The controversy about using inappropriate language in children's literature is constantly debated and repeatedly attracts the attention of the public. In Slovenia, this happened when the novel Na zeleno vejo by Andrej Predin was assigned as the text for the Cankar competition, a Slovenian language competition. Several reading mentors and other…

In this study, one current and three former British Columbia (BC) offshore school principals were interviewed to seek their insights on how they contended with being compelled to censor material and disallow topics of conversation while administering a Canadian curriculum in an international context. Using a research design consistent with an…

Research suggests fear of parental backlash is a primary reason why teachers preemptively censor books, yet parents' beliefs about challenged children's books are understudied. This study's purpose was to investigate adults' beliefs about challenged children's literature as expressed through reading and discussing challenged books within an adult…

In this article, the author shares his reactions to angry letters to his books, particularly the one titled "Mr. Granite Is from Another Planet." Nearly all the complaints the author receives inform him that it's his responsibility as an author to promote positive messages and moral lessons in his books. However, the author contends that his books…

Applebaum acknowledges the importance of the questions that Jackson raises and also clarifies some claims that Jackson mistakenly attributes to her. Applebaum queries Jackson's identification of "unreasonableness" with ignorance and cautions that a concern for students becoming "reasonable" must not preclude the possible costs to those who must…

The moral potential of works of art, for good or ill, has been recognised from philosophical antiquity: on the assumption that the moral effects of art are invariably negative, Plato advised the exclusion of artists from any rationally ordered state. Arguably, however, the problem of the moral status of art has become yet more acute in contexts of…

The flow of pandering advertisements through the U.S. mails is explored. (MF)

High school teacher Robert C. Mossman asserts that literary magazines reflect and elevate school communities' values. As adviser of his school literary magazine, Mossman encourages students to uphold certain standards for decency, while helping students learn to distinguish between original writing that is specific and thoughtful and writing that…

A librarian's reaction to the U. S. Senate's rejection of the report of the Commission on Obscenity and Pornography. (Author)

The view of President Nixon and the current Supreme Court toward obscenity and censorship appears to be one of paternalistic protection for American citizens. The author discusses this issue as a basic moral-political question. (8 references) (Author/SJ)

The library profession must stop playing around with the supposed causes of censorship and address itself to the principle of intellectual freedom. Librarians should confront the censors by exposing their tactics before they use them. (Author/JS)

Briefly discusses the issue on censorship in the schools, citing examples and offering suggestions for what school personnel can do to combat it. (JMB)