[Vision2020] "Proposal would let schools ban books" (fwd)

[Jacob Spencer]

I think it is interesting the number of irrational and unfocussed
arguments that are tossed around every time someone says, "book
banning."  I was at the Holocaust Museum today, and was re-introduced to
the horrors of Hitler's regime, including book burning.  However, I
don't see anything in the statement by the Idaho Rep. that reminds me of
anything I saw today.  Obviously the Idaho legislature is not attempting
to burn or ban any books.  What they are saying is that parents and
local school districts have the authority to keep kids from reading
certain materials while at school.  I see nothing wrong with this.  If
some parents feel their kids should read these books, they can always
check them out at one of our Public libraries, no liberty destroyed. 
Try to keep the polemics on this one down, the storm troopers are not
coming.

Jacob Spencer
Woodbridge, Virginia

>>> Thomas Hansen <tomh@FNA.fsn.uidaho.edu> 02/21/03 17:07 PM >>>
And a hearty "Sieg Heil" to Rep. Peter Nielson and his fellow Brown
Shirts.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

-----Original Message-----
From: Debbie Gray [mailto:dgray@uidaho.edu]
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 1:44 PM
To: Vision 2020
Subject: [Vision2020] "Proposal would let schools ban books" (fwd)


Thought some visionaries might be interested in the following item. This
last week, Post Falls schools recently were challenged for allowing 
'The
Chocolate Wars' to circulate in the junior high. A parent complained and
now if someone wants to check it out, they must get permission from
their
parents...

--------------------------FWD-----------------------
>From the Thursday edition of the Idaho Statesman:


Proposal would let schools ban books

A bill that would allow local school boards to ban certain books from
school libraries will be considered in the House Education Committee.
Introduced by Rep. Peter Nielson, R-Mountain Home, on Wednesday, the
bill
says individual school boards may exclude "any materials that do not
support the definition of a thorough system of public schools,"
established by Idaho law.

The section of law referenced in the bill mentions basic values such as
honesty, self-discipline and respect for authority.

Nielson said it s his intention that local school boards are simply made
aware that they have the option to pull books off library shelves.

"We require quite a few things that do not foster self-discipline,"
Nielson said. "Some library books have a preponderance of swear words,
they mention sexual acts. These are the kinds of things I want them to
look at."

Edition Date: 02-20-2003

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_____________________________________________________
 List services made available by First Step Internet, 
 serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   
               http://www.fsr.net                       
          mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com
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