thanks for calling this to my attention. i will be checking on this because the school corp. that my son is in is a big promoter for that program. they go overboard on points...there was even a conflict with PTO this year and how much money we had to give to support the program when it was so much part of the curriculum.Go for it and get them to take the books out!!!!
Pres01,
Congratulations on making a stand on something you felt was in your child's best interest!
I must confess that I disagree with you on one point. I don't think books of this nature should be TOTALLY banned from children. But parents should be made aware if their children are reading such a book, so they can discuss it with them. Personally, I allow my 9 year old son to watch some movies with my husband & I so we can discuss it with him. Parents should also have the right to prevent their own children from reading such a book. (i.e. it should be a parental decision). Especially for 3rd to 5th graders!!
I do want to check this book out though. We'll see if my opinion changes after I've read it.
Did I mention that the book in question is part of a grades 3-5 library? Thanks for the heads up of research available out there. R rated movies in the middle school? UNBELIEVABLE!!!! No wonder our kids are having escalating incidence of mental illnesses. They have no leaders. Thanks for the encouragement. I do have alot of parental support.
Thank you so much for calling this to our attention. I will certainly find this book and check out our districts use of it. I am glad to volunteer in our schools because sometimes it is our presence there that finds these things. I am glad you were there!
Thanks for the heads up on this book...we also use the ARP program...and I volunteer every week in the library...now I must check to see if we have it...and if we do I think it should be taken to the principal who usually sides with the parents who have real concerns about what is in there...since the pto has totally funded the library and operates it...
I applaud you for your efforts on behalf of the children at your school. You are right to object to that book being included in a reading program, especially nowadays. We are currently involved in the same kind of thing regarding the showing of an R-rated movie, Shindler's List, at our middle school. (unedited, uncut, sex scenes, graphic violence and all). It simply is not appropriate for children to be exposed to this level of violence by the school. You may be interested in the work of Joanne Cantor regarding violence and its effects on children. In no way does it help them to cope with their anger or fears about death, rather it enhances them-as Joanne's work has proven. Look her up on the web. She has her own website. And keep up with what you are doing despite the blank stares and ridicule you may get from some. You are doing the right thing!!
