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To me, the real problem is this: "Dictionaries have been removed from classrooms in southern California schools after a parent complained about a child reading
by DanielStraight 17y ago
To me, the real problem is this:
"Dictionaries have been removed from classrooms in southern California schools after a parent complained about a child reading the definition for 'oral sex'."
One parent complains about one child reading one definition, and the schools freak out and make a drastic change which negatively affects education for all children (of those ages) in the schools. There is simply no way to justify a reaction like that.
A much better response would've been to send this letter to the parent: "We are an educational facility and will provide all the resources necessary for a complete education. Just as a microphone can be used to broadcast any message, our resources can be used for any education. We cannot be held responsible for how your child makes use of our educational resources outside of regularly scheduled class activities. We will not take any action in response to your complaint, but thank you for your concern."
- ars 17y agoI agree that the school should have done nothing, and the dictionary definition was perfectly fine, and not graphic at all. But your suggested letter is terrible. A school most certainly can be held responsible. Schools are held to much higher standards than other places, because people are required (forced) to send their kids there.
- DanielStraight 17y agoI'm not sure I agree on responsibility. The law is probably not on my side (which means that part of the letter would certainly need changed, but it was just supposed to be an example anyway of the appropriate kind of response), but imagine a school provides a computer lab students can use during their lunch to do research. If one of the kids decides to look at porn, who is to blame, the school or the kid? I don't see any way the school should be held responsible for that.
- DavidSJ 17y agoThat children are forced to go to school is even more reason censorship has no place there.
- nazgulnarsil 17y agotime for home schooling. wait, isn't California the state trying to get rid of homeschooling?
- noarchy 17y agoYep, then parents can hide their children from evil and subversive things, like "oral sex."