Do you think books that are a on a ban list should be allowed in school libraries?

Of course! What is controversial to one person is just ordinary reading to the next. I mean, look at how many people would not allow their kids to read Harry Potter for religious reasons. How would you like it if those books were banned from the school library? It's ridiculous.

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Yes! I completely agree with Calamari.

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FTM to Timothy Charles 1/2/09
Soon to be SAHM!!!

I voted yes. I think that an artist (in this case, also meaning author) should be allowed to have their works read, if there is a desire to read them. However, in the case of underage readers, I think ultimately it should be the parents decisions. If a school wanted to have banned books (this list used to include such titles as 'Huck Finn' and 'The Catcher in the Rye' and 'To Kill a Mockingbird") a list of these books should be made available to the parents and if the parents decide that their kid is mature enough to deal with the subject matter, then the kid should be allowed to check out the book. It could actually spawn some really good discussion between parents and kids. For example, if in a few years my dd is interested in reading 'Gossip Girl', if I thought she was mature enough, I'd actually read the book with her and we'd discuss sex and sexuality and drug use and gossip and all the those themes. I could really discuss with her our family's values and why we were raising her to behave in a certain way and how those values did/did not align with the values in the book. I don't think we need to be afraid of a piece of literature, instead we can choose to use it as a learning tool.

IMO, things like "Huck Finn", "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Catcher in the Rye" are American classics. I read them in school and no parental permission was needed. I think that the schools have some idea at what age certain topics are presented to kids. And if the entire class is reading, say, "To Kill a Mockingbird" I think it's ridiculous for one or two parents to say their kid is not mature enough for the material. Schools are supposed to TEACH the kids the meaning behind the material, and parents can't protect/coddle/insulate their kids from the world forever. Wise parents should not fear exposing their kid to literature, even if it expresses a different point of view. They should use it as a learning tool.

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I think ultimately it is a parent's decision to make. I don't care if the whole class is reading a book, if I think it's not appropriate for my child for whatever reason, then my child will not be reading that book. DH & I are both big readers so I don't see much being in a high school library or classroom that we will have a problem with but if we did, we wouldn't be going to the board to try and get the book banned as we feel every parent should have the right to decide if their child can or can't read it. But you can bet we'd be doing what we needed to do to see that our child didn't read that book.

I say yes they should b/c I don't really agree with why alot of the books are banned in the first place, I think they have banned alot of great American classics that I want my kids to read!

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A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.-Eleanor Roosevelt

Yes, I think it should be up to the parent's to decide weather or not they want their child to read a certain book.

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Formerly Kimberly75!

I dont think that books like Harry Potter series should be banned. I would, however, be concerned if it was the book was assigned by the 2nd grade teacher as I would not want my child reading them - definitely not until much older.

In elementary schools I think certain books should be banned - at that age I think a parent should have complete control over what their child reads, and just because some people may not find something offensive doesn't mean other people's kids should be exposed to it. If they really want their children to have more options, then take them to the public library or buy the books.

In high school, I think the kids should have more choice, so I don't agree with banning books. However, I hope that when my kids are that age they will make good choices about what they read.