Removing a book from a reading list takes away a powerful teaching tool. Yes, discussing reading with your children is critical (actually, I went the other way and discussed this book with my mother — she’s read it many times with students), but discussing these subjects, especially given the theme of peer pressure, in a group setting offers a different experience for kids. Removing this book from reading lists takes this opportunity away from the other kids. I’m not a huge fan of kids sitting out discussions by going to the library or engaging in alternative activities, but this is always an option in the classroom.

As for “another” case, there have been many this year, most with predictable themes. Last month’s was The Catcher in the Rye. At least in the case of The Giver, parents had read the book; in the Catcher situation, the parents quoted freely admitted they hadn’t read the book, but that shouldn’t matter. I applaud parents getting involved in education, but I’m not sure parents who take this approach are looking at the big picture — and this is where we differ, clearly. Rather than seeing this book as undermining moral values, it seems to me this is a chance to reinforce values.

(PS — sorry your post didn’t pop up right away. For some reason [and disagreeing with me isn’t it!], you went into the moderation queue. I see nothing in it that would have triggered the filters. )

Nowhere in the linked article do we read that the parents have demanded the book be removed from the school library. Nowhere are they quoted as saying that other people’s kids should not be allowed to read the book. According to the article, the book is part of that school’s curriculum, meaning that students are required to read it. Yes, a kid could opt not to read it, but it’s still going to be discussed in front of him, and that’s why the parents want it off the list.

I read and discussed The Giver with my elder son when he was in middle school, and it was a positive experience for both of us. But I believe the rights of parents to direct their children’s moral education should be absolute, so if a parent believes the book would undermine the values her child is being taught at home, that’s all I need to hear. I am solidly on her side.

When the protagonist of the story learns about this, he decides to flee his society.

Given the way things are going in the world today (take, for example, the Netherlands making it legal for doctors to kill babies who are born with medical problems – without obtaining the parents’ consent) these kinds of issues are definitely things that should be discussed – not swept under the rug.

I think this book should be read by most adults. In fact, I think next year I’ll suggest for One Book, One Erie.

That’s the beauty of science fiction – it gives us ways to think about society, opens opportunties for discussion.

Of course, pretending the book doesn’t exist, there’s a good answer. (sarcasm alert. (G)) Let’s not allow our children to read anything that might actually make them think and ask some important questions. (sigh)