Comments on: I Thought Reading was Fundamental http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/ "Hello, Doctor Silbermann. How's the knee?" - Sarah Connor Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:51:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pepper http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-33570 Pepper Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:57:46 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=6726#comment-33570 I used to teach elementary school kids in an after school program. We quickly learned that trying to teach them anything at all right before winter break was useless- so I would show them old Disney movies. I showed them "Robin Hood" the ones with the foxes? Yeah, one parent said it was too violent- that the 'book' ( most definitly an abridged copy, with pictures) was much less violent and more appropriate. She then proceeded to say I was raised in a 'violent household' since I deemed this kinda material acceptable ( my kids were 2nd grade to sixth)- best part was my mother worked in the program with me and gave the women in question a good talking to :-D There seems to be no rhyme or reason to what is acceptable or not, it largely deppends on the environment. I used to teach elementary school kids in an after school program. We quickly learned that trying to teach them anything at all right before winter break was useless- so I would show them old Disney movies. I showed them "Robin Hood" the ones with the foxes? Yeah, one parent said it was too violent- that the 'book' ( most definitly an abridged copy, with pictures) was much less violent and more appropriate.
She then proceeded to say I was raised in a 'violent household' since I deemed this kinda material acceptable ( my kids were 2nd grade to sixth)- best part was my mother worked in the program with me and gave the women in question a good talking to :-D
There seems to be no rhyme or reason to what is acceptable or not, it largely deppends on the environment.

]]> By: Jeffrey Nieves http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-33528 Jeffrey Nieves Thu, 28 May 2009 22:44:38 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=6726#comment-33528 I think you actually ended up with the total right choice, and I agree, I would have loved to read some more genre in High School. I remember being pumped that a teacher let me read Hitchhiker's Guide. Also, schools, in general, can be weird about material they will and won't allow. I wasn't allowed to teach the history of vampires for Halloween, which I really wanted to do. I think you actually ended up with the total right choice, and I agree, I would have loved to read some more genre in High School. I remember being pumped that a teacher let me read Hitchhiker's Guide. Also, schools, in general, can be weird about material they will and won't allow. I wasn't allowed to teach the history of vampires for Halloween, which I really wanted to do.

]]> By: James Pickering http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-33523 James Pickering Thu, 28 May 2009 20:16:43 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=6726#comment-33523 The nail was hit on the head when someone said that the biggest complainers were not readers. It goes back to a day when a friend and I were discussing a movie about a famous person. I told her that it was usually the ignorant that made the most noise. To illustrate my point, my boss came in and asked us what were talking about and upon hearing the topic, launched into a stream of colorful words about that person. I asked him if he had ever read about that person or read anything by that person. "No" was the answer and thus I turned to my friend and smiled as my point had been made. The ignorant are most afraid of the unknown. The nail was hit on the head when someone said that the biggest complainers were not readers. It goes back to a day when a friend and I were discussing a movie about a famous person. I told her that it was usually the ignorant that made the most noise. To illustrate my point, my boss came in and asked us what were talking about and upon hearing the topic, launched into a stream of colorful words about that person. I asked him if he had ever read about that person or read anything by that person. "No" was the answer and thus I turned to my friend and smiled as my point had been made. The ignorant are most afraid of the unknown.

]]> By: Robin http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-33515 Robin Thu, 28 May 2009 15:38:58 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=6726#comment-33515 She was actually pretty nice about everything else. She lived down the street from us and always bought several boxes of Girl Scout cookies. But that strict adherence to reading level was particularly frustrating to eight-year-old me, especially since it took a very long time for that naturally shy kid to learn how to assert her own abilities. She was actually pretty nice about everything else. She lived down the street from us and always bought several boxes of Girl Scout cookies. But that strict adherence to reading level was particularly frustrating to eight-year-old me, especially since it took a very long time for that naturally shy kid to learn how to assert her own abilities.

]]> By: Rhea Dee http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-33483 Rhea Dee Wed, 27 May 2009 18:07:30 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=6726#comment-33483 I REALLY want to read The Strange Adventures of Rangergirl now. Sounds awesome. :) I REALLY want to read The Strange Adventures of Rangergirl now. Sounds awesome. :)

]]> By: AlphaGirl http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-33495 AlphaGirl Wed, 27 May 2009 16:51:16 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=6726#comment-33495 Mine were the same way. Even books that had raised a $h!tstorm, like some of Judy Blume's books, I was allowed to read. Mine were the same way. Even books that had raised a $h!tstorm, like some of Judy Blume's books, I was allowed to read.

]]> By: AlphaGirl http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-33494 AlphaGirl Wed, 27 May 2009 16:43:11 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=6726#comment-33494 I really hated <i>A Separate Peace</i> - thankfully I only had to read it once in 10th grade. What so aggravating about that particular complaint was that the parent freely admitted to having never read the book and cited seeing it on "the gay shelf" at the video store as the entire argument. Naturally, my first thought was <i>if you're so concerned gay themes, why are you looking at "the gay shelf"?</i> Although those themes could certainly be read into the book, they weren't addressed in the context of the class. I may hate that book, but I hate its disappearance from the reading list even more. I really hated A Separate Peace – thankfully I only had to read it once in 10th grade. What so aggravating about that particular complaint was that the parent freely admitted to having never read the book and cited seeing it on "the gay shelf" at the video store as the entire argument. Naturally, my first thought was if you're so concerned gay themes, why are you looking at "the gay shelf"? Although those themes could certainly be read into the book, they weren't addressed in the context of the class. I may hate that book, but I hate its disappearance from the reading list even more.

]]> By: AlphaGirl http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-33493 AlphaGirl Wed, 27 May 2009 16:34:53 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=6726#comment-33493 Stephen King and VC Andrews were all over the place from middle school up through high school - not as school sanctioned reading, but given to us by parents, brothers, sisters, etc. I have to speculate that the loudest complainers aren't readers themselves. Stephen King and VC Andrews were all over the place from middle school up through high school – not as school sanctioned reading, but given to us by parents, brothers, sisters, etc. I have to speculate that the loudest complainers aren't readers themselves.

]]> By: AlphaGirl http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-33492 AlphaGirl Wed, 27 May 2009 16:32:09 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=6726#comment-33492 Mrs. You-can't-read-that sounds like a poopy-head. :) Mrs. You-can't-read-that sounds like a poopy-head. :)

]]> By: pinkraygun http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-33491 pinkraygun Wed, 27 May 2009 15:27:46 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=6726#comment-33491 Yeah, comments are being weird. Sorry. Yeah, comments are being weird. Sorry.

]]> By: Noel http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-33490 Noel Wed, 27 May 2009 14:31:54 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=6726#comment-33490 You make such an excellent point about how updtight everyone is about reading material...especially for high schools. In some cases, yeah, I can get it. But come on. I was really lucky that my parents never really regulated my reading material. They regulated a lot of OTHER things, but somehow my books flew under the radar. ^_^ As a result, though, I know exactly what I like and don't, and what I will tolerate and won't. Other kids should get that opportunity. You make such an excellent point about how updtight everyone is about reading material…especially for high schools. In some cases, yeah, I can get it. But come on. I was really lucky that my parents never really regulated my reading material. They regulated a lot of OTHER things, but somehow my books flew under the radar. ^_^ As a result, though, I know exactly what I like and don't, and what I will tolerate and won't. Other kids should get that opportunity.

]]> By: Robin http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-33489 Robin Wed, 27 May 2009 14:05:30 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=6726#comment-33489 (Is it me, or are the comments being wonky this morning?) (Is it me, or are the comments being wonky this morning?)

]]> By: Robin http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-33488 Robin Wed, 27 May 2009 14:04:46 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=6726#comment-33488 <i>"Even books as mild as A Separate Peace are challenged (some said it had gay themes and refused to let their kids read it - from what I can tell, it no longer appears on my school’s reading list. I don’t know if that’s related to the complaints)."</i> Oh, how I wish my schools hadn't made us read that book every other year starting in sixth grade. We missed out on a lot of standard junior high / high school books -- <i>Gatsby</i>, <i>Tale of Two Cities</i>, and <i>Catcher in the Rye</i> just to name a few -- from reading it over and over. Just because it's set in a town near where I grew up. It can certainly be interpreted as having "gay themes". Or it could be a cautionary tale about hero worship. Or a comparison of how different people handle stressful situations, such as war and high school. Despite my frustration with having to read it so many times, I will admit that it's good book full of interesting discussion topics. Well, this has come out rather longer than I intended. No surprise, really. Censorship is something that really gets my hackles up. Particularly when that censorship derails important discussions and potentially deters kids from loving reading as much as I do. "Even books as mild as A Separate Peace are challenged (some said it had gay themes and refused to let their kids read it – from what I can tell, it no longer appears on my school’s reading list. I don’t know if that’s related to the complaints)."

Oh, how I wish my schools hadn't made us read that book every other year starting in sixth grade. We missed out on a lot of standard junior high / high school books — Gatsby, Tale of Two Cities, and Catcher in the Rye just to name a few — from reading it over and over. Just because it's set in a town near where I grew up.

It can certainly be interpreted as having "gay themes". Or it could be a cautionary tale about hero worship. Or a comparison of how different people handle stressful situations, such as war and high school. Despite my frustration with having to read it so many times, I will admit that it's good book full of interesting discussion topics.

Well, this has come out rather longer than I intended. No surprise, really. Censorship is something that really gets my hackles up. Particularly when that censorship derails important discussions and potentially deters kids from loving reading as much as I do.

]]> By: Robin http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-33487 Robin Wed, 27 May 2009 14:04:22 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=6726#comment-33487 Anyway, my mom was the one who gave me my first V.C. Andrews book (<i>My Sweet Audrina</i>) at about age 11, and her books are full of sex, torture, incest, what have you. My older brother got me into Stephen King shortly thereafter, but Mom and Dad never said a word of protest. Instead, there was just encouragement to ask them about anything I read, and to stop reading anything I didn't like. Anyway, my mom was the one who gave me my first V.C. Andrews book (My Sweet Audrina) at about age 11, and her books are full of sex, torture, incest, what have you. My older brother got me into Stephen King shortly thereafter, but Mom and Dad never said a word of protest. Instead, there was just encouragement to ask them about anything I read, and to stop reading anything I didn't like.

]]> By: Robin http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-33486 Robin Wed, 27 May 2009 13:54:51 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=6726#comment-33486 Anyway, my mom was the one who gave me my first V.C. Andrews book (<i>My Sweet Audrina</i>) at about age 11, and her books are full of sex, torture, incest, what have you. My older brother got me into Stephen King shortly thereafter, but Mom and Dad never said a word of protest. Instead, there was just encouragement to ask them about anything I read, and to stop reading anything I didn't like. <i>"Even books as mild as A Separate Peace are challenged (some said it had gay themes and refused to let their kids read it - from what I can tell, it no longer appears on my school’s reading list. I don’t know if that’s related to the complaints)."</i> Oh, how I wish my schools hadn't made us read that book every other year starting in sixth grade. We missed out on a lot of standard junior high / high school books -- <i>Gatsby</i>, <i>Tale of Two Cities</i>, and <i>Catcher in the Rye</i> just to name a few -- from reading it over and over. Just because it's set in a town near where I grew up. It can certainly be interpreted as having "gay themes". Or it could be a cautionary tale about hero worship. Or a comparison of how different people handle stressful situations, such as war and high school. Despite my frustration with having to read it so many times, I will admit that it's good book full of interesting discussion topics. Well, this has come out rather longer than I intended. No surprise, really. Censorship is something that really gets my hackles up. Particularly when that censorship derails important discussions and potentially deters kids from loving reading as much as I do. Anyway, my mom was the one who gave me my first V.C. Andrews book (My Sweet Audrina) at about age 11, and her books are full of sex, torture, incest, what have you. My older brother got me into Stephen King shortly thereafter, but Mom and Dad never said a word of protest. Instead, there was just encouragement to ask them about anything I read, and to stop reading anything I didn't like.

"Even books as mild as A Separate Peace are challenged (some said it had gay themes and refused to let their kids read it – from what I can tell, it no longer appears on my school’s reading list. I don’t know if that’s related to the complaints)."

Oh, how I wish my schools hadn't made us read that book every other year starting in sixth grade. We missed out on a lot of standard junior high / high school books — Gatsby, Tale of Two Cities, and Catcher in the Rye just to name a few — from reading it over and over. Just because it's set in a town near where I grew up.

It can certainly be interpreted as having "gay themes". Or it could be a cautionary tale about hero worship. Or a comparison of how different people handle stressful situations, such as war and high school. Despite my frustration with having to read it so many times, I will admit that it's good book full of interesting discussion topics.

Well, this has come out rather longer than I intended. No surprise, really. Censorship is something that really gets my hackles up. Particularly when that censorship derails important discussions and potentially deters kids from loving reading as much as I do.

]]> By: Robin http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/05/27/i-thought-reading-was-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-33485 Robin Wed, 27 May 2009 13:54:10 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=6726#comment-33485 I'm sorry you had such a rough time finding a non-threatening book, Lisa. I'm not sure when education stopped being about actually teaching kids to deal with life, not just the politically correct, sanitized parts. Hopefully, most of the kids in your school have parents like mine. They encouraged me to read whatever I wanted, unlike my third grade English teacher, Mrs. You-can't-read-that-because-it's-a-fourth-grade-reading-level-even-though-you've-been-reading-the-series-for-two-years. (Ahem. I may have some lingering resentment about my forced breakup with Nancy Drew.) I'm sorry you had such a rough time finding a non-threatening book, Lisa. I'm not sure when education stopped being about actually teaching kids to deal with life, not just the politically correct, sanitized parts. Hopefully, most of the kids in your school have parents like mine. They encouraged me to read whatever I wanted, unlike my third grade English teacher, Mrs. You-can't-read-that-because-it's-a-fourth-grade-reading-level-even-though-you've-been-reading-the-series-for-two-years. (Ahem. I may have some lingering resentment about my forced breakup with Nancy Drew.)

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