No. Carolina county steps back in time; Bans 'Invisible Man'

[Kasept]

Amazing..

http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapt...chool-district

Best quote.. school board member Gary Mason said, “I didn’t find any literary value”..

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Best quote.. school board member Gary Mason said, “I didn’t find any literary value”..

My favorite quote:

“It was a hard read,” McDonald said, according to the Courier-Tribune.

Ladies and gentlemen, your NC school board- WAH WAH BOOK WAS TOOOO HARRRRD. BIG WORDS. NO PICTURES. WAH WAH. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT THE WHITE LINE ON THE HIGHWAY. IS HE DRIVING? THEN WHERE IS HIS CAR? WAH WAH.

One of the great books of the 20th century and the school board finds it too challenging. Though I wonder if perhaps by "hard," in fact, McDonald means, "black."

My high school assigned it for summer reading before junior year and it was one of my favorites. I haven't read it since then. To the NYPL website!

[Danzig]

yes, it is...especially when i just read yesterday about the texas school board and their text book debate about creationism being taught.
i read all about the scopes monkey trial not long ago...seems that bit of history and thinking isn't as much in the past as i thought.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

My favorite quote:

Ladies and gentlemen, your NC school board- WAH WAH BOOK WAS TOOOO HARRRRD. BIG WORDS. NO PICTURES. WAH WAH. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT THE WHITE LINE ON THE HIGHWAY. IS HE DRIVING? THEN WHERE IS HIS CAR? WAH WAH.

One of the great books of the 20th century and the school board finds it too challenging. Though I wonder if perhaps by "hard," in fact, McDonald means, "black."

My high school assigned it for summer reading before junior year and it was one of my favorites. I haven't read it since then. To the NYPL website!

i can't help but wonder if these school board members also think huck finn should be banned, due to language?

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i can't help but wonder if these school board members also think huck finn should be banned, due to language?

I imagine they have no problem with language they most likely use themselves when they think no one is listening.

On a slight tangent- the censoring of the language in some editions of that book also bothers me, because it completely misses the point of what Mark Twain was trying to say.

[dellinger63]

I'd love to read the 12-page complaint letter to the school board written by Kimiyutta Parson, the mother who started all this. An 11th grader is a junior in high school. Meanwhile a school-board affirms her lunacy with the crazy decision to ban it. This has SNL skit written all over it.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

I'd love to read the 12-page complaint letter to the school board written by Kimiyutta Parson, the mother who started all this. An 11th grader is a junior in high school. Meanwhile a school-board affirms her lunacy with the crazy decision to ban it. This has SNL skit written all over it.

It makes me very skeptical about the education this parent had- did this woman not read anything in high school? Did the school board members? My junior year of college, a parent challenged The Catcher in the Rye in my old school district- we were assigned it before the start of 9th grade, and most of the entire high school read it at some point in the curriculum. But a parent wanted it removed. My former English teacher told me the head of the school board made a passionate statement about how that book had helped him through very difficult times when he was a teenager and refused to take it out of the curriculum. It was really moving- school officials really thinking about what is best for the kids, and remembering when they were kids themselves.

[Danzig]

it's right to question the parents' education, as well as their motives in making these moves.
i worked with a girl who had gone to a private school, run by a church. she read nothing in school except bible verses. her education in history, civics, science was non-existent.
i can't imagine not reading american lit,british lit, no ancient works-no chaucer, no dickens, no twain, no steinbeck, the iliad, the odyssey!? the horror!

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

It makes me very skeptical about the education this parent had- did this woman not read anything in high school? .

Part of the reason I wanted to read the complaint. I suspect part of it may be written in 'tongues'.

Went to an all boys Catholic school and was assigned both Invisible Man and Catcher in the Rye. It's Faulkner's The Bear I would have banned.

The only form of censorship I can remember was during the showing of Cool Hand Luke (to discuss Luke as a Jesus figure, in a theology class ) When Lucile was washing the car with her boobs, the 100 or so 15-yr old boys assembled, did our best mimicking a Marine platoon watching a strip show. The movie stopped lights went on, and we were yelled at, something about being gentlemen. The lights went out, movie started and we all responded the same only a couple notches up. Movie stopped, lights went on and it was over.

The dean was there for the encore and in one of his not so bright decisions instructed everyone to the isles for pushups. (he was ex military and once threatened to break my arm) Problem was there wasn't enough room. This infuriated him to the point, all 100 of us, were told to report after school to the outside quad (was winter) where we knew we would be standing for an hour. Knowing the dean I gambled no attendance would be taken as his 'ego' told him no one would defy him, and skipped out. I was right that time.

BTW Cool Hand Luke is still one of my all-time favs.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

Part of the reason I wanted to read the complaint. I suspect part of it may be written in 'tongues'.

Went to an all boys Catholic school and was assigned both Invisible Man and Catcher in the Rye. It's Faulkner's The Bear I would have banned.

The only form of censorship I can remember was during the showing of Cool Hand Luke (to discuss Luke as a Jesus figure, in a theology class ) When Lucile was washing the car with her boobs, the 100 or so 15-yr old boys assembled, did our best mimicking a Marine platoon watching a strip show. The movie stopped lights went on, and we were yelled at, something about being gentlemen. The lights went out, movie started and we all responded the same only a couple notches up. Movie stopped, lights went on and it was over.

The dean was there for the encore and in one of his not so bright decisions instructed everyone to the isles for pushups. (he was ex military and once threatened to break my arm) Problem was there wasn't enough room. This infuriated him to the point, all 100 of us, were told to report after school to the outside quad (was winter) where we knew we would be standing for an hour. Knowing the dean I gambled no attendance would be taken as his 'ego' told him no one would defy him, and skipped out. I was right that time.

BTW Cool Hand Luke is still one of my all-time favs.

That's a hilarious story, both in the attempted discipline and in the teacher's attempted justification for showing "Cool Hand Luke" other than, this is a really great movie.

We had a whole unit in sophomore English devoted to Rebel Without a Cause, and to this day, I still think it's just because the teacher loved the movie.

We had Light in August and As I Lay Dying for our Faulkner books. I hated Light in August, but I loved As I Lay Dying. In this case, I think it was because LiA was a summer reading assignment and AILD we did in class. It's helpful to have a really good teacher guide you through your first Faulkner book. I had a brilliant, brilliant Senior English teacher and she just made us all fall in love with As I Lay Dying.

I should give Light in August another chance.

[Rudeboyelvis]

'The cornerstone of democracy rests on the foundation of an educated electorate': Thomas Jefferson

As we continue to concern ourselves with the keeping up with the Kardashians, the world around us it getting more and more educated, while we continue to fall further and further behind. The growth of the Socialist movement in the country is directly related to the failed educational monopoly imposed upon our children.

Sports. Competitiveness. That is key. We need to develop a generation of mindless, competitive workers that don't know anything other than to work harder and faster than their peers. Education is not essential - Free thinkers? Out of the question! Now you're talkin' Heresy!

Instead, let's make sure our kids are on a year round traveling soccer/softball/ whatever team where there is no time for anything other than practice and sports.

Reading a book? For fun???!!! LOLOLOLOL! My ten year old needs a new 300.00 softball bat to be better than his other teammates. Who in the world has time for anything but TMZ to get caught up on the "news" anyway?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

That's a hilarious story, both in the attempted discipline and in the teacher's attempted justification for showing "Cool Hand Luke" other than, this is a really great movie.

We had a whole unit in sophomore English devoted to Rebel Without a Cause, and to this day, I still think it's just because the teacher loved the movie.

We had Light in August and As I Lay Dying for our Faulkner books. I hated Light in August, but I loved As I Lay Dying. In this case, I think it was because LiA was a summer reading assignment and AILD we did in class. It's helpful to have a really good teacher guide you through your first Faulkner book. I had a brilliant, brilliant Senior English teacher and she just made us all fall in love with As I Lay Dying.

I should give Light in August another chance.

it's surprising, but we didn't read any faulkner during 9th grade, when it was american lit. i have four of steinbecks, and enjoyed three (including light in august). have tried to get thru the sound and the fury a couple times, with no luck.
steinbeck-grapes of wrath, hawthorne-the scarlet letter, melville-moby dick. didn't enjoy the first, loved the second, hated the third. i did go back a few years ago and read grapes of wrath again, as i'd read and loved east of eden...enjoyed it tremendously. and of course mark twains huck finn. some short stories as well, but those are the ones who stick out the most to me.
we also read at least one shakespeare each year. i detest romeo and juliet. my faves are othello, hamlet, macbeth.
read dickens' a tale of two cities (love it, have read several times), great expections (meh)...i own all dickens books, great stuff.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

'The cornerstone of democracy rests on the foundation of an educated electorate': Thomas Jefferson

As we continue to concern ourselves with the keeping up with the Kardashians, the world around us it getting more and more educated, while we continue to fall further and further behind. The growth of the Socialist movement in the country is directly related to the failed educational monopoly imposed upon our children.

Sports. Competitiveness. That is key. We need to develop a generation of mindless, competitive workers that don't know anything other than to work harder and faster than their peers. Education is not essential - Free thinkers? Out of the question! Now you're talkin' Heresy!

Instead, let's make sure our kids are on a year round traveling soccer/softball/ whatever team where there is no time for anything other than practice and sports.

Reading a book? For fun???!!! LOLOLOLOL! My ten year old needs a new 300.00 softball bat to be better than his other teammates. Who in the world has time for anything but TMZ to get caught up on the "news" anyway?

that's so funny....i was reading a history book not long ago (on china maybe? either that, or it was civil war (maybe brands grant bio-fabulous book!) and someone asked if i was taking college classes.
no.
-then why are you reading ____?
because i want to.
-blank stare. really?
then they moved away quickly, perhaps thinking my malady might be contagious?
people joke about war and peace (huge book). i have it, read it, it's excellent. you get lost in it, you're not aware how far you've gone, or how far to go when reading it.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Danzig

it's surprising, but we didn't read any faulkner during 9th grade, when it was american lit. i have four of steinbecks, and enjoyed three (including light in august). have tried to get thru the sound and the fury a couple times, with no luck.
steinbeck-grapes of wrath, hawthorne-the scarlet letter, melville-moby dick. didn't enjoy the first, loved the second, hated the third. i did go back a few years ago and read grapes of wrath again, as i'd read and loved east of eden...enjoyed it tremendously. and of course mark twains huck finn. some short stories as well, but those are the ones who stick out the most to me.
we also read at least one shakespeare each year. i detest romeo and juliet. my faves are othello, hamlet, macbeth.
read dickens' a tale of two cities (love it, have read several times), great expections (meh)...i own all dickens books, great stuff.

I read The Sound and the Fury in college, as part of a Philosophy of Literature class- I really liked it, but it helped getting to talk about it twice a week and to read it with a focus (in that case, what the book say about the author's view of the world). But my husband has tried and he can't get through it either.

I am team King Lear. My absolute favorite Shakespeare.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

'The cornerstone of democracy rests on the foundation of an educated electorate': Thomas Jefferson

As we continue to concern ourselves with the keeping up with the Kardashians, the world around us it getting more and more educated, while we continue to fall further and further behind. The growth of the Socialist movement in the country is directly related to the failed educational monopoly imposed upon our children.

Sports. Competitiveness. That is key. We need to develop a generation of mindless, competitive workers that don't know anything other than to work harder and faster than their peers. Education is not essential - Free thinkers? Out of the question! Now you're talkin' Heresy!

Instead, let's make sure our kids are on a year round traveling soccer/softball/ whatever team where there is no time for anything other than practice and sports.

Reading a book? For fun???!!! LOLOLOLOL! My ten year old needs a new 300.00 softball bat to be better than his other teammates. Who in the world has time for anything but TMZ to get caught up on the "news" anyway?

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor...eminizing.html

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I read The Sound and the Fury in college, as part of a Philosophy of Literature class- I really liked it, but it helped getting to talk about it twice a week and to read it with a focus (in that case, what the book say about the author's view of the world). But my husband has tried and he can't get through it either.

I am team King Lear. My absolute favorite Shakespeare.

king lear is a good one as well. great story.

and the slate story...how sad. we played all those games, tag, etc, and everyone made it just fine...

of course, we also played dirt clod wars. not sure how we didn't make trips to the e.r. for that one.

[joeydb]

"Fiction" is a category of writing.
"Literature" is an opinion about certain works of Fiction.

"I didn't find any literary value" - so who asked you?

Maybe next they can redo the Scopes monkey trial for a remake of Inherit the Wind...

[Danzig]

http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/...?absolute=true

i really wish they'd have put in the article why this book was banned originally. i can't believe this book is on any banned list, anywhere. unbelievable!