Children Book Ban?

[Downthestretch55]

I only post this to invite varied views. It seem that this year's Newbery winner (children's literature) is causing controversy for having the word "scrotum" on its first page. Some libraries are pulling it off the shelves.
Any thoughts?
http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...childrens.html

[brianwspencer]

i'm torn on something like this. i don't see any reason for taking books off of shelves in any situation.

at the same time, from a literary point of view, even in a children's book -- what is the purpose of having that word in there? it seems gratuitous and unneccessary.

[SentToStud]

I say let the local schools and libraries make their own decisions on what to do. Personally, I don't think a prize-winnning book would be the worst place for a child to encounter that word but that's just me. As an aside, my older brother had me convinced for a short period that scrotum was my real name.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

i'm torn on something like this. i don't see any reason for taking books off of shelves in any situation.

at the same time, from a literary point of view, even in a children's book -- what is the purpose of having that word in there? it seems gratuitous and unneccessary.

Brian,
I am in agreement with much of your "take". The author might have chosen a different body part to get bitten by a rattlesnake.
I grew up around farm animals, so the word "scrotum" wasn't upsetting at all.
But I can understand that children that grow up in other surroundings might be confused.
My parents always used correct biological terminology.
I also think that books shouldn't be banned. Perhaps a caution on the cover from the publisher might satisfy.
I haven't read the book yet, but I intend to.
Thanks for your view.
DTS

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by SentToStud

I say let the local schools and libraries make their own decisions on what to do. Personally, I don't think a prize-winnning book would be the worst place for a child to encounter that word but that's just me. As an aside, my older brother had me convinced for a short period that scrotum was my real name.

SenttoScrotum...
Thanks for your opinion.
I agree.

[sham]

Originally Posted by SentToStud

I say let the local schools and libraries make their own decisions on what to do. Personally, I don't think a prize-winnning book would be the worst place for a child to encounter that word but that's just me. As an aside, my older brother had me convinced for a short period that scrotum was my real name.

For a similar reason, I thought my name was "Dammit" for a time.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by sham

For a similar reason, I thought my name was "Dammit" for a time.

Sham,
It was about the time I turned 10 that I realized that I wasn't "Jesus Christ".
Dad and my uncles would say, "Jesus Christ!!! You did WHAT, again?"

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Well,the deal here is that people don't want to have to explain to their kids where (on the dog's body) a scrotum is,or what it is for.That is the issue.People want kids to be ignorant about sex until they are a certain age,and then they give them a book to explain it. I think I wouldn't have a problem with that attitude, but these same parents don't act the same way about exposing their kids to violence. They don't mind them seeing that in video games,movies,and even cartoons.They buy them toys that,if real,would kill others.They will gladly buy them a slingshot to fire a rock at an animal with,but they would be outraged if somebody told their kids about how these animals reproduce themselves.That,I don't understand.I also don't think these same people would be outraged if some animal or insect got stepped on(and killed) on the 1st page of this book.Violence is acceptable to them,but not sex.People have their favorite things to get upset about,and for a lot of people,their favorite topic to hate(to get upset about)is sex.If something got stabbed,crushed,or shot,would people be outraged that their kids are being exposed to violence?? Probably not........These people are so inconsistent about "protecting" their kids.They are "uncomfortable" about tallking about sex,but have no problem telling their kids about violence,and killing.Just odd (to me.)

Originally Posted by SentToStud

I say let the local schools and libraries make their own decisions on what to do. Personally, I don't think a prize-winnning book would be the worst place for a child to encounter that word but that's just me. As an aside, my older brother had me convinced for a short period that scrotum was my real name.

Its a biological name. They could have said bag that a male's balls hang in and changes flexibility with temp. changes. Believe it or not, children wonder about their bodies, even young children not thru puberty.

STS you should have kicked your big brother in your given name.

And now for my story:

My daughter at about 1 1/2 half or so years old pushed the door open on me whilst I was urinating. It was a summer morning and she was not dressed and had pulled her underwear off ready to go potty. As I was in the middle of a stream (you know how difficult it is to stop) I told her to wait just a sec. So she stood there and stared at me. Looked down at herself, looked back up at me, looked back at herself, and then declared "All gone" which was her statement when something was missing, like food, or in this case, a piece of anatomy. I of course tell this story to everyone and think it was an interesting lesson.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by pgardn

Its a biological name. They could have said bag that a male's balls hang in and changes flexibility with temp. changes. Believe it or not, children wonder about their bodies, even young children not thru puberty.

STS you should have kicked your big brother in your given name.

And now for my story:

My daughter at about 1 1/2 half or so years old pushed the door open on me whilst I was urinating. It was a summer morning and she was not dressed and had pulled her underwear off ready to go potty. As I was in the middle of a stream (you know how difficult it is to stop) I told her to wait just a sec. So she stood there and stared at me. Looked down at herself, looked back up at me, looked back at herself, and then declared "All gone" which was her statement when something was missing, like food, or in this case, a piece of anatomy. I of course tell this story to everyone and think it was an interesting lesson.

Did she ask for one? Kids usually want stuff of their own.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

Did she ask for one? Kids usually want stuff of their own.

No comment...other than Loreana Bobbit.
OWWWCH!

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

Did she ask for one? Kids usually want stuff of their own.

No, thank God. Just realized she was different. Had a birthmark on her leg, now completely gone, that she always wondered about also... kids are naturally curious and I hate to nix that wonderful feature.

I am so glad we had a girl. A very sweet kid that loves her Dad (imagine that), and does not miss having certain parts... ohhh the bane of many a male's existence when those parts override good logic that has determined consequences of socially inappropriate actions... see Dollar Bill Clinton.

[Danzig]

i am against censorship, and own quite a few books that had been banned at one point in time(huck finn, lady chatterlys lover, ulysses, lolita to name a few).
it's scary that a few possibly uneducated, or ignorant-by choice generally- people scream loud enough to drown out the masses and too often get their way. as they say, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
parents should ultimately have the responsibility regarding what little johnny reads. i don't want someone else telling me what is good for me, or my child, etc. a warning label--maybe. heck, they put them on video games, i guess it's ok on a book-altho i feel unnecessary.
children are far from ignorant, it's a shame some parents treat them as such, or expect them to stay that way!

[GenuineRisk]

Having just seen Spring Awakening which is all about the bad things that happen to kids when their parents keep them in the dark about their bodies, I think it's just fine that kids learn the word "scrotum." And the play the musical was based on was written in 1891, proving that some things never change...

Though I remember how embarrassed my dad was when, at age ten, I asked him what a prostitute was (I was reading an article in The People's Almanac about Jack the Ripper)

Here's my funny little kid story: years ago we had a "regular" at the zoo, Evelyn, who came to all our theater shows. She was 2-and-a-half and frighteningly precocious. One rainy day when we had no shows, the actors took her and her nanny up to look at the red pandas with us (for those who don't know, red pandas look kind of like bright red raccoons and are very cute). Looking at the panda, Evelyn asks, "Why do red pandas have tails?" I say, "Oh, for lots of reasons. For balance: to keep their noses warm..." As a joke I said, "Do you use your tail to keep your nose warm, Evelyn?" And she replied, "I don't have a tail; I have a vagina."

And five cyncial New York City actors had their mouths hit the ground.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Having just seen Spring Awakening which is all about the bad things that happen to kids when their parents keep them in the dark about their bodies, I think it's just fine that kids learn the word "scrotum." And the play the musical was based on was written in 1891, proving that some things never change...

Though I remember how embarrassed my dad was when, at age ten, I asked him what a prostitute was (I was reading an article in The People's Almanac about Jack the Ripper)

Here's my funny little kid story: years ago we had a "regular" at the zoo, Evelyn, who came to all our theater shows. She was 2-and-a-half and frighteningly precocious. One rainy day when we had no shows, the actors took her and her nanny up to look at the red pandas with us (for those who don't know, red pandas look kind of like bright red raccoons and are very cute). Looking at the panda, Evelyn asks, "Why do red pandas have tails?" I say, "Oh, for lots of reasons. For balance: to keep their noses warm..." As a joke I said, "Do you use your tail to keep your nose warm, Evelyn?" And she replied, "I don't have a tail; I have a vagina."

And five cyncial New York City actors had their mouths hit the ground.

Too funny GR!
Make your total six (mine).
I don't have a tail either, nor the "v" thing.
The "s" thing gives me enough problems.

btw, red pandas are very cool! Right up there with pileated woodpeckers and sperm whales in my favorites.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by Downthestretch55

Too funny GR!
Make your total six (mine).
I don't have a tail either, nor the "v" thing.
The "s" thing gives me enough problems.

btw, red pandas are very cool! Right up there with pileated woodpeckers and sperm whales in my favorites.

Oh MY!!! Did I just say "peckers" and "sperm"????

[Downthestretch55]

Cute little story about half way down.

Enjoy the giggle.
Some folks are just too danged serious!
http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/48320/

[horseofcourse]

Of the many choices available for that body part, I think "scrotum" is a fine choice for the authors to use.

[Downthestretch55]

The author explains....
http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0227-26.htm