By: Kelley
The mystery of parental fears…
This morning I saw a news story about currently banned books and banned books of the past.
Librarians compile a list every year of books they have in their library that are the most complained about. One of the top 10 for 2018 was a nonfiction book about transgender teens called Beyond Magenta.
As a matter of fact, several of the books from last year’s list have something to do with the LGBTQ community. Or with religion. (Apparently the bible is the book that has shown up on the banned list most of all…)
And the article went on to discuss previously banned books that are now part of the mainstream community, i.e. Harry Potter or even 50 Shades of Grey.
So here’s my conundrum
How can I understand the fear that seems to inspire all of this censorship? As an English teacher, I am against censorship of all kinds, and as the frou-frou tree hugger hippie you all know me to be, I’m also against keeping my children from exposure to any and every kind of idea, culture, and potential.
And sure, many readers lifted their eyebrows when I told you we took the boys to a drag show in Las Vegas. And I dunno, maybe some readers might disapprove of my sixth -grader having read all of the Rick Riordan books about Greek and Roman mythology by third grade? Because it glorifies polytheism? See, I can’t even wrap my head around that–to me that sounds ludicrous. For parents who believe in God or parents who do not, all it takes is a discussion with the kid for him or her to understand:
1) fiction vs. non and
2) the historical value of learning about myths of all cultures.
My current fourth grader…
is reading a spy series called Sigma Force, which he found in the library and which I admit I haven’t read—I read all the others, which I do advise parents to do, but man, it’s hard to keep up! I looked through this book he started with called Demon Crown. I didn’t see a lot of language or sex, but there is for sure death.
We talk about that, but that kid is getting into books I’ve never read myself. However, he’s the one of the two who gets easily shocked if he sees a swear word or a questionable scene, so I’m not too worried…he is self-censoring, it seems.
And the Harry Potter thing reminded me of something else. There are people in my own family who have taken part in PTA meetings and ideas about book banning in the past, I think for books like Harry Potter that may have appeared to be related to witchcraft or Satanism, or…whatever. The hypocrisy of Harry Potter censors always got to me, because, um, can you say The Chronicles of Narnia? Witches, talking animals, magic of every stripe all over that series, but THAT book was controversial because of its overtly Christian themes!?!?!
WTH? I will not shut up, I’m serious! 🙂 Governor Jeb Bush even got called out for church/state violations for encouraging students to read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Such a great read…
You know my dad the bookstore owner brought me everything, censored nothing. Ever. But he also talked to me. I read early, but I also understood, early, the difference between reality and fantasy, and what I didn’t understand was always discussed.
I’m trying, though.
Trying to walk a mile in a censor’s shoes, because those are still the shoes of another human, often a parent who is scared to death of the choices their kid is faced with every second of every day, and how little control they really have, especially as the kid gets older and older and sees more and more. It’s gotta be hard.
So I’m not going to be able to solve the mystery of censorship or parental fears, not today, anyway. But I’ll keep on trying…
And where is that manual for perfect parenting anyway, dammit?
I’d love to hear your views…J Until next time: Stay Mystified! — Kelley
Links
Kelley’s Chalkboard Outlines Cozy Series
Down in the Belly of the Whale
Kelley Kaye’s Kozy Korner on Facebook
Buy it!
Buy a copy of Death by Diploma by Kelley here, and help support local bookstores. This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.
Pin it!
This post resonated with me on a deep level. I am a language arts teacher, who now lives and works in the bible belt. I abhor the hypocrisy of what people seek to censor in books, but completely ignore in real life, on television and in their homes. I had a father who also let me feel widely ( ibwas reading Stephen King in elementary school, but we also discussed everything). Children and people are more resilient than we give them credit for. If we provide the right context and scaffolding, that piece of literature could help to shape them.
Well said. I heard recently that the average child witnesses 8,000 simulated murders on TV and in movies before they even reach their teen years. If they can handle that, they can surely handle the heavy topics covered in great literature.
Being an English teacher previously I can totally relate to that. In English literature we came across lots of LGBT community stories, novels and in the library such books are.in the.banned section.and some religious books too. I don’t support this censorship, when on THE TV varied ads are showing Much more appropriate defaming things, it’s like why people don’t censor getting slim or fair ads? That brings complexity among children even elders!
Right. Even if you end up disagreeing with something you read in a book, at least you know that that viewpoint exists and has been considered in shaping your worldview. It’s important to know many sides of an idea or issue so that you can fully support yours.
I was an English major and am an avid reader and I completely agree with Kelley. I was never discouraged from reading anything. In my tenth grade English class we even did a few weeks on banned books. We all had to choose a banned book and read it and then write a report on why it was banned and if we agreed and all that. I don’t think books should be banned but if there is “questionable” material in the book whatever that may mean to each individual there should be an open discussion between parent and child. Even if people don’t like or agree with certain themes or ideas it’s still important to know about and learn so you can have understanding and compassion for others who do believe in those themes while still maintaining your own belief.
Definitely. That sounds like a really good lesson plan. It also shows that banning books raises their popularity because it makes us curious as to what is so edgy about it. So, it backfires on the censors.
Oh so true. As an English teacher I struggle to limit my kids’ reading too much. I do draw lines, but they are usually “not yet” lines. The thing is, I know that if I limit what my kids read and cut them off they will try to do it behind my back. I would rather keep the lines of communication open.
That’s very true. Plus, kids are more likely to learn things that you don’t want them to learn from other kids, rather than books that are going to give them a more informed perspective.