'Offensive' Book Banned in US Schools

[AB Asks]

Schools in several American states have banned a children's book aimed at 9 to 12 year olds because of the use of one word, 'scrotum'.
The word was only used once in the novel but librarians complained that it 'misjudged its audience' and 'used shock treatment'. The book in question has won the 2007 Newbery Medal. Is it right for schools to ban the novel?

[andy-hughes]

It would seem from the evidence presented that the ban is unduly harsh.

The word is anatomically correct, and presented to an age group who should certinly be learning about genital anatomy, function, and terminology.

[pterodactyl]

I know of a website that bans because of 'offensive' words....

[DJerba]

...because usually the language used on that site is unecessary and definitely not educational. However in relation to the question no way should the book have banned it's necessary.

[Clanad]

Here's an article ( http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/books/18newb .html ) published about the event and, on the whole, it's fairly well balanced, giving the librarian's overall reasoning and viewpoint. I think, in balance, we've all known, at least here in the U.S. (I assume children are nearly the same in the U.K.) 9 to 12 year old children, some of whom would readily understand the use of the word in question. But, we've all known many children that would ask their teacher, after using the book in the classroom, the meaning and implications of the word. I think it's just such an uncomfortable situation that most of the objectors are concerned with.

Such education is better done in the home, in my opinion. Sadly, it's not done very well, if at all, but that failure of parental responsibility shouldn't impose a burden on the teacher who has, perhaps 30 or so childern and 30 or so sets of parents to be concerned with...