I was just using "Iron Wood" as an example of how much worse this could've been for this woman in Neb. I mean, if that issue of Spidey bothered her, Iron Wood would've really caused her to have a fit.

Now that's just plain trying to freak me out!



Tarnish

As a public elementary school teacher I hear about this once in awhile and it really grinds my gears.
Who are YOU as a parent to FORCE everyone else in the school to comply to what YOU think is appropriate?!?!? If YOU don't want YOUR children reading a book, YOU make sure they don't read it. I want MY kids to read it, and YOU have NO say over what I want MY kids to do.


It also really ticks me off that she is "holding onto" the book till the decision is made, as if she is making a moral choice for ALL other parents and students and feeling smug and good about herself because no one else will be able to read this filth.
Saving the world by forcing your opinions and beliefs on others once step at a time!!

Also:
She lost all my respect the moment she said comics hold very little literary value.
I have done AWESOME things with low readers using comics. Their grammar can level up tremendously as can their fluency and understanding of context and sequencing.

For those of you who are pointing out that it is an elementary school library I would like to say that there are some VERY violent and risque 4th and 5th grade books that are praised by the ALA (American Library Association) and placed into schools on their recommendation. 4th and 5th grade students are NOT 6 year olds and they are starting to think for themselves and read more mature content (I'm not referring to flat out sex or anything, but they start questioning it and talking about it so its only natural that the characters in their level of books deal with these issues as well).
Do I agree with everything that is contained within a book or comic? No.
But I DO have a problem with one parent speaking for everyone because, let's face it, we all have different degrees as to what we find offensive or filthy and different degrees of what we are willing to expose our kids to.

I do agree with you in principle. Especially your last point-due to comics I was reading at a 4th grade level before I started school.

But I do have some questions. (It's been a loooooong time since I had anything to do with elementary school)

Is there anything to stop a child from getting a book at the school library that a parent doesn't approve of?
Is there any kind of grade differentiation on what the students can look at/check out? Lots of things fine for 5th graders could not be ok for a 1st grader.

While I honestly can't see a problem with the book in question I can think of things that I would. Invincible trades come to mind. While they are 90% light hearted and fun, every few issues Kirkman like to have a bloody intestine eviscerating fight full of splash pages of gore worse than most horror movies. It's something that I would not want a 6 year old to see, while I might be ok with older kids reading it.

Tarnish

This could be turned around on YOU, observe:

As a parent I hear about this once in awhile and it really grinds my gears.
Who are YOU as a teacher to FORCE everyone else in the school to comply to what YOU think is appropriate?!?!? If YOU want YOUR students reading a book that could be offensive, YOU should make sure their parents approve in advance since the parents will only find out after the fact. If I want MY kids to read it, YOU should remember that YOU have NO say over what I want MY kids to do and no authority without my approval. Teachers are public servants, assisting the parents, not replacing them or having more authority than them.

The only reason I can even give any credence to the argument is that 6 year olds can't walk into a public library unattended and get anything they want with no oversight. From what I remember, they can do this at an elementary school library. If all elementary school students are allowed to see all books then I think it's inevitable that people will want things skewed towards the books that are ok for all ages in the school.

Tarnish

Ah, but see I was talking about MY CHILDREN, as in from my own flesh and blood.
I would have referred to the students as such (sorry if that confused you).

No parent has the right to speak for any other parent or child. That's what I got upset about.

I also as a teacher do no feel obligated to force anything down the cerebral throats of my students if it's NOT in the curriculum. My personal beliefs are NEVER brought up in the classroom.

Good questions.

OK I talked to my librarian out our school today to give you a good answer.
Yes, there are age restrictions in the library (and there should be in any school library....if anything just for readability level).
Librarians ARE supposed to monitor what a child checks out.
a 6 year old is NOT supposed to check out a book for a 4th or 5th grade student and part of a librarians job is to make sure the books being checked out are age appropriate.
Even the trade comics we have in our library have an age limit, not just because of possible content, but because of how younger kids handle the books.

If a parent does not want their child checking a certain book out, the parent can make that request to the teacher. It will be noted.
Parents have the privilege of perusing the library anytime they want to see what books are available to them and their children. It's no secret and there is no vast conspiracy on the school or county level to corrupt children at a young age.

Man does that open a can of worms Could be offensive is nearly anything you can name. Can't have anyone eating bacon, or we offend the moslems. Heck, can't have any one eating meat, or we offend the vegans and the buddhists. Removing anything that could be offensive leaves you with an empty library. I think what you mean is remove anything I might think is offensive, and to hell with anyone else.

Sorry, the beginning of your post (see below) gave me the impression that you were speaking as a teacher. It is one of my hot buttons to see a teacher trying to replace parents in raising children. I now see that this was not your intent. My apologies.Unfortunately, in too many schools there is no monitoring of what children check out, whether that is based on age level or parental approval. The reality is, in many schools the parents are left out, or even worse, their requests are ignored by the schools. Some school authorities believe that their academic degrees make them more qualified to make decisions concerning the child's welfare than the parents. This is not to say that the parents are always doing a good job, but it is up to the parents to decide what their children should read. Teachers can provide valuable input, but ultimately the parents have that responsibility.

It's ok, I realized that it was not clear after I saw your response.

I don't have ANY problems with a parent taking responsibility for their child at all.
However, if we start dictating what can and can't be in a school library bsed on ONE person's opinion we are seriously starting to tread on others rights.

I have seen and read of the silliest of books challenged and some really good reads challenged because it OFFENDS someone.

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
Diary of Anne Frank
Harriet the Spy
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Tom Sawyer
Huckleberry Finn
Harry Potter
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Holes
Indian in the Cupboard
The Giving Tree
Captain Underpants

I will always have a problem with a parent, or anyone else for that matter imposing their beliefs on an entire group. If they want to sit down with their child and explain WHAT they can and can't read fine, but don't take that enjoyment away from anyone else.
I will also say ANY parent that is jerked around by a school should threaten with a lawyer because you have the RIGHT to know what your child is learning and what materials are available to them.

If the school in question has similar policies then I can't see any reason for this woman's complaint at all. Maybe she could petition for the book to a higher age area, but that would be all.

Tarnish