IraHayes wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 1:03 pm I have been sidetracked by this thread a little as I have been doing some digging and most of the books that are coming up are aimed at young teenagers. There doesn't appear to be many aimed directly at very young children. I think the issue, from the parents perspective, is that these books are on display and could be accessed by children younger than the intended audience. I am thus moving my views slightly as the content of the banned books that I have looked at appear nothing more than stories about teenagers exploring their sexuality and maybe it is overly prudish parents that are fanning the flames a little.
That said, I am still against the sexualization that some primary/kindergarten teachers are instilling in their students. Secondary school is fine, 11 - 18, but younger than that then, no.

I don't blame parents for being disturbed by it, nobody wants to think about their 5-year-old princess learning about sex, much less possibly having it in a few years.

And I agree there are probably some overly prudish parents fanning the flames, there are probably some overly idealistic academic types or social justice warriors doing the same thing on the other side of the argument too. That usually seems to be the case these days - a few very vocal influencers drawing people to their extreme opinions when the ideal solution should be somewhere in the middle.

But I also wonder if parents realize how much times have changed since they were kids, with the internet and everything. Is it better to protect your 5-year-old from that sort of thing and let them be kids for a while, or to prepare them through education for when they're inevitably exposed to it anyway? I don't have an answer.

I like to think people running the schools have some insight into what the situation is on the ground and are doing their best to prepare kids for the real world, but when I see obviously ignorant parents in the news attacking teachers for things like disciplining their spoilt brats,and idiot politicians telling people with masters degrees in education how to do their jobs, I just think the system is broken.

I'm glad I don't have kids.

IraHayes wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 1:03 pm I have been sidetracked by this thread a little as I have been doing some digging and most of the books that are coming up are aimed at young teenagers. There doesn't appear to be many aimed directly at very young children. I think the issue, from the parents perspective, is that these books are on display and could be accessed by children younger than the intended audience. I am thus moving my views slightly as the content of the banned books that I have looked at appear nothing more than stories about teenagers exploring their sexuality and maybe it is overly prudish parents that are fanning the flames a little.
That said, I am still against the sexualization that some primary/kindergarten teachers are instilling in their students. Secondary school is fine, 11 - 18, but younger than that then, no.

Good on you for doing a bit of digging, it is enlightening.

The school in question teaches kids from K to grade 12. As you found these books are not aimed at or read to five-year-olds. A five year old would not have the mental capacity to understand and contextualise them. I doubt anyone would suggest they could. The reason this was sent to parents is that they are in the school library and Kindergarten kids access the library to have (supervised) kids story sessions. They are covering their ass in the overly litigious environment of the US. Just click no and move on if you're that worried about it as a parent.

Furthermore, the school in question has been a victim of the puritanical movement sweeping the US education system which has allowed the removal of books aimed at young adults that have been READ, discussed and approved by the school reading committee made up of over 70 parents and educators after a complaint by ONE parent.

It seems to be an abuse of the system,” said parent Jeff Kent, who helped review two of the books.

Kent said students – often those struggling with issues of sexuality and race – will suffer.

“They need to see themselves in a book or any other way that they can see so they know they are not alone in the world, and that’s the lifeline a lot of kids get, and they aren’t going to have access there,” he said.

Teachers are not prohibited from assigning the books as long as parents are notified, Taylor said.

The Spotsylvania County school district was in the national spotlight in November of 2021 when some parents complained about books with sexually explicit content and some school board members suggested certain books be banned and burned.

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/loca ... s/3317248/

There is a full list of the "banned" books in the link. Interestingly one of them is 'Sold' by Patricia McCormick.

Although Lakshmi's family is desperately poor her life still contains simple pleasures; but, when the harsh Himalayan monsoons wash away all the family’s crops, Lakshmi’s stepfather sends her away to take a job to support her family. When she arrives at “Happiness House”, full of hope, she learns the unthinkable truth: she has been sold into prostitution. An exceptional novel suitable for TEENS and ADULTS.

I thought that child sex trafficking was a hot button issue for US conservatives, surely it's important for young people to be made aware of this issue so they can support their parents activism and stamp out this horrific practice? I wonder what Tim Ballard would say?

I read American Psycho as a teenager (and the book is way more graphic than the film) and recently reread it, I had forgotten how disturbing it actually was. It didn't turn me into a sadistic deviant (as far as I can tell anyway ).

My stance is that I am absolutely accepting of anyone's sexuality and whoever you choose to share your bed or life with is your business. But it's just that - your business. I don't want to know the ins and outs of your relationship so don't ram it down my throat.

The issue I have is when children are somehow persuaded that they want to change their gender. This is very much aligned to sexuality and I really don't believe that a 9 or 10 year old has developed a sense of their sexuality by that age. I do understand that body dysmorphia exists, but not in the numbers currently seen amongst prepubescents. What I see is that children see how much attention is lavished on the boy who wears a dress or the girl who crops her hair and they want a bit of it. They are elevated to an almost god-like status and are afforded rights over and above their peers - dictating how adults will address them for example. This is where I draw the line and this is where I question the dialogue being fed to vulnerable, impressionable children.