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Religion
"Slaughterhouse 5" Banned in School, Doesn't Follow Bible
A school in Missouri has banned the Kurt Vonnegut classic "Slaughterhouse Five" and another book after one person complained that the books teach principles that are contrary to the Bible.
Last year a college professor named Wesley Scroggins called for the banning of "filthy books" assigned to students at Republic High School -- "Slaughterhouse Five," Twenty Boy Summer" and "Speak."
He called the last two books "soft pornography" because they deal with sex. About "Slaughterhouse Five," he wrote in the Springfield News-Leader:
In English, children are also required to read a book called "Slaughterhouse Five." This is a book that contains so much profane language, it would make a sailor blush with shame.
Well, it took a while, but last week Scoggins scored a two-thirds victory, with the Republic school district voting to ban the Vonnegut book and "Twenty Boy Summer," but keeping "Speak."
"I congratulate them for doing what's right and removing the two books," Scroggins told the News-Leader. "It's unfortunate they chose to keep the other book."
Superintendent Vern Minor said that "numerous individuals have read the three novels and provided their feedback."
He said, "We very clearly stayed out of discussion about moral issues. The discussion we've been having was not are these good books or bad books... It is is this consistent with what we've said is appropriate for kids."
The battle over the books did not fire-up the community. Aside from one reporter, just six people were there for the final decision -- four board members and two administrators. Scoggins didn't even show up for a victory lap.
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Comments
I'm not even sure if
I'm not even sure if Slaughterhouse Five teaches principles that are contrary to the Bible. Kurt Vonnegut was critical of blind faith, but he was supportive of belonging to a church and the spirit of community that such activities foster. Thematically, Slaughterhouse Five is a very powerful lesson in peace, humility and understanding. Kurt Vonnegut often expressed the idea that common decency creates a pleasant, more fulfilling existence in this life. I believe he expressed that idea in Slaughterhouse Five and some other works. He uses coarse language in his novels, but not to the extent that it would be considered gratuitous. I would say that an AP student would be mature enough to understand how that language aids Vonnegut's presentation of the themes. Someone or some body of someones placed that book in the curriculum for a reason. I would hope those considerations were taken into account during this debate. Just because a work of fiction doesn't comport with one person's worldview doesn't mean that it's completely without merit.
This smacks of another KV
This smacks of another KV novel - Fahrenheit 451. What are they going to ban next? Catcher in the Rye?
Do these people honestly believe that they are preventing profanity from entering into their kids' worlds? Put a listening device in the boys locker room in any junior high school, and I guarantee the language would put the cuss words used in Slaughterhouse 5 to shame.
Banning this book from school is absurd. "The horse has already left the barn." "That ship sailed long ago." I could go on with the silly metaphors, but banning a book for profanity in this day and age is a naive protectionist activity that accomplishes nothing.
shawninMo: It isn't just
shawninMo: It isn't just "pre-legal children." The ban applies even to 18 year old AP-level seniors.
I agree that parents should make the decision, which why I am perplexed as to why the school board should make the decision instead of them. If a teacher in that school board received permission from every parent in that class to teach Slaughterhouse Five, he/she would still not be allowed to teach it. That is a disservice to child, parent and the society at large.
Having seventeen year olds in
Having seventeen year olds in those AP classes, with parents that object, it should be kept out of the curriculum. They can still read it on their own.
Whether the school board is elected directly by the parents or appointed by an elected official, even having most parents on the same page can change a policy or a school board.
I don't follow anyone, because those that appear to be on the same path usually end up just getting in my way.
Good. At least some schools
Good. At least some schools are not completely warped.
If the title said the books
If the title said the books "didn't follow the bible", I kind of expected at least a quote demonstrating that that's the reason. Now I have to go digging further, thanks Mark.
Why the hooplah? Pre-legal children have been restricted from all sorts of things(smoking, voting), and some can be decided for them by their parents in light of society deciding that they're not mature enough to make decisions concerning them(marriage, military enlistment). A parent is legally charged with making the final decision in their teens life, cut and dry.
If you want your kid to have a Playboy prescription, buy it for them, but don't let them loan a copy to my child.
I don't follow anyone, because those that appear to be on the same path usually end up just getting in my way.