When I first learned that I had to create a RSS notebook Blog I was apprehensive. Maybe apprehensive isn’t the right word, more accurately I was mad. I couldn’t understand why an Adolescent Literature class had to be so technical. In fact, I almost dropped the class.

After my experiences with blogging and RRS feeds, I am glad that I did not drop the class. I have been introduced to a great way to obtain information and share it. Considering this is the information era, I welcome any new and interesting ways to do so. Not to mention it is fun to “google” myself!

Not only have I accomplished my assignment, I have shared my “new skills” with a few friends and family members. I have a friend that works with the underprivileged members of society. She is always searching for new and existing programs and information that relates to low-income families. She has informed me, on many occasions, how beneficial the RSS feed has been for her.

As a future teacher, I have always liked the idea of my students being able to “publish” their work. It makes the writing process seem more “realistic” when you have an actual audience. Before this class, I was struggling to come up with ideas to accomplish this goal. Blogs are the answer I was looking for.

As for myself learning from my RSS feeds, I have learned a lot too. My topic, censorship, has yielded many interesting articles. I do, however, want to point out that topic choice is very important. Some of my classmates have chosen a topic that has not yielded many articles. Although I was not affected by this problem, I have heard about the hardships that it brings. This is perhaps the only problem that I see with this assignment.

As a whole, I have learned a lot and hope to integrate some of this technology in my future classroom.

American Library Association


Considering the thoughts and feelings that I have expressed throughout my blogs, I figured I would share some information about Banned Books Week (BBW) created by the American Library Association.
“Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year. Observed since 1982, this annual ALA event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. This year, 2006, marks BBW's 25th anniversary (September 23-30).
BBW celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where these two essential conditions are met.”
During my exploration of the ALA website I came across the “Library Bill of Rights”. It was refreshing to read views that are similar to mine.
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.
I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

The ALA website is full of information and a great source to utilize. It has background information on BBW, quotations from prestigious people, banned books lists and ways to support BBW. Many public libraries have joined the celebration of Banned Books Week during the last 25 years. This is good news for a person with my views on the matter. If books are banned in school, at least students can access them from the public library.

How 'Howl' won the day
Reviewed by Steve Heilig
Sunday, November 5, 2006 now part of stylesheet -->

Howl on Trial
The Battle for Free Expression
Sanfrancisco Chronicle
Edited by Bill Morgan and Nancy J. Peters
CITY LIGHTS; 224 PAGES; $14.95 PAPERBACK


Censorship is, by no means, a new topic. It has been around a long time and is not going to disappear anytime in the near future. A poem titled “Howl” written by Allen Ginsberg demonstrates this fact well. It was originally published in 1955 two years later the frenzy began.

“The backlash soon followed in 1957, first with a seizure by U.S. customs of some of the first copies of the poem, published by Lawrence Ferlinghetti's City Lights Books, and later with the arrest of Ferlinghetti and one of his bookstore partners by San Francisco police who bought a copy of the book for that purpose. Both the customs officials and the cops thought "Howl" an obscene, and therefore illegal, poem and book. A trial ensued, and the Beats won, in a landmark case for freedom of the press.”

It is amazing to me that the United States actually “seized” copies of the poem. Even more amazing is the fact that someone was actually arrested for selling a book! “The proceedings of the trial show a hapless and overmatched prosecutor grasping at straws and parading clueless witnesses in his effort to prove that children should not read "Howl."”

Some of the comments made during the trial by the prosecutor were, "It is a little hard to read because there are no commas in the spots where you expect them to be," he explains (or complains). Quoting from "Howl" -- "Adorations! illuminations! religions! the whole boatload of sensitive bull -- !" -- he implores, "Do they (sic) have to put words like that in there?" At one point he asks an esteemed San Francisco State English professor, "Do you classify yourself as a liberal?" (so like censorship, some other things have not changed all that much), and one of his expert witnesses, a speech teacher, can only say of "Howl" that "You feel like you are going through the gutter when you have to read that stuff. I didn't linger on it too long, I assure you."
These are not very strong arguments against the poem in fact I wouldn’t even classify them as arguments.

There are always two sides to every story. The prosecutor was not the only one with opinions. Kenneth Rexroth voiced that he felt that “Howl” had literary merit. He stated that, "It is probably the most remarkable single poem published by a young man since the second World War." Another supporter of “Howl” was Mark Shorer, a renowned critic and Berkeley professor stated, "Seek filth and you will find it. Seek beauty of narration and you will find that too." The latter statement is strong and to the point, you only see what you want to see.

View full Article

Gloucester County Times
Parents protest addition to epic
Monday, October 09, 2006
By Matthew Ralph

“HARRISON TWP. -- A modern translation of one of the oldest known pieces of literature angered at least three parents of Clearview Regional High School students last week, a few days after libraries across the nation observed Banned Books Week.”
Jennifer Low was one of three parents protesting the literature choice. “After Low raised her concern, her daughter was given a different translation contained in a textbook to read. At least one other parent has made the same request, and still another high school parent is protesting the use of the material.”
The fact that Jennifer Low did not want her child to read Gilgamesh does not bother me in any way. It is her choice to decide what is appropriate for her own child. The part that does bother me, however, is the parent who is protesting other children’s reading of the material. It is understandable for parents to make decisions for their own children, but not children as a whole.
In addition, Low also feels that her daughter is being “singled out”. “Low said she does not see why her daughter or any other student whose parents oppose specific sections of the book should have to be singled out.” I can appreciate her feelings, but isn’t she the one who has singled out her daughter?
On the other hand, I do think that schools and teachers need to have some sort of communication with parents. Some parents feel that teachers are trying to sneak this controversial literature into the curriculum. "I think the other parents need to know what their kids are being given to read," Low said, noting that she would not have been alerted to the content had her daughter not told her that it "made her feel uncomfortable." Parents should be informed about what their child is reading. This would take the element of shock and surprise out of the equation. After reading many articles on this topic, it seems that many parents feel “out-of-the-loop”. Involving parents, by simply making them aware of future reading’s, will allow parents to feel that they have some sort of control over their child’s learning.

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Banned Books series to begin at Hodges Library
Chris Akel - Staff WriterWednesday, October 04, 2006 issue

The following quotation by Margaret Casado, a librarian, is very interesting. After I read it, I was amazed at how hypocritical some people can be.

“But some people just take books and never bring them back. If they disagree with our having material, they just steal it, especially books supporting marijuana use.”

The people who check out books and do not return them are, in fact, stealing. It seems to me that these parent’s are not only stealing, they are conveying a message to their children that stealing can be justifiable in some cases.

It seems to me that a book supporting marijuana could and should be used as a teaching tool by parents. To make a good argument against something, like marijuana usage, one has to acknowledge all the possible arguments, good and bad. This requires parent’s to take an active role and discuss the contents of the book with their children.

If you don’t like drug dealers, I suppose it is okay to go out and kill them to protect you children. The previous statement is, at least, a dramatic exaggeration. It does, however, illustrate my point. Promoting stealing is no better than supporting marijuana usage.

To combat the stealing of books from the library Margaret Casado said, “we fight back by promoting the Banned Books Week.” Even though some of the books were stolen they were replaced and then promoted. Stealing the questionable books did not, in any way, prohibit the books from being read. It did, however, promote stealing to the child or children of the person who stole the book.

Parents do have the right to decide what their children read. If a parent does not want his/her child to read such controversial books that is their right. Their rights stop there, they have no right to decide what everyone else in that district reads. If I, a 25 year old mother decide to read such books or let my child read such books, that is my decision and my decision alone.

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Library board hears complaints about books/Decision scheduled for Oct. 11 meetingThursday, October 5, 2006By Zach Sims/Staff writer

Marshall just recently held a hearing to hear public opinion on two books that were being challenged. The books were being challenged on the basis that the pictures were sexually questionable. Louise Mills, the woman who is challenging the books stated, "We may as well purchase the porn shop down at the junction and move it to Eastwood. Some day this library will be drawing the same clientele," Mills said. "I sincerely hope the board will listen to the community. Let's not contribute to the delinquency of minors." This statement is just silly. I have viewed the pictures that are in question and in my opinion, there are far from pornography. Her comment about drawing clientele from the porn shop is, at least, discriminatory. Not only does she want to decide what books are allowed in the library, she wants to decide who is allowed in the library.
Louise Mills was not the only person that questioned the type of people these books would draw in. Another resident named Sarah Aulgur stated something similar to Mills, "I don't want seedy people coming into the library and moving into our community." Public libraries are just that, public. Everyone has the right to go to the library even if they are pornography supporters. It seems the main focus of these arguments are not based on the books themselves, but the on the people who may read them.
There were a few members of that community that spoke against the removal of the books. "The library's purpose is to provide a broad sweep of information, if you have only things that you like in a library then it is a private library," Wilson said. "I find myself defending something that I find repugnant, but I feel it needs to be provided." I can relate to this statement. It does acknowledge that the books may have some questionable material, but that does not mean that they have to be completely removed. Who wants to go to the library and only be able to read what is acceptable according to someone elses opinion of the material.
Another member of the community said, "I do not see this material as obscene or pornographic," Dave Riley said. "The big city is here, the world is here, you're not going to keep it out. I understand everybody wants to live here and live in their little fantasy world and think we're somehow protected from that, we're not," Riley said. "Everyone has said up to this point that it is pornographic and obscene, it may be offensive, I agree, some people will be offended by it, I'm not. I just want you to know there are some people who don't share your opinion ... I do not see it as pornographic material and I'm not offended by it." Dave’s comments prove that not everyone agrees that the books are pornographic. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but how can we have an opinion if the books are taken off the shelf.

Link to full article

Chinese writers take their banned books out of China, find new readers in the West
By SYLVIA HUI Associated Press March 21, 2006

The controversy of banning certain books does just the opposite of what it is intended to do. The banning of a book is supposed to keep readers from reading it this is not exactly what happens. For me the interest of a book rises when someone does not want me to read it. For example, when faced with the task of choosing a book for my college class, banned books seemed the right choice because it is very interesting to read something that ‘I am not supposed to’.

“….the banned books that now most easily become underground hits within the country and stir the most international attention are heavy on in-your-face titillation.”

The fact that the banned books in China became underground hits illustrates my previous point. Would these books have become hits had they not been controversial? A book that had been banned seems to get more attention than other books created in that same time. All the attention surrounding a banned book leads to more people to read it.
When discussing a controversial topic, people tend to have strong opinions. These strong opinions lead to more and more conversation regarding the matter, thus creating a type of advertisement for the books themselves. Whether this advertisement is viewed in a negative or positive light, it is still advertising. In order for something to become popular and widespread, conversation and advertisement are needed.
Clearing the shelves of these controversial books does not stop them from circulating. They have been making their way to the Internet.

“Many censored tales have become favorites on the Internet despite careful censoring. Last year, acclaimed author Yan Lianke's "Serve the People," a sensational satirical novella, circulated and was translated online shortly after censors wiped copies off bookshelves. Among other things, the story describes how a soldier and his lover smash up images of Mao Zedong as part of sexual foreplay.”

Once on the Internet, many more people have access to these types of controversial books. Had they left them on the shelves, the desire to publish them on the Internet would not have been as great.
The problem that writers are facing is that there is not a book of rules to refer to when writing. What are the rules and have I broken them? How is a writer to know what is acceptable and what is not.

“But the trouble is finding where the list of taboo subjects ends, says Ma Jian, a dissident author living in London.”"If you want to censor me, give me a standard. It feels terrible because you don't know anything," the 52-year-old writer said at a recent Hong Kong literary festival.

As the times change so do our beliefs on what is proper and what is not, so a book of rules would quickly become dated. What is a writer to do?

View article

Barriers to Equity
By: Kathleen Fulton
Robert Sibley



The digital divide is a topic that must be, at the least, discussed. It affects us all to some degree, some much more than others. Much attention has been given to the lack of hardware, software and Internet access that have plagued poor districts. The federal government has acknowledged these factors and has created funding programs to correct these problems. These programs according to Fulton and Sibley, “have begun to lessen the digital divide in terms of school infrastructure”. This is a good start, but simply does not address the issue as a whole.

“In the United States, the question is no longer one of access; it includes more specifically, questions of what kind of access, for whom, when, and for what purpose. Students with access to the four critical components needed for digital participation gain significant advantages for future opportunities over those who do not have this access.”

Fulton and Sibley outlined four components that are critical to close the digital divide:

Access to up-to-date hardware, software and connectivity
Access to meaningful, high-quality, and culturally responsive content along with the opportunity to contribute to the knowledge base represented in online content
Access to educators who know how to use digital tools and resources effectively
Access to systems sustained by leaders with vision and support for change through technology

As I have stated above the first component has been addressed by the federal government by means of providing money to the poor districts to allow them to purchase hardware, software and Internet connectivity. Even though the districts have these necessities, technology changes fast leaving poor districts with dated hardware and software and slow Internet connections. The gaps between the haves and the have-nots will grow rapidly.
Another problem that hits close to home for me is the access at home to such technology. I have struggled with this phenomenon since high school. I went to Jenison High School and just about the only one who did not have a computer at home. My parents realized its importance but financial strains made the purchase of a computer not possible. The article gave many statistics surrounding the benefits of home access; high school and college (in the beginning) would have been much easier for me if we had the ability to purchase a computer, not to mention the monthly bill for Internet access.

“Much online material fails to address the needs, interests, and concerns of Americans who do not match the narrow demographic profile for which most current Internet content is designed”. “There is a dearth of content designed for and by people of minority, ethnic, and tribal cultures, as well as for girls and those with disabilities”.

The above quotation relates to the Gates lecture. Gates wanted to create an encyclopedia of the “black world”. This is a great idea, however, cost is certainly an issue, and not addressed in his lecture. The software is currently priced at $100.00 this makes it unattainable for many people, including those to whom it was designed for. It is a shame that this great encyclopedia can only be viewed by, those who are fortunate enough to have the money to buy it.
The third component addresses the issue that educators need to know how to use this technology effectively. It also addresses that some educators do not see the benefits of using technology in their classes, they did not use it while in school, therefore it is unnecessary. We have all had teachers who do not use technology at all, they are either afraid of it or they do not have the knowledge to do so. Some teachers do incorporate technology in their classrooms, but not very effectively. They tend to use it to support their basic pedagogical beliefs, not to create new better ways of learning.
The last component addresses that the whole system of education must change its views about learning and technology in schools. Many teacher educators do not have the knowledge/training in technology to pass along their students. Some even display their dismay about the technology era.

My subscriptions

I have subscribed to three major news sources (CNN, Washington Post and New York Times). I chose these three sources becasue they are credible and quite popular. After "searching" other news sources, the three I chose seem to yield the most interesting and relevant results.

I originally chose a blog "Unfettered Letters" because it, at the time, it seemed to have relevant posts. As time went on I realized that it had nothing to do with my topic. I have come to realize that three major news sources have yielded enough relevant articles. So many, in fact, that I could not read them all. I would go back in an find a blog that is realted to my topic, but I only have two more posts to complete.

Introduction

I am interested in the banning and censorship of books. More specifically, why these books are banned and who makes the decison to ban them. Do parents have a strong impact on the books presently banned or do thier opinions not count for much? Do teachers have the ability to ban books, that are not banned by the school district, in their classrooms? Can parents 'fight' for their child to able to read such books in school? How do the students (high school and college) feel about this and are thie rvoices ever heard?

I am also interested in other countries and how they deal with this topic. What types of literature are banned there and why? Does this bannning refelct the culture of the country?