Angry Management Censorship – Crutcher responds!
Jul 7th, 2011 by Cathy Jo Nelson
I just want to thank those in my reader for helping me make grand plans!! I’ve been really focusing on some Teen Read Week plans already (yeah, its not until October!) but I like to start the brainstorming early. I think some of the motivation has come from book trailers being shared in my reader and more. But tonight I’m zeroing in on Banned Books Week (September) with the help of a new friend, Jason Epstein, Chief Information Officer at Worcester Academy in the Boston Area.
Jason Epstein, number one fan of the teacher librarian!
I met Jason at ISTE, and actually had lunch with him and a group of other librarian friends Tuesday of the conference. Lucky for me I scored a seat beside him at the SIGMS Breakfast the next morning. So I feel I can honestly call him a face to face friend. Jason is a big fan of libraries and technology–a match made in heaven. He will be very active in the SIGMS group too! SCORE!
TeachTalk – a new to me blog in my reader
So anywho, I added Jason’s blog to my reader–a blog that shares out links of interest to teacher librarians. Now I’ve seen many who “just” share links, and confession time, I usually drop them. I only have a few blogs in my reader that do this, but I decided to stick with Jason for the simple fact that after meeting him, I was impressed with his adoration of the role of a teacher librarian (even though he is not one) AND that he is an active member of SIGMS. That warranted trying him out.
Dear Jason, you have rocked my world tonight honey!! Here is what I saw in your list of teacher librarian links of interest right from my reader:
“I nearly peed in my pants!”
I hate to say it (and yikes I may even become a banned blog for this), but I nearly peed in my pants when I read this from tonight’s reader. First I was stunned that I had no knowledge of this, even though I am a South Carolina high school librarian promoting this book too as a summer read, and second, that it has been newsworthy in my own state, and I’ve missed it. I guess I’ll blame Casey Anthony, ISTE, and summer break. But oh my gosh!! So we make news again. Sigh. Now I officially want to invite Chris Crutcher to our great “Palmetto” state.
Read Chris Crutcher’s Response
If you have not read Chris Crutcher’s response to his book Angry Management being pulled from Kershaw School District’s Summer reading list, please by all means go to his site now and read it. He has a photo of the actual news article, as well as the text (for easier reading,) a response to the parent who filed the complaint, and a challenge to educators and students alike to stand up against classic censorship. Bonus, he provides names and contact information for the district admin staff who were instrumental in having the book removed too. Wonder of their email and voicemail boxes are filling up? Thinking I’ll make my own contribution. Want in?
What are these people thinking? While, yeah, not sure I’d recommend it for Mkid who is, basically, an 8 th grader, does the parent think kids never hear this stuff? What happened to just finding an alternative for you child, not stopping the entire community from reading it? And shame on admin for buckling. Too many principals are unwilling to stand up to the bullies on thisissue.
Btw, Cathy, I have handouts on my blog for using animoto to make book trailers, FYI!
Cathy! Thank you so much for your kind words. I am so happy that others are riled up by this issue of banning books in the “Modern Era” This really burns me, and I rank it up there with the common school mantra of “block it first” justify it later. I look forward to reading more of your blog and please keep posted, I actually do write on my blog, but just not as often as I like!
Talk soon!
~J
From Chris C. himself…I emailed him to say thanks for responding to the Kershaw County parent who didn’t want his child (or any other student) reading Angry Management as well as for writing such great books.
“Thanks for the work you do putting the right books into the right kids’ hands. The book challenging/banning thing is pretty crazy these days. It’s always interesting when one person can turn so much good work upside down.”