A word or two.

I was pretty much done with the issue of the reading list at the Middle School.  It has been brought to my attention that this blog, and prior discussion of the issue has been used as a reference (as to the discussions which took place).  That's fine.  That's what the blog is about, discussing things.

The reading list as distributed this year had 24 books for each grade level, of which the student had to read one.  The issues as best as I can frame them are:  the list was not issued far enough in advance to allow parents the opportunity to read all the books: and, a number of the books contain pornographic/sexually explicit passages or are inappropriate in theme or language for the age level.

If we are to only select books which everyone finds unobjectionable, I doubt that it will be much of a list.    Plain and simple.  So from the start, I don't agree with any argument that requires unanimous consent of a committee or group

I get family values.  I get some books may not be appropriate for all children of that, for a great many differing reasons.  I also get that there many be children at that age where in fact the book should not be considered in appropriate.  

I may take some one's recommendation as to whether a book is age appropriate, whether it is a good book, whether it is worth reading.  The problem I have here is the implication that none of these objectionable books should be on the list.  That I will not accept.

I haven't read all the books on the list, and I don't intend to.  First and foremost, I don't have a big belief in censorship.  

The fact that there are 24 books on that list gives people options.  If you feel the need to read a book before your child, and I find absolutely nothing wrong with that, start with the reviews and then pick two or three to read.  

If you are not happy with the recommendation of Amazon.com reviews as your starting point, there are a whole lot of other references to help you decide, including your local librarians who over my years on this earth, when visiting any library, have been more than willing to offer helpful and frank insight, and if they personally didn't have it, would direct me to a resource to obtain it.

The list came with a disclaimer noting not all books would be appropriate for all children, and yes parents would be responsible for final selection.  I have no problem with anyone deciding what is appropriate for their child.  Parents should know this.  

But we are not talking about 24 titles randomly pulled out of a hat.  The objectionable books, as far as my research has shown, are all award winning or recommended reading from multiple national organizations.  

No, this fact should not be taken as the definitive reason why the book should be read.  It should be taken as a fact that while you might find the book to have no literary merit or be inappropriate, others do not.

As far as publishing a reading list in February, well I can't buy into that either.  Kind of defeats the purpose of a "summer" reading list, which would be to get the children to wait to the summer to do the reading.  

Passages, even multiple passages, of what some many define as pornography do not make a book pornographic.  I have read a great many books and works of literature which contain passages meeting the strict definition of pornography.  What do we do with Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Hemingway?

As far as foul language, what is there to say other than to quote Justice M. Harlan II when he said "One man's vulgarity is another man's lyric".

What a reader may find as gratuitous use of foul language or explicit sexual scenes, or even a passage that would be pornographic is an opinion.  

Whether a book has literary merit, is an opinion.

Whether that same book is appropriate for a specific child is a decision between the parent and his or her child.

Whether that same book is appropriate for other people's children is a decision between those people and their children.

I will not say that any book written should be on an 8th grade reading list.  What I will say is so long as options are given, the placement of a nationally acclaimed book or books for the age group on an optional list is in fact, in my opinion, appropriate.

I do not need, or want universal acceptance for any reading material for any age group.  Neither do I wish to see a situation where there are no choices.  The right to have input is absolutely something that exists, but input does not and should not equate in the right to make a decision about the books that make an optional reading list for all children, and the books do not.

I respect and understand the objections to some of the books on the list and quite frankly some of those books would not be my first pick for my child when at that age.  That does not mean however that the inclusion of controversial works makes the list bad.  It does not mean those who came up with the list are bad educators, and it does not mean because I might not pick a book it should come off the list. 

What it means is the list is diverse, challenging and thought provoking to those who must decide and for the individual reader.  It means that the list includes books which may be inappropriate from some, even most, but provides real choices for those ready to face those issues as may be decided by the child and parent.

If we take these books off the list, what is the next step? If foul language and sexual content are unacceptable for including books, why not political philosophy, religious themes, or ideas which go against our personal morals?

Social values, family beliefs and individual maturity all come into play.  We decide what our children may or may not do in many areas.  It is a constant battle for each and every parent, each and every day of our children's lives.  The choices can be, and often are, difficult to say the least.  

If some of these books were mandatory for each 8th grader, I would be concerned. Quite frankly though, if a list of twenty-four optional books did not contain some which stirred controversy, I would be more concerned.

If you find a book is objectionable, don't pick it.  If you have to read every single book on the list to decide for your own child, I sympathize with the time constraints, but do not agree with such a large expansion of time for preparing the list so it can be issued in February, and neither do I agree with the premise you should have to.  

Taking a book off a reading list because it is not universally accepted, sorry I don't support that.

"Because of the diverse conditions of humans, it happens that some acts are virtuous to some people, as appropriate and suitable to them, while the same acts are immoral for others, as inappropriate to them." Thomas Aquinas.