Comments on: ACLU Files Suit Against Utah School District for Removing Polacco’s ‘In Our Mothers’ House’ from General Circulation http://www.slj.com/2012/11/censorship/aclu-files-suit-against-utah-school-district-for-removing-polaccos-our-mothers-house-from-general-circulation/ The world's largest reviewer of books, multimedia, and technology for children and teens Sun, 17 Feb 2013 12:24:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Susan http://www.slj.com/2012/11/censorship/aclu-files-suit-against-utah-school-district-for-removing-polaccos-our-mothers-house-from-general-circulation/#comment-11028 Susan Tue, 27 Nov 2012 23:17:22 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=21164#comment-11028 Tolerance and understanding differences is not the same as promoting or agreeing with a lifestye. For example, I am tolerant of others who think differently and live differently, but I'm not going to agree with them all the time. Providing different perspectives on how people live broadens our minds, but it doesn't equal endorsement! If I read a book about Amish life to children, is anyone going to accuse me of promoting an anti-electric lifestyle? Of course not. Books that show same sex families help kids understand that they exist and that they aren't so different. My kids have 2 moms. We are out there and other kids will meet ours... will they love their neighbors or will they condemn their differences? I hope my childrem are treated with respect by all, whether you agree with me or not! As for school librarians, they're in a tricky spot. Librarians generally want open access and a broad range of viewpoints to better serve all their patrons. But school librarians are saddled with so many rules, and as teachers (which they also are) they teach and support curriculum and administrative rules. I'm glad to be a public librarian, seeing what school librarians face, but I have to tip my hat to them: it can't be easy! Tolerance and understanding differences is not the same as promoting or agreeing with a lifestye. For example, I am tolerant of others who think differently and live differently, but I’m not going to agree with them all the time. Providing different perspectives on how people live broadens our minds, but it doesn’t equal endorsement! If I read a book about Amish life to children, is anyone going to accuse me of promoting an anti-electric lifestyle? Of course not. Books that show same sex families help kids understand that they exist and that they aren’t so different. My kids have 2 moms. We are out there and other kids will meet ours… will they love their neighbors or will they condemn their differences? I hope my childrem are treated with respect by all, whether you agree with me or not!

As for school librarians, they’re in a tricky spot. Librarians generally want open access and a broad range of viewpoints to better serve all their patrons. But school librarians are saddled with so many rules, and as teachers (which they also are) they teach and support curriculum and administrative rules. I’m glad to be a public librarian, seeing what school librarians face, but I have to tip my hat to them: it can’t be easy!

]]> By: tess pfeifer http://www.slj.com/2012/11/censorship/aclu-files-suit-against-utah-school-district-for-removing-polaccos-our-mothers-house-from-general-circulation/#comment-11026 tess pfeifer Tue, 27 Nov 2012 22:32:39 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=21164#comment-11026 Librarians have worked hard for years to offer representation that speaks to our diversity as human beings. By providing children with mirror images/stories/texts that reflect their lives, we tell them that their place at the table is honored. By providing children with images/stories/texts of difference, we nurture respect for and understanding of others. This should be part of every library's mission, unless it is a private library. Librarians have worked hard for years to offer representation that speaks to our diversity as human beings. By providing children with mirror images/stories/texts that reflect their lives, we tell them that their place at the table is honored. By providing children with images/stories/texts of difference, we nurture respect for and understanding of others. This should be part of every library’s mission, unless it is a private library.

]]> By: Joan Enders http://www.slj.com/2012/11/censorship/aclu-files-suit-against-utah-school-district-for-removing-polaccos-our-mothers-house-from-general-circulation/#comment-11023 Joan Enders Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:50:30 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=21164#comment-11023 A school and a school district serve their students, parents and supporting community. Could this be a situation where the majority does rule, and the miniority deserves respect for their differences? When I defended a novel for 2.5 years as the complainant rejected opposing decision, and petitioned a higher judgment venue, I constantly faced the possibility that my book selection may end up not being the majority decision. It would have been a professional and philosophical slap, but the decision would have to be complied with by all. Fair? Yes. The best educational decision (in my mind)? No. Again, read my first sentence again. BTW, the complainant lost. A school and a school district serve their students, parents and supporting community. Could this be a situation where the majority does rule, and the miniority deserves respect for their differences? When I defended a novel for 2.5 years as the complainant rejected opposing decision, and petitioned a higher judgment venue, I constantly faced the possibility that my book selection may end up not being the majority decision. It would have been a professional and philosophical slap, but the decision would have to be complied with by all. Fair? Yes. The best educational decision (in my mind)? No. Again, read my first sentence again. BTW, the complainant lost.

]]> By: Everett Rupert http://www.slj.com/2012/11/censorship/aclu-files-suit-against-utah-school-district-for-removing-polaccos-our-mothers-house-from-general-circulation/#comment-11022 Everett Rupert Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:07:45 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=21164#comment-11022 The Utah school district 's stance brings us to grips with the 800 pound. gorilla in the room: tolerance. It seems it us no longer to just understand a point of view but not accept it as ones own belief: now we are expected to accept everything , lest we be branded heretics . So , no, I would. not want my school. aged child to be taught that a gay life.style is a viable alterative. Teach him/her to follow the Bible and learn true tolerance . The Utah school district ‘s stance brings us to grips with the 800 pound. gorilla in the room: tolerance. It seems it us no longer to just understand a point of view but not accept it as ones own belief: now we are expected to accept everything , lest we be branded heretics . So , no, I would. not want my school. aged child to be taught that a gay life.style is a viable alterative. Teach him/her to follow the Bible and learn true tolerance .

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