Banned Books--
For example, many Texas schools are no longer reading Huck Finn because of the use of the "N word" although the same students who protested the book because of the word were engaged in conversation with their peers (of all races) and using the same word.
Some other books that are no longer "allowed" for reading in schools/school libraries...
Tom Sawyer
Lord of the Flies
Slaughterhouse Five
Native Son
The Catcher in the Rye
A Wrinkle in Time
The Color Purple
Of Mice and Men
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
To Kill A Mockingbird
Deenie
For me personally, I wonder how we are going to raise our children to think for themselves, acknowledge the past, present and make good choices for the future if they aren't allowed to read. Reading helps with mental development--from developing vocabulary, creative and there is extensive evidence that children that read regularly have higher IQs.
In any case, I wonder why we have become a police state on an educational level yet crap is on TV everyday and Grand Theft Auto is available on a video game system aimed at children under 10.
People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas. ~Author Unknown
on 4/30/09 5:18 am, edited 4/30/09 5:18 am - Sweet Dreams lives in , PA
on banning books. Dr. Maya Angelo is my shero.....I know Why the Caged Bird Sings ...was very transormational reading as were a couple of others on your list.... I say that the schools are simply taking the easy, lazy way out....if they don't have controversial books... then they don't have to have to take the time to have dialogue surrounding a lot of the more prevalent issues facing our society...racism and sexism being a two examples. I think that its important for this to happen at the middle and high school levels. But....they do need specialists or folks who know what they are doing ....having these discussions. 
It's totally crazy! I would have my child read each and every one of those books. What is becoming of our world? Young kids listen to rappers and others use the N word all day. What exactly is going to happen to them if they read it in classic literature? Oh, maybe they would learn proper sentence structure!
Even though I enjoyed reading these books in school...(except color purple) I have to say maybe it is time for schools to look into other books...books written in this decade
However I would like to see I know why the caged bird sings still on the list...then again maybe they could add Yesterday I Cried... that was kinda a newer version of Maya's book
And honestly I didn't get the whole fixation with Native Son...that story pissed me off! Just another "keep your hands off our women" story if you ask me!
Now Lord of the flies showed how crazy yo' people can be, worshipping a dayumm boar head.....lol I can see why religious folks would want that book out of the schools...surprised it was there in the first place...rethinking maybe that one is a keeper as well..lol
*sidenote* Black Like Me would be a good classic book to add to the must read list
WHAT!!!!!!!
i LUUUVVVEEEDD lord of the flies!! i think it's a great picture of what happens when the mob rules!
in fact, i love all the books on this list.
m son's school still has them as required reading. and, if that changes, it will still be required reading on mommy's summer reading list.
so,
either way,
it's all good.
i think what the schools do is just a small component of what is needed 2 raise educated well rounded kids. as parents, we have 2 take more responsibility and become active participants in our children's education. it's hard 2 do this when u r tired and just want 2 veg out and watch tv. but, it's gotta be done!
