NEWS: Battle over Book- Banning Grows
Peggy
Battle over book-banning grows
<http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/metropolitan/1568090>
Another sex-education book volume in library at center of storm
Sept. 10, 2002
By BETH KUHLES
Houston Chronicle
CONROE - A second children's sex-education book is caught in a book-banning
battle that is expected to change the Montgomery County library system's
selection process.
A crowd of about 200 people spilled into the hallways at Commissioners
Court on Monday to hear the debate on a proposed ban on It's Perfectly
Normal, by Robie H. Harris. Critics of the book asked that a second book
by Harris, It's So Amazing, which addresses sex education for younger
children, also be removed because of what they called its pro-homosexual
stance.
County Judge Alan B. Sadler said he had received hundreds, and perhaps
thousands, of comments from residents and the sentiment appears to be about
evenly split on the issue.
"It frankly does not sway my feelings on wanting more control on what is on
the shelves that is accessible to children in Montgomery County," Sadler said.
"We have to draw a line in the sand," said Jim German, a Republican
precinct chairman. "We are fed up with the liberals shoving immoral views
down our throats."
After complaints about It's Perfectly Normal were raised two weeks ago, the
county referred the book to a library review panel, which will make a
recommendation to Library Director Jerilynn Williams. The formal complaint
beginning the process was delivered to Williams during Monday's court session.
It's So Amazing is not on the list of popular books facing bans in
libraries throughout the county, although It's Perfectly Normal ranks as
the 13th-most-challenged book since 1990, said to Beverley Becker,
assistant director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom at the American
Library Association.
"From our perspective, the notion of a library is to protect access to
books," Becker said, adding that the organization believes individual
families should decide which books are appropriate.
Most of the speakers, many of them members of the Republican Leadership
Council, the Christian Coalition of Montgomery County and area Christian
churches, called for Williams to be fired, for the creation of a citizen
review panel and for the county's withdrawal from the American Library
Association.
Some even attacked the county's $10 million bond proposal, scheduled for a
November election, to build three libraries. They said the money would help
to purchase unwanted books.
"It shows a gross lack of good judgment and accountability," said the Rev.
Bill C. Craft, executive director of Christian Life Ministries of Conroe.
"Those promoting these liberal attitudes have the audacity to promote a
'yes' vote on a $10 million library bond issue."
A small group, led by the Northwoods Unitarian Universal Church of The
Woodlands, asked commissioners to keep the books on library shelves.
"What is at issue is the attempt by certain individuals to impose their
views on the rest of the county," said K.E.S Palmisano of The Woodlands,
reading a statement from the church. "It is contrary to the First
Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, press and religion. We are
free to decide for ourselves what to read and review."
Sadler has vowed to change the policy for selecting children's books within
30 days, probably adding citizen members to a local library panel that
examines books for purchase.
Also Monday, Frank P. Williamson of west Montgomery County complained that
the library refused to display a poster featuring an American flag and the
motto "In God We Trust" until it was approved by the library board.
"Here we are celebrating Sept. 11 and we can't post it in the library,"
Williamson said.
<http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/metropolitan/1568090>
Another sex-education book volume in library at center of storm
Sept. 10, 2002
By BETH KUHLES
Houston Chronicle
CONROE - A second children's sex-education book is caught in a book-banning
battle that is expected to change the Montgomery County library system's
selection process.
A crowd of about 200 people spilled into the hallways at Commissioners
Court on Monday to hear the debate on a proposed ban on It's Perfectly
Normal, by Robie H. Harris. Critics of the book asked that a second book
by Harris, It's So Amazing, which addresses sex education for younger
children, also be removed because of what they called its pro-homosexual
stance.
County Judge Alan B. Sadler said he had received hundreds, and perhaps
thousands, of comments from residents and the sentiment appears to be about
evenly split on the issue.
"It frankly does not sway my feelings on wanting more control on what is on
the shelves that is accessible to children in Montgomery County," Sadler said.
"We have to draw a line in the sand," said Jim German, a Republican
precinct chairman. "We are fed up with the liberals shoving immoral views
down our throats."
After complaints about It's Perfectly Normal were raised two weeks ago, the
county referred the book to a library review panel, which will make a
recommendation to Library Director Jerilynn Williams. The formal complaint
beginning the process was delivered to Williams during Monday's court session.
It's So Amazing is not on the list of popular books facing bans in
libraries throughout the county, although It's Perfectly Normal ranks as
the 13th-most-challenged book since 1990, said to Beverley Becker,
assistant director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom at the American
Library Association.
"From our perspective, the notion of a library is to protect access to
books," Becker said, adding that the organization believes individual
families should decide which books are appropriate.
Most of the speakers, many of them members of the Republican Leadership
Council, the Christian Coalition of Montgomery County and area Christian
churches, called for Williams to be fired, for the creation of a citizen
review panel and for the county's withdrawal from the American Library
Association.
Some even attacked the county's $10 million bond proposal, scheduled for a
November election, to build three libraries. They said the money would help
to purchase unwanted books.
"It shows a gross lack of good judgment and accountability," said the Rev.
Bill C. Craft, executive director of Christian Life Ministries of Conroe.
"Those promoting these liberal attitudes have the audacity to promote a
'yes' vote on a $10 million library bond issue."
A small group, led by the Northwoods Unitarian Universal Church of The
Woodlands, asked commissioners to keep the books on library shelves.
"What is at issue is the attempt by certain individuals to impose their
views on the rest of the county," said K.E.S Palmisano of The Woodlands,
reading a statement from the church. "It is contrary to the First
Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, press and religion. We are
free to decide for ourselves what to read and review."
Sadler has vowed to change the policy for selecting children's books within
30 days, probably adding citizen members to a local library panel that
examines books for purchase.
Also Monday, Frank P. Williamson of west Montgomery County complained that
the library refused to display a poster featuring an American flag and the
motto "In God We Trust" until it was approved by the library board.
"Here we are celebrating Sept. 11 and we can't post it in the library,"
Williamson said.
Lisa Hardiman
We have read the book, "It's so amazing." I read parts of it and
renewed it 3 times for my kids just to look at on their own. There is
two pages on homosexual relationships, easy to miss if you aren't
looking for it. It is a great book and I highly recommend it. Lisa of
MT
-----Original Message-----
From: Peggy [mailto:peggy@...]
Sent: Friday, September 13, 2002 4:35 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] NEWS: Battle over Book- Banning Grows
Battle over book-banning grows
<http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/metropolitan/1568090>
Another sex-education book volume in library at center of storm
Sept. 10, 2002
By BETH KUHLES
Houston Chronicle
CONROE - A second children's sex-education book is caught in a
book-banning
battle that is expected to change the Montgomery County library system's
selection process.
A crowd of about 200 people spilled into the hallways at Commissioners
Court on Monday to hear the debate on a proposed ban on It's Perfectly
Normal, by Robie H. Harris. Critics of the book asked that a second
book
by Harris, It's So Amazing, which addresses sex education for younger
children, also be removed because of what they called its pro-homosexual
stance.
County Judge Alan B. Sadler said he had received hundreds, and perhaps
thousands, of comments from residents and the sentiment appears to be
about
evenly split on the issue.
"It frankly does not sway my feelings on wanting more control on what is
on
the shelves that is accessible to children in Montgomery County," Sadler
said.
"We have to draw a line in the sand," said Jim German, a Republican
precinct chairman. "We are fed up with the liberals shoving immoral
views
down our throats."
After complaints about It's Perfectly Normal were raised two weeks ago,
the
county referred the book to a library review panel, which will make a
recommendation to Library Director Jerilynn Williams. The formal
complaint
beginning the process was delivered to Williams during Monday's court
session.
It's So Amazing is not on the list of popular books facing bans in
libraries throughout the county, although It's Perfectly Normal ranks as
the 13th-most-challenged book since 1990, said to Beverley Becker,
assistant director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom at the
American
Library Association.
"From our perspective, the notion of a library is to protect access to
books," Becker said, adding that the organization believes individual
families should decide which books are appropriate.
Most of the speakers, many of them members of the Republican Leadership
Council, the Christian Coalition of Montgomery County and area Christian
churches, called for Williams to be fired, for the creation of a citizen
review panel and for the county's withdrawal from the American Library
Association.
Some even attacked the county's $10 million bond proposal, scheduled for
a
November election, to build three libraries. They said the money would
help
to purchase unwanted books.
"It shows a gross lack of good judgment and accountability," said the
Rev.
Bill C. Craft, executive director of Christian Life Ministries of
Conroe.
"Those promoting these liberal attitudes have the audacity to promote a
'yes' vote on a $10 million library bond issue."
A small group, led by the Northwoods Unitarian Universal Church of The
Woodlands, asked commissioners to keep the books on library shelves.
"What is at issue is the attempt by certain individuals to impose their
views on the rest of the county," said K.E.S Palmisano of The Woodlands,
reading a statement from the church. "It is contrary to the First
Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, press and religion. We
are
free to decide for ourselves what to read and review."
Sadler has vowed to change the policy for selecting children's books
within
30 days, probably adding citizen members to a local library panel that
examines books for purchase.
Also Monday, Frank P. Williamson of west Montgomery County complained
that
the library refused to display a poster featuring an American flag and
the
motto "In God We Trust" until it was approved by the library board.
"Here we are celebrating Sept. 11 and we can't post it in the library,"
Williamson said.
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
renewed it 3 times for my kids just to look at on their own. There is
two pages on homosexual relationships, easy to miss if you aren't
looking for it. It is a great book and I highly recommend it. Lisa of
MT
-----Original Message-----
From: Peggy [mailto:peggy@...]
Sent: Friday, September 13, 2002 4:35 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] NEWS: Battle over Book- Banning Grows
Battle over book-banning grows
<http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/metropolitan/1568090>
Another sex-education book volume in library at center of storm
Sept. 10, 2002
By BETH KUHLES
Houston Chronicle
CONROE - A second children's sex-education book is caught in a
book-banning
battle that is expected to change the Montgomery County library system's
selection process.
A crowd of about 200 people spilled into the hallways at Commissioners
Court on Monday to hear the debate on a proposed ban on It's Perfectly
Normal, by Robie H. Harris. Critics of the book asked that a second
book
by Harris, It's So Amazing, which addresses sex education for younger
children, also be removed because of what they called its pro-homosexual
stance.
County Judge Alan B. Sadler said he had received hundreds, and perhaps
thousands, of comments from residents and the sentiment appears to be
about
evenly split on the issue.
"It frankly does not sway my feelings on wanting more control on what is
on
the shelves that is accessible to children in Montgomery County," Sadler
said.
"We have to draw a line in the sand," said Jim German, a Republican
precinct chairman. "We are fed up with the liberals shoving immoral
views
down our throats."
After complaints about It's Perfectly Normal were raised two weeks ago,
the
county referred the book to a library review panel, which will make a
recommendation to Library Director Jerilynn Williams. The formal
complaint
beginning the process was delivered to Williams during Monday's court
session.
It's So Amazing is not on the list of popular books facing bans in
libraries throughout the county, although It's Perfectly Normal ranks as
the 13th-most-challenged book since 1990, said to Beverley Becker,
assistant director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom at the
American
Library Association.
"From our perspective, the notion of a library is to protect access to
books," Becker said, adding that the organization believes individual
families should decide which books are appropriate.
Most of the speakers, many of them members of the Republican Leadership
Council, the Christian Coalition of Montgomery County and area Christian
churches, called for Williams to be fired, for the creation of a citizen
review panel and for the county's withdrawal from the American Library
Association.
Some even attacked the county's $10 million bond proposal, scheduled for
a
November election, to build three libraries. They said the money would
help
to purchase unwanted books.
"It shows a gross lack of good judgment and accountability," said the
Rev.
Bill C. Craft, executive director of Christian Life Ministries of
Conroe.
"Those promoting these liberal attitudes have the audacity to promote a
'yes' vote on a $10 million library bond issue."
A small group, led by the Northwoods Unitarian Universal Church of The
Woodlands, asked commissioners to keep the books on library shelves.
"What is at issue is the attempt by certain individuals to impose their
views on the rest of the county," said K.E.S Palmisano of The Woodlands,
reading a statement from the church. "It is contrary to the First
Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, press and religion. We
are
free to decide for ourselves what to read and review."
Sadler has vowed to change the policy for selecting children's books
within
30 days, probably adding citizen members to a local library panel that
examines books for purchase.
Also Monday, Frank P. Williamson of west Montgomery County complained
that
the library refused to display a poster featuring an American flag and
the
motto "In God We Trust" until it was approved by the library board.
"Here we are celebrating Sept. 11 and we can't post it in the library,"
Williamson said.
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Peggy
Lisa wrote:
and control access to the book!
information people have access to through libraries. Also, there is beginning
to be a strong movement here, and in Britain, to sell the libraries to private
corporations and run them privately. Sort of like Barnes & Noble taking over,
putting in a coffee shop, and lending out only what is most popular or
uncontroversial. All of these actions could have a significant impact on
limiting the materials available to our children's generation.
Frankly, rewriting history to fit a current agenda and limiting access to
previous generations writings in history that dispute the current view, it a
tactic that we all need to be concerned about.
Peggy
> We have read the book, "It's so amazing." I read parts of it andIt is a GREAT book and I can't believe the tactics they are using to discredit
> renewed it 3 times for my kids just to look at on their own. There is
> two pages on homosexual relationships, easy to miss if you aren't
> looking for it. It is a great book and I highly recommend it. Lisa of
> MT
>
and control access to the book!
> "From our perspective, the notion of a library is to protect access toThe tactics described above are being used all across the country to limit the
> books," Becker said, adding that the organization believes individual
> families should decide which books are appropriate.
> Most of the speakers, many of them members of the Republican Leadership
> Council, the Christian Coalition of Montgomery County and area Christian
>
> churches, called for Williams to be fired, for the creation of a citizen
>
> review panel and for the county's withdrawal from the American Library
> Association.
> Some even attacked the county's $10 million bond proposal, scheduled for
> a
> November election, to build three libraries. They said the money would
> help to purchase unwanted books.
information people have access to through libraries. Also, there is beginning
to be a strong movement here, and in Britain, to sell the libraries to private
corporations and run them privately. Sort of like Barnes & Noble taking over,
putting in a coffee shop, and lending out only what is most popular or
uncontroversial. All of these actions could have a significant impact on
limiting the materials available to our children's generation.
Frankly, rewriting history to fit a current agenda and limiting access to
previous generations writings in history that dispute the current view, it a
tactic that we all need to be concerned about.
Peggy
Kate Green
I have a great cartoon taped to the wall. It's a kids and dad trying to get
into the movie Harry Potter and there are demonstrators around with signs
saying HP promotes satanism etc. The kid says "who are they dad?" Dad
replies "The American Taliban."
And this cartoon was in an Arab run newspaper a few months ago!!
Kate
into the movie Harry Potter and there are demonstrators around with signs
saying HP promotes satanism etc. The kid says "who are they dad?" Dad
replies "The American Taliban."
And this cartoon was in an Arab run newspaper a few months ago!!
Kate