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posted by: Cindy Omlin
| March 31, 2014, 08:53 PM
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“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” a 2007 novel by Sherman Alexie, is being challenged by Meridian, ID, parents concerned over vulgar language and sexual content they say is inappropriate reading in a high school curriculum.
Idaho Education News reports that the brouhaha over the controversial young adult novel will the subject of consideration at a Meridian School Board Tuesday night. At that meeting, the board will hear from the public and from the district's book “reconsideration committee." KITI TV covers the story here.
The book makes the list of the American Library Association's (ALA) list of books most often banned or challenged in 2012 and 2013. The ALA notes that challenges are "not brought by people merely expressing a point of view; rather, they represent requests to remove materials from schools or libraries, thus restricting access to them by others."
According to the ALA:
Sex, profanity, and racism remain the primary categories of objections, and most occur in schools and school libraries. Frequently, challenges are motivated by the desire to protect children. While the intent is commendable, this method of protection contains hazards far greater than exposure to the “evil” against which it is leveled. U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, in Texas v. Johnson, said, “If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the Government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.” Individuals may restrict what they themselves or their children read, but they must not call on governmental or public agencies to prevent others from reading or viewing that material.
In your view, is "The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" an appropriate book for high school students? Should judging books as "in" or "out" be considered censorship or prudence and how much influence should parents have on book selection?
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