My kid's 7th grade lit class was going to start reading from a selection of banned books. A list came home along with a permission/acknowledgment form. Two days later, a letter from Dr. D. announcing a change in plans. Now my son will no longer have the opportunity to read "The Catcher in the Rye" in class. And I am left wondering what happened and why there was a change of heart.
Clam I highly suggest that you contact the teacher as this may be the result of a parent(s) objection to their child reading this book. If you let the teacher know that you support his/her choice it might have an impact on future decisions. I personally think that the banned book assignment is a great addition to a kid’s literature experience! If one bans a book, then my freedom of choice has been compromised.
“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!”—Dr. Seuss
Come on, now. Just because they aren't reading it at school doesn't mean your child (or you) has lost some elemental freedom of choice. I just grabbed this book off of my shelf and if my seventh grader wants to read it, then they may.
I did laugh as I started to read and on the first page and realized that many young readers may mistake Holden Caulfield's reference to David Copperfield for the magician, not the classic by Dickens.
TCITR was just one book on the list. I have always enjoyed that book and thought it was a good time for the kid to read it. Kill two birds with one stone. . . he reads the book, and learns the facts of life.
Not sure what the reason was, but they did "tune down" the selection. A little more fantasy, a little less real world.
My point is that being able to discuss a book with his/her classmates leads to an exciting discussion. Reading a book alone is fun, but more fun to hear others thoughts and ideas. When a book is removed because someone has challenged it, removes a great learning experience!
“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!”—Dr. Seuss
I really do like the writing style of TCITR and believe it would appeal to young readers. I know when I read it the first time that I found it rather racy, but that was in a day long before today, when media/internet outlets regularly expose our kids to previously adult-themed content.
Originally posted by GEmom2: I really do like the writing style of TCITR and believe it would appeal to young readers. I know when I read it the first time that I found it rather racy, but that was in a day long before today, when media/internet outlets regularly expose our kids to previously adult-themed content.
send your kid to my house, clam. we'll lend him plenty of good books.
screw the schools, reading starts at home. this fundamental source of knowledge, wonder and information is crucial to a well-rounded individual. and the responsibility of igniting the love of reading lies squarely with the parent's. it's they, not teachers, who need to be the primary instigators of what their kids read.
funny thing, #2 son's college entrance essay is based on my giving him "illusions" when he was in 8th grade. furthermore, i'll never forget the astonishment of #1 son's 8th grade reading teacher when she "caught" him reading catch-22 in class. she wasn't so much alarmed as amazed he was reading it (as yoss will tell you, heller's writing style takes some getting used to, but is worth it.). we still laugh about that incident today.
btw, i believe that EVERY boy should have a well-worn, dog eared copy of CITR.
lastly, i still to this day fondly recall my father telling me -- once i had reached junior high -- that i was to read the front section of the newspaper ever day. it never seemed like a chore to me, rather an honor. i remember feeling so respected by him as, every day, we discussed the news together.
those are magic times parents get to share w/their kids.
------ Where the Sidewalk Ends. Shel Silverstein. Harper. Challenged at the West Allis-West Milwaukee, Wis. school libraries (1986) because the book "suggests drug use, the occult, suicide, death, violence, disrespect for truth, disrespect for legitimate authority, rebellion against parents." Challenged at the Central Columbia School District in Bloomsburg, Pa. (1993) because a poem titled "Dreadful" talks about how "someone ate the baby." On the other hand, this book does present the negative consequences of not taking the garbage out.
i never said it should be limited to males. you did. i said every boy should have it.
holden's a young man. it's a coming-of-age story most boys can relate to. if a young lady wants to carry around a book about a young man coming of age, more power to her.
yep, many well read people do read books for their literary value. and some cherish them because they relate to characters in the books. that's all i'm saying. this is THE quintessential coming of age american novel. it happens to be about a boy. it happens to resonate quite well with boys. i happened to recommend that boys keep a copy of it. let it go. i'm not implying it's not for girls.
