A reader asks:
Can you explain to us the "board of education shenanigans" as you put it for those of us that don't know what your talking about? But I'm thinking from your comment it will be a little one sided...
OK, "shenanigans" is a value judgment. I fall on the side that believes it strayed off course in recent years. I was referring to a series of things, most notably the yo-yoing standards on evolution teaching in the past 7 years, highlighted by the hearings on Intelligent Design that were ridiculed by scientists; the hiring of a guy with no experience inside the education world that infuriated other board members; and the label of some well-regarded literature as "porn."
I might be missing something.
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3 comments:
Is this one of the pieces of "well-regarded literature" that you want your daughter reading?
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
I found the list on google. The address is www.classKC.org Look in white box on the right hand side of the page for 14 "well-regarded" books.
I understand this blog will probably be censored or edited. But, hey, I tried.
I went to the website you listed and read the entry for song of solomon.
The bible has all of those things in it to. Do you label it as porn?
or just fantasy?
I am late in joining this conversation. I personally believe the difference between the 14 listed books and The Bible to be very great.
Like DAS, I haven't read all of the books. In fact I haven't finished any of the 14. From excerpts , reviews, and the limited time I have spent with a few of the books, I am confident in saying that they are extremely vulgar in language, something that can not be held in truthful claim about The Bible. I think this is very shaky ground for SG and DAS to be staking their claims upon. The Bible uses phrases like "lay with a woman" "inappropriate acts with animals" "perverse". It may be helpful for us for them to give us references from The Bible that would be close to the language of the 14 books in question. I am no Biblical expert, haven't read it in its entirety either, so references similar to that of pabbis.com or classKC.org would be useful.
Like I stated earlier, I find it appalling that these books are being assigned in 9th, 10th, 11th, & 12th grades. The depictions are very graphic and something that I as an adult need not view. The bestiality, rape, desire for murder or suicide & general degradation of humanity may unfortunately be true, I can not declare them not be in some households. Yet, I do not believe it to be the best plan for change in behavior for the United States Public Education to make these vulgar books required reading.
Pornography? I am not sure. Public school material? I hope not. I hope that Kansas follows Texas & Wisconsin on this issue and takes a long look at what our sons & daughters are being required to read by teachers. If parents believe "Beloved" or "Stotan" is edifying for their children, something that will help them understand humanity and challenge them to higher standards in living, or simply an enjoyable book then fantastic. These books should not be required reading for public schools.
A very long post. Thanks and I enjoy the conversation.
Sincerely
Loyd
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