Parents Split Over Censoring of Books in School, Library

Contemporary young-adult novels might be the hottest thing in book stores nowadays, but some of them are drawing the ire of parents of students at Montgomery County High School in Kentucky.

Four of the books under fire are Deadlineby Chris Crutcher, Unwindby Neal Shusterman, Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles and Twistedby Laurie Halse Anderson.

Originally some of these books, and others, were being used to promote literature and reading in English classes for accelerated students. Other books used in the class included classics of literature such as Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales.

A group of parents complained to the school faculty that the modern young-adult books are full of sex, cursing, abuse and other adult contents. The parents complained that such material was not suitable for teen readers and the parents did not want their children exposed to such material.

The response was the school’s superintendent pulled the books from the classroom, though they are still available in the school’s library. That wasn’t good enough. A parents group is still saying the books need to be pulled altogether from the school system.

It is also possible the teacher who originally used the young-adult novels in her English class might lose her job. She may not be fired, be she is not tenured and it is a possibility the school district would not renew her contract because of all the publicity.

Some parents argue they are not out to promote censorship, but they have a right to protect their children from material they consider offensive. Other parents, those against banning the books in the school, are saying the books help to promote reading in an age where reading skills seem to be falling way behind, and that reading can help students in many other ways, such as how to relate to other individuals.