San Antonio-area school board reverses book ban

[Judi Lynn]

March 24, 2006, 9:25AM
San Antonio-area school board reverses book ban
Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO -- A suburban San Antonio school board has reversed the superintendent's ban of a critically acclaimed science fiction novel.

By a 5-2 vote, the Judson school district board Thursday overruled Superintendent Ed Lyman's ban of the novel "The Handmaid's Tale" from an advanced placement English curriculum. The vote came after nearly three hours of public comment, including from Judson High School students.

"If we do ban 'The Handmaid's Tale' because of sexual content, then why not ban 'Huckleberry Finn' for racism? Why not ban 'The Crucible' for witchcraft? Why not ban 'The Things They Carried' for violence, and why not ban the Bible and argue separation of church and state?" Judson senior Craig Gagne told trustees.

Lyman had banned the book by Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood after a parent complained it was sexually explicit and offensive to Christians. In doing so, he overruled the recommendation of a committee of teachers, students and a parent. The committee appealed the decision to the school board.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/3745753.html

[Der Blaue Engel]

1. Thank goddess

Small victories.

[havocmom]

2. BRAVO! The sexual content in Handmaid's Tale is actually small

and just used to show the level of control and twisted values in the fictional theocracy! To find that offensive for students at a high school level is either to be completely outta touch with kids that age or a bit or perhaps a bit too thin skinned and defensive in matters of one's own personal beliefs.

A public school superintendent who has either of those shortcomings should probably find other work. He certainly is not up to the job of help young people prepare for life in the real world.

edited for typo

[MadMaddie]

3. We are seeing small rays of sunlight poking out from the

dreary skys....

Sanity moments like this...give me a little hope that there are some people who have some common sense!!

[spag68]

4. books

of any sort should not be banned as this is the first step toward a all books being banned.

[WillParkinson]

5. Stupid stupid student!

Listing the other books that these people weren't likely to ever read. Now they'll want them all banned (except the bible, of course).

Good for him! I'm glad he stood up to be counted.

[Felix Mala]

6. The Crucible is also offensive to "Christians."

It was supposed to be...

[onehandle]

7. Words are offensive to conservative Republicans.

Why do they let their children learn to read?

Wouldn't that solve their oh so major problems?

[fshrink]

8. Separation of church and state? Which? Where?

[yellowcanine]

9. Lyman should be disciplined for violation of the academic freedom

of the teacher. Superintendents should not be siding with one disgruntled parent against teachers. If I were a teacher in that district I would organize a no confidence vote by the faculty in that superintendent. And where was the principal? Principals and superintendents should back up faculty who are making decisions based on academic merit.

[gratuitous]

10. I have news for the parent

Nothing is offensive to Christians. Or should be.