A couple months back, we covered a story about Round Rock parents being angered by a book their child brought home from the school library. Mind you, some of the things included in this book are incredibly graphic. Like, it shocked me. Then, I found out that the book--called "TTYL"--is exact copies of transcripts from IM conversations between teenagers. In other words, these transcripts are real. Either way, the parents handled it quite nicely. They said one of two things should happen:
1. This book and other books like it should be set apart in a separate section, not pulled from the shelves completely.
OR
2. Some sort of permission level should be given to their children and put on their library cards. Kind of like at grocery stores when you try to buy alcohol, they scan your ID or ask for your birth year. But, in this case, parents could set the permission level they want their child to read.
Mind you, I thought option two was a good one. But, then I realized kids would do the same thing that people did when they wanted to drink underage: just get someone to get it for them that could legally. So, it kind of defeats the purpose.
However, I wouldn't want my 7-year-old reading the type of stuff that was in this book. Seriously, I feel uncomfortable putting the text in my blog, much less in the hands of a 2nd grader.
Now, I'm never for censorship. I realize that when censorship happens that it's a slippery slope before we restrict everything. But, this is an art. And, just like movies, they should maybe have ratings. Not at public libraries, but at school libraries. I mean, what's safer than a library? It's frightening to think that a child could learn about such things.
DESPITE ALL THIS:
I remember being in elementary school. I remember what parts of sex I understood. Now, did I understand the intimate details like the book reveals? No. But, I eventually would. And I don't think knowing about sex at a certain age made me want to do it sooner. It simply made me aware. Am I naive for thinking that kids don't know what these things are already? I mean, I remember babysitting a 6th grader who knew what "tossing a salad" meant. Which, at the time, I had no clue what it meant. (gross, by the by, don't look it up if you don't know).
Point being, kids will be kids. They will, undoubtedly do things you don't want them to do or find out things the way you didn't want them to. What level, as parents, do we need to keep them safe? When do we just admit that they will learn about it and just try to keep them informed?
1 comment:
I think there is a line. My issue comes when my child is getting information like that from a source other than a teacher (with my permission) or me. I reserve the right to teach my child about those things in a way that I see fit. But there are also the parents that will not talk to their kids about it. I don't know what to do about that.
Post a Comment