Freeman Winners 1998 (And Ongoing)
Kirkus Reviews 1998 August #1
Kirkus Starred Reviews 6/89 (And Ongoing)
Library Talk Reviews 1999 March
Notable Children's Books 1997 (And Ongoing)
NY Times Book Review - November 1998 #3-Advertisements
NY Times Book Review - November 1998 #3-Reviews
Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Awards Master List 1999-2000
Publishers Weekly Advertisements 1996 - August 1999
Publishers Weekly Children's Books Fall 1997 (And Ongoing)
PW Reviews 1998 July #1
School Core - Elementary - All Levels - Biography, E Classification, Fiction,
Nonfiction, & Referenc
School Core - Elementary - Level 3 Picture - Easy
School Core - Elementary - Level 4 Picture - Easy
School Library Journal Advertisements 1996 - August 1999
School Library Journal Best Books Of The Year (Ongoing)
School Library Journal Starred Reviews - 1992 (And Ongoing)
SLJ Reviews 1998 August
(Results gathered and edited from Baker & Taylor)
If I'm "called on the carpet" for selecting this book for the library--I've a
multitude of materials AND my selection policy to back up my selection.
Hopefully--I've got a staff and a union that will stand behind me. I should ALSO
have hundreds of librarians willing to support my decisions. The parent has a
cartoon picture of a naked kid. (Vowels included intentionally.)
I recently had a copy of "Perseopolis" returned to my library with a picture of a
penis whited out. The parents decided to forego our established book challenge
procedure and take matters in their own hands. I only noticed when I brought a
stack of Graphic Novels to a local college for a book talk I was doing for class. I
billed the parents for book replacement. (The student was the only one to have
checked out the book that month) When the parents huffed--the building
administrator pointed to our book selection policy as well as the book challenge
policy. If the parents had decided to go "through channels"--we would have reviewed
the book for middle school use. There was never an actual challenge to the book. In
the past three years--I've handed out 2 blank book challenge forms to parents and
never had to go through he process. Many parents want to vent, few want to go
through the actual book challenge.
What you CHOOSE TO SELECT for your library shelves is different from what you
CENSOR from a book. I've seen too many books on the shelves of the library I
oversee maliciously cropped by the well-meaning. Did anyone really need to take the
sharpie to Jim's name in "Huck Finn?" Did my copy of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" really
need to be "edited" with a scissors? Why did the books that the guidance office
purchased on cutting disappear from the shelves? (I replaced all of them.)
Everyone's situation is different. I get that. But I say--if the book is
"mysteriously removed"--replace it immediately. If the book is censored-be it
sticky note or sharpie--examine it for removal or replace it. Orwellian editing
methods DON'T WORK--and students will seek out what has been barred from them.
By the way, I'd deal with the hypothetical "news crew" by remaining calm and
explaining to the cameras that our district has a policy in place for book
challenges. Too few schools remain calm in the face of these challenges. At the
very least, I'll look reasonable in the face of a ridiculous challenge to a
minuscule cartoon penis.
I do my job every day with the understanding that a book challenge may drop in my
lap at any time. I have my values, my book selection policy, my degree and my
colleagues to help me do what I do. And what I do is put ideas in the hands of my
students. It's NOT my duty to judge those ideas. If you can't defend your own
purchases, I can see why you're nervous.
Harry
Harry F. Coffill
hcoffill@egrps.org
Media Center Specialist
East Grand Rapids Middle School
>>> David Lininger <tss003@TNP.MORE.NET> 9/26/2007 3:48 PM >>>
Harry Coffill wrote:
>OK. I'll keep it "even-keel."
>
>Even giving all of your follow-ups, did you really think that a list-serv of
>librarians was going to back up censorship?
>
I wasn't going to join this discussion, but a comment that I overheard
today got me to thinking. In our lawsuit-happy society today, just
imagine what would happen if some little child came home from school and
said something like, "Mommy, the librarian showed us a picture of a
n*k*d boy today." (vowels omitted purposely). If Mommy is at all upset
with the school prior to this little "report," what do you think will
happen? Do you really think that Mommy will calmly make an appointment
to talk to the librarian BEFORE talking to anyone else? The fortunate
librarian will be the one in which Mommy calls the principal first. In
all too many cases, Mommy will call the local television station first.
How supportive will your principal be when the tv news crew shows up and
asks, "Why is your librarian showing pictures of n*k*d boys in school?"
Since most elementary librarians are women, this opens up another whole
issue. Now imagine if this is in a smaller District (like mine) where
the superintendent's office is right next door to the principal's office.
What is censorship to one librarian may be proactive thinking to
another. Yes, it is a sad state of affairs when our actions are governed
by "what might be" rather than common sense. As someone else has said,
though, what used to be known as common sense is far from common these days.
Take this for what it cost you.
--
David Lininger, kb0zke,
MS/HS librarian
Hickory County R-1 Schools
Urbana, MO 65767
417-993-4226
tss003 at tnp dot more dot net
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