Censorship Challenge Report, September 2006
Last Quarter FY2006 and Full Year Summary
Millie Davis, NCTE Division Director, Communications & Affiliate Services
Challenge Data for April, May, and June 2006
NCTE responded to more than twice the number of challenges during April, May, and June of 2006 than during the same time period in 2005 (13 as compared to 5). Included in the thirteen challenges were 1 film challenge, 1 challenge that involved a school teaching unit that resulted in students writing letters the principal didn’t approve of to their local newspaper, and 2 letters of support from NCTE that were requested by other organizations. Note that we count the number of challenges as equal to the number of individuals who reported challenges. The number of works challenged is usually higher because often challenges involve more than one work.
In April 2006, NCTE joined the National Coalition Against Censorship in a letter supporting the right of a student to read the W. H. Auden poem “The More Loving One” in a school and state National Endowment for the Arts “Poetry Out Loud” competition. See http://ncac.org/education/20060411~NV-Reno~Nevada_School_Attacks_Profane_Speech_in_Poem.cfm for a link to the story, the letter, the poem, and the result—after the courts ruled the student could read the poem aloud in the state competition. In May at the urging of the Illinois Library Association, NCTE wrote the Arlington Heights, Illinois, School Board that was facing a challenge from a board member to many books taught in the school. The books were retained and both the school board president and the director of community relations for the district wrote to thank us for our support.
In addition to the increased number of challenges we had during these last months of the regular school year, 5 letters of support were sent out (the 2 mentioned above that were solicited by other organizations, 1 more, and 2 on cases begun in the winter). Three cases ended successfully. One of these cases was a challenge to all the R-rated films used in an English 12 cross-disciplinary project. After much discussion, the school board amended its policy to allow the films for the project to be selected under the instructional materials policy rather than eliminated because they carried an MPAA R-rating. On behalf of NCTE, I responded to interviews with 2 reporters. We handled 1 request for information. NCTE received information on the outcomes of 14 previous cases.
NCTE’s Anti-Censorship Resources
The NCTE Anti-Censorship Web site (http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/censorship) is the first resource referenced for all who contact NCTE. All who contact NCTE receive email, telephone, or fax responses, followed by other action such as rationales, policies, advice, and letters, when requested. Many have visited the website before calling or filling out a Censorship Challenge Report.
If you are experiencing a challenge to materials or methods, or if you know someone who is, visit http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/censorship and click on the "Report a Censorship Incident" option or call Millie Davis at 800-369-6283, extension 3634 (or 217-278-3634).
Listing of the Challenges Reported from April-June, 2006
Below, listed alphabetically by work, are the cases that were reported from April 1 to June 30, 2006, with as much information as we currently have on the challenge.
The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison (Writing about Literature Dual Credit High School/Community College Course, NY), sexual encounters. Sent information and rationale. RETAINED.
Dante’s Inferno (High School, VA), graphic descriptions. PARENT HASN’T PURSUED COMPLAINT.
Down These Mean Streets, Piri Thomas (11th & 12th Grade, CT), explicit language and sex. Sent information. RETAINED.
Flatbellies, A. B. Hollingsworth (11-12th Grade Honors, KS), profanities and sexual references. Sent information.
The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood (12th Grade AP Supplementary List, CA), sexually explict passage with vulgar language. Sent information and rationale.
The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien (10th Grade, FL), magic, wizards, dragons, elves, spells, etc.
House of the Spirits, Isabelle Allende (11th Grade IB English, OR), sex and violence. Sent information, rationale, and letter of support. RETAINED.
“The More Loving One," poem, W. H. Auden (High School, NV), inappropriate language. Signed on letter with NCAC. WON IN COURT TO RECITE POEM AND PLACED 2ND IN STATE CONTEST AND RECEIVED $1,000 PRIZE FOR SCHOOL LITERARY PROGRAM. See http://ncac.org/education/20060411~NV-Reno~Nevada_School_Attacks_Profane_Speech_in_Poem.cfm
Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck (9th Grade English, CA), profanity and sexual innuendo. Sent information, rationale, and sample text.
Romeo and Juliet, film, Franco Zeffirelli (9th Grade, FL), brief nudity. Sent information and rationale.
7 Books on School Reading List, (IL), lewd language and graphic sexual references. Sent letter of support. RETAINED - RECEIVED THANK YOU FROM SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS FOR OUR SUPPORT.
Student Written Letters to the Editor, (9th Grade English, WI), principal thought letters damaged the school's reputation. Sent information. ADMINISTRATOR DID NOT PURSUE. MAY COME UP AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
383 New Library Books, (7-12th Grade School Library, PA), sex, violence, profanity. Sent information and letter of support. BOOKS ALLOWED TO BE SHELVED IN LIBRARY.
Results from Previous Challenges
Often challenges go on beyond the every three-month reporting period. Below, listed alphabetically by work, are the cases that came to conclusion (or about which we learned the conclusion) since April 2006.
Adventures of Huckelberry Finn, Mark Twain (11th Grade AP Preparation class—chronological American Literature, NY), "N" word and stereotypical portrayal of Jim as stupid. Sent rationale. RETAINED.
The Awakening, Kate Chopin (High School, MI). Sent rationale. RETAINED.
The Bean Trees, Barbara Kingsolver (High School, MI). Sent rationale. RETAINED.
Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger (High School, MI). Sent rationale. RETAINED.
The Crucible, Arthur Miller (11th Grade, CA). Sent information and rationale. PARENT APPROVED THE PLAY.
Cut, Patricia McCormick (7th Grade-teacher's personal library, PA), two students cut themselves. TEACHER ALLOWED TO RETAIN BOOK IN PERSONAL LIBRARY.
Fallen Angels, Walter Dean Myers (11th Grade English, OK), language, "f" word. Sent information and rationale. RETAINED.
Fallen Angels, Walter Dean Myers (11th Grade English III, TX), profanity. Sent information, rationale, and letter of support. CENSORED AS A CLASSROOM NOVEL, BOOK REMAINS IN LIBRARY AND STUDENTS MAY READ FOR "READING COUNTS."
Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes (7th Grade Independent Reading List, PA), swear words and love scene. Sent information and rationale. REMOVED FROM 7TH GRADE BOOK LIST. AVAILABLE IN LIBRARY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ONLY.
House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros (High School, MI). Sent rationale. RETAINED.
Kaffir Boy, Mark Mathabane (High School, MI). Sent rationale. BANNED.
Killing Mr. Griffin – video and novel, Lois Duncan (9th Grade, OK), substitute teacher complained that this was inappropirate. Principal requested the book or video not be used. Sent information and rationale. RETAINED BOOK AND VIDEO.
The Little Girl Who Did What? Dianne Dumpey (2nd-4th Grade, VA), word "fart". Sent information. BANNED.
“The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”- short story, Ursula LeGuin - and possibly other course texts, (10th Grade English/Social Studies “Continents & Cultures”), word “orgy” and naked priests who drink beer. Information sent. RETAINED.
R-rated films in (12th Grade cross disciplinary “Social Responsibility Reading and Viewing Project,” CA), R-rated films. Sent information and letter of support . BOARD APPROVED POLICY TO USE THE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS POLICY FOR SELECTION OF FILMS AS WELL AND TO ALLOW PROJECT.
Running Loose, Chris Crutcher (Sustained Reading Time Student Book Group, OH), sexual content. Sent information and rationale. BANNED.
A Separate Peace, John Knowles (High School, SC), sexual references and language. Sent information and rationale. PARENT APPROVED ALTERNATE BOOK, LITTLE WOMEN.
The Things They Carried, Tim O'Brien (11th Grade English, NY), inappropriate language. Sent information and letter of support. RETAINED.
Various books (10th Grade AP, OH), language and sexual content. Sent information and rationales. BOOKS PULLED FROM CURRICULUM, TEACHER REPRIMANDED BUT AFTER APPEAL LETTER REMOVED FROM FILE.
What My Mother Doesn't Know, Sonya Sones (Middle School, FL). Sent information and rationale. RETAINED.
A Yellow Raft in Blue Water, Michael Dorris (High School, MI). Sent rationale. PRINCIPAL ASKED TEACHER NOT TO USE AGAIN.
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