What do you think? Banned Books Week
I didn’t really have much to say about Banned Books Week, but I’ve seen some interesting posts around the blogosphere on the subject. Here’s the first one I read. Sherrill Quinn has a few interesting things to say here and here.
Here’s a comment that I posted about the subject:
There’s a push at a local elementary school to remove Harry Potter from the libraries. A preachers wife thinks they’d be bad for her kids because of the magical aspects. Now, get this… she’s NEVER read the books and she freely admits to that. She’s basing her complaint on what other people have told her.
In the same newspaper article there was another quote from another Preacher’s wife and she said she loved Harry Potter and that so long as kids are reading, she’s happy.
I agree. This book wasn’t even required reading. But it was the most checked out book in the library!
What do you think? Are there certain books that should be banned? I dare to guess that 99% of you will say no, simply because I think the people who do think some books should be banned aren’t the type who’d visit my blog. But that’s just a guess. 
Where would you like to go next?
- Blogging today… I blogged today at CataNetwork Readers' Lounge...
- Madison’s March News Dear Readers, Welcome to my new (and...
- Interview with Sherrill Quinn MC: Hi Sherrill! Thanks for agreeing to...
- Meet Karen Erickson I recently had the pleasure of interviewing...
- New Chapter of my free online read… Yes, I know I've been terribly MIA....
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By Kim, September 25, 2006 @ 6:04 pm
I think you are assuming correctly, Madison. Banning books it absolutely ridiculous! However, much like the CD’s that state ‘explicit lyrics’ it might actually help in sales. Rebellion knows no bounds, hehe.
Best,
Kim
By Pamela, September 27, 2006 @ 1:35 pm
I can relate to the Harry Potter issue. A friend of mine criticized me for allowing my child to read Harry Potter (it was about 6 years when he was reading the very first HP book). She’d never read the book and didn’t intend to read it, but that didn’t stop her from being very opinionated on the subject. She claimed that she didn’t need to read the book because she knew from what she’d heard about it that it was inappropriate. I had read the book, and I saw nothing inappropriate about it. My son loved it. He’s read all the HP books numerous times and it hasn’t negatively affected him
By madison, October 19, 2006 @ 9:56 am
I’d rather my kid read it and then I have to discuss parts of it with him than not have to read it at all. I understand that sometimes it’s “the company we keep” but I’d like to think that parents would look at everything as an educational venue for their kids. Kids are always learning. And by saying, that book is bad… well, that’s just teaching him to be intolerant, not to think for himself. At least that’s the way I look at it.
Are there things I wouldn’t want my kids reading. Of course. Not until they’re old enough to think for themselves and I think that each child is different so I couldn’t put an age on it, just knowing my kid would determine that time line. But I think everything we come in contact with shapes us. And I firmly believe that’s a good thing. Because I believe being well rounded is a very good thing. And how can you be well rounded if you’re not exposed to lots of different things. My kids could try HP and decide that it’s not for them. And they could very well decide they’d rather read Emerson than Poe and that’d be fine by me.