The controversy over the Cape Henlopen summer reading selection (aka the Book) is a litmus test for measuring hypocrisy.
Proponents want that book unencumbered and available for viewing by young students. Why force the exposure of formative students to subject matter that is so real and earthy and organically human?
For the same reason, we guide our students (and parents) to what movies are suitable for viewing. We give a warning to viewers who are about to view a MA, R, V, Nudity content in motion pictures and television.
Forced reading of this non-age appropriate summer reading borders on a child abusive mindset.
You can't undo the book's imagery once it is read. Talk about stealing a kid's innocence...How do you unring that bell; how do you get all the feathers back into that opened pillow?
We were aghast when Dr. Bradley's trust was proven to be misplaced.
Where is the outrage over this similar abuse of trust that our kids will be protected and not used in some trendy social taxpayer funded experiment?
The Book is available in the free library so censorship arguments are off the table and invalid. That is why we have rational school boards - to make sure our curiculum reflects what is safe and appropriate for our kids to read.
The fact that this Book is available for reading in the public library give testimony to our guarantee of freedom of the press.
The last litmus test for the suitability of forcing this type of literature into someone minds eye is: Why doesn't one of the academic zealots write to the editor and do a direct quote from the Book with no edits - just direct textual excepts. It wouldn't get past the mailroom, that's why.
Why wouldn't a newspaper print unedited excerps from the Book? Because they respect their readership, that's why.
The proponents of our kids being forced to lose their innocence indicate that there are many Bradley-type predator personalities slithering around this world just waiting to get their ideas into our kids' heads.
Arty Miller
Milton
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