For my hot topics, i try to stay impartial. Well, as impartial as I can. I try to present all sides of an argument and not really give my own opinion. most of the time it works…but sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes, when it’s a topic that hits close to home, i can present the facts, sure, but i also feel it’s a necessity to tell you how i really feel.
Halton’s Catholic school board has pulled Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass from its library shelves. Apparently, an internal memo was sent to elementary principals that said "the book is apparently written by an atheist where the characters and text are anti-God, anti-Catholic and anti-religion." Principals were also directed not to distribute the December Scholastic flyer to students because The Golden Compass is available for order.
This has become a topic of great debate. People are getting very angry and feelings are being hurt. Now, I have opinions, of course, and i respect those of others. All i know here is what i believe.
This is what i believe.
As a writer and an editor, in general, I don’t believe in book censorship or book banning. (There are, of course, exceptions to this rule. Would i want "Young Nazis for Dummies" to be removed from my children’s library shelves? certainly. but would i want a book written by a Holocaust denier to be removed? No. I will, at some point, want my children to understand that there are people out there who deny that the Holocaust exists. It will be something I will have to discuss with my children. Something i WANT to discuss with them.) I believe that not allowing children access to a book only makes it all that more attractive and enticing to readers. Aren’t we better off using the book, if the child even chooses to read it at all, as a starting point for discussion?
As a parent, I believe I have the right to choose what my children read. and what they don’t read. but, i do not have the right to make that decision for someone else’s child. The Golden Compass is an award-winning book that has received praise and critical acclaim. It is, in my opinion, an excellent piece of fiction literature for YA; something that is not easy to find these days, trust me. It challenges children to think. Isn’t that what we want? (as a side note, Pullman’s book was published in 1995. How come it’s only now, in 2007,
that the book is being reviewed? Where were all the school boards then?) If a parent decides that his child isn’t ready to deal with concepts yet, that’s up to the parent, NOT up to the school board.
As a Jew, with immediate family members who are atheists, agnostics, jews, and christians, i don’t believe any book written by people of other faiths about other faiths (especially FANTASY stories) would turn my child on or off of any religion. Books don’t do that. Faith comes from within…not from books. Children read the books for what they are…and it’s probably only once they are older that they will really ‘get’ the religious or non-religious connections. It wasn’t until i was much, much older that i even know of any sort of religious factor in The Chronicles of Narnia. As a kid, they were fantasy stories. About children and animals and different worlds. They were not about religion to me. And The Golden Compass will not be about anti-religion for many, many children.
Now, I know many people who have completely different views on this matter, including our very own Beck. She and I are friends online, and even a little bit offline (I know her kids’ names…neener, neener). I respect her opinions, no question. And I assume she’ll respect mine. So, I’m opening up the floor for some HEALTHY debate people. I, of course, respect people of all faiths and people without faith, and I know some of the lines are non exactly clear-cut.
Sorry to jump in so late on this one. Great points made by many, and Ali…excellent post. Hear, hear!
I plan to read this series as soon as I can get my hands on all 3 books (I was going to buy the set at Costco, but now I just may order through Scholastic to make a point!)
I think if I were a religious person, the one thing I would be most thankful to my creator for would be my marvelous brain and the wonderful things it can reason and imagine. And I would also be thankful for the gift that creator gave to writers who can imagine even more amazing things for me to read and enjoy.
I guess I don’t and will never get the concept of censorship. Of course you’re not going to read a YA book to your 5-year old, but if your 9-year old is interested, then why not read it together and talk about the concepts involved?
Also, let’s not overestimate children’s analysis of literature. I remember even in my last year of high school thinking “Margaret Laurence didn’t MEAN anything when she wrote “The Stone Angel” — she just WROTE A STORY. And I was 18 years old! I went on to earn an honours degree in English literature, and ended up LOVING to analyze the meaning in all kinds of literature. My point is, even as an 18-year old, I wasn’t seeing a lot of meaning in what I read. Just a story.
Case in point: I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to my oldest when she was 5 years old (the movie was out, she asked for the books, I obliged). As a thinker first and an atheist second, I always try to debrief my kids when they’re exposed to religious thought, so I can help them process the information they get and prepare them to make their OWN decisions about what they believe. No matter how many questions I asked her about Aslan et al., she simply saw it as A STORY. She did not or COULD NOT impute any greater meaning to it. I realized that giving the story any kind of religious meaning would have to be MY job if it were to happen at all. I decided to let it be. She loved the stories as I had as a girl (and still do). I’m going to leave that joy untainted for her.
Too bad a lot of children out there are going to miss out on the joy of what is reputed to be another wonderful fantasy story.
This was a difficult comment for me to compose. I think this is my fifth go at it. For starters, I have never read a book & thought beforehand “what religion is this author?” And I don’t plan to start now. I don’t hold strong religious beliefs of any kind, so these kind of controversies always seem like overreactions (& frankly a bit counter-productive) to me. But I will acknowledge that someone who subscribes to a certain religion may “get their back up” when their beliefs are challenged. I get this way when people dispute evolution. The problem here lies in that we all could use these opportunities in which our beliefs (and those of others) are challenged to start a meaningful & open discussion, rather than the ranting & raving that so often goes on by the most vocal in society.
If you are concerned about your children reading these books, then read them first. If you still deem them inappropriate, that is your perogative as a parent. But I would hazard anyone against blindly following the e-mail boycotts that are flying around the internet. Wouldn’t you rather educate yourself on the matter & then make the decision for yourself as opposed to following along like a lemming? I would take an open & honest dialogue on any issue any day, as opposed to an edict from “higher up” on what I am supposed to think & feel.
For me this is very interesting, I sell children’s books, and was just in a school, Catholic, in Downsview last week. The only books that the school librarian would not allow me to display for the literacy fair were any books that talked about birth control.
I was also at a public school at Don Mills last year and the librarian wouldn’t allow me to display our abrigged versions of Dracula , Dr. Jeckel & Mr. Hyde or any book along those lines. She said she knew what the parents would allow thier kids to read.
When does cesnsoring go over board?
In running this business for 6 years I have learned a fair amount about children and reading, this comming dirrectly from Peter Usborne the founder (1973) and editor of the publishing company that I represent. He made a comment one time; “When a child watches TV or a movie it is real to them, even though they have been told that it is not real, for them there brain believes what it sees. When a child reads a book their mind only takes them as far as the immagination will allow.” I try to use this when I am promoting the books, encouraging parents to enable the child to read Don Quoixte (abbridged) when they are 10 years old.
Its interesting to me becuase my homeschooling group has also been discussing this and I have included a list from another homeschooler whose boys 10 and 8 have read the Potter series, Narnia, and many others cover to cover.
From these discussions I have learned that the author has these beliefs, but they are not reflected in the story telling, but I haven’t read them so I can’t say for sure. Is the book only being pulled because of the movie? was the book in the library and kids have been borrowing it for a long period of time?
I think parents need to take a responsibility, know what your kids are reading like you know their computer activities, and then open a discussion with them about what they have read and what they feel about it.
Now this is a post from my homeschooling group, this started the topic of banning books:
What is this Ontario School Board thinking??? Isn’t the point to get
kids reading? Why do people keep pulling books off school shelves?
From where I sit to type this I can see our copy of the Golden
Compass and a bunch of other “banned books”.
Elaine
The Golden Compass – Philip Pullman
http://www.ctv. ca/servlet/ ArticleNews/ story/CTVNews/ 20071123/ compass_books_ 071123/20071123? hub=Canada
Banned books list
http://www.ala. org/ala/oif/ bannedbooksweek/ bbwlinks/ 100mostfrequentl y.htm
http://digital. library.upenn. edu/books/ banned-books. html
There are thousands of articles – this is just a few
Harry Potter J.K. Rowling
http://www.educatio nworld.com/ a_admin/admin/ admin157. shtml
Snow Falling on Cedars – David Guterson
http://www.citizen. on.ca/news/ 2007/0201/ Local_news/ 015.html
Speak, bird, speak again : Palestinian Arab folktales – Ibrahim Muhawi
and Sharif Kanaana
http://uncoollibrar ian.blogspot. com/2007/ 03/anthology- of-palestinian- folk-tales. html
Kaffir Boy – Mark Mathabane
http://www.sfgate. com/cgi-bin/ article.cgi? file=/c/a/ 2007/04/12/ MNGKFP7A9K1. DTL
Bluest Eye – Toni Morrison,
http://www.dailyfre eman.com/ site/news. cfm?newsid= 17455840& BRD=1769& PAG=461&dept_ id=74969& rfi=6
Diamond Dogs – Alan Watt
http://www.wral. com/news/ local/story/ 113485/
I have to wonder at the protesters’ mindset. If their faith is strong and wonderful and all-encompassing, how can be threatened by a young-adult novel? Why bother to protest the book, it’s just a book. I’ve read the trilogy, and it’s wonderful. When my girls are old enough for the books, I’ll hand them copies.
as a mother i can choose for my young children what to read or not to them.as for my older children i let them choose because its good to ask questions and they need to form their own opinions and as for me something that questrions my faith only ends up making me more sure of my faith…
I haven’t yet read the Golden Compass but all my step-kids have. As an English teacher and avid book reader I am a huge advocate of making books available. As a Catholic, I’m embarrassed by the narrow-minded approach of the Halton board. A couple of years ago our Grade 7 started bringing home The O.C. chapter books from her school library. Her Catholic school had books in the library for a show that was not even rated for any student at the school and which we were not comfortable with her watching. I wonder if Halton has these on its book shelves. Or the Gossip girls? Clique books? Harry Potter?
I think some context is important here before school boards get labelled anyway. Again, the book has been on bookshelves for almost 10 years. It’s news now because there’s the Hollywood factor – a movie’s coming out based on the book. So it is without surprise that in this case, one school board received a call to which they felt compelled to respond.
A good many Catholic school boards contacted by the media have already publicly stated that the book is not a problem. Some board spokespersons have gone on to add that if anything the novel presents a fine opportunity for students to discuss with their teachers and classmates the themes and questions raised in this book, whether they relate to the Church or not. That’s part of the essence of Catholic education.
I’m in totatl agreement – my family consists of Muslims, Catholics and atheists and my son, who’s 4, is asking questions all the time about God, Allah, the whole gamut. Yesterday’s question was: if we pray to Allah, then who does Allah pray to?
good question, answered my dad, let me get back to you after i think about it. he’s still thinking – we all are. The Golden Compass will obviously give us more to think about – to deny anyone that oppty is wrong.
I think a parent has the right to select what their child reads (at least up to a certain age) but not a school or school board.
As far as people of faith sticking together why can’t we ALL stick together whether we practice religion or not? There are very few of us who believe in nothing whether or not we believe in a god. We should strive to practice tolerance.
Oops. typos at the end there. I meant “other Jews and non-CATHOLICs (other Christians that is), that would, and have, defended mine.”
Preface: I am a Catholic and I have not read the book in question.
SciFi Dad, I doubt very much that there would be cries of anti-Catholicism if the Chronicles of Narnia were pulled from Hebrew school’s shelves. First, because the Catholic Church recognizes the right of all authorities to make decisions with regard to what is best for those in their charge. This pricinple is called “subsidiarity.” Second, C.S. Lewis was not Catholic and his books, while very much in harmony with Catholic thought, are not actually “Catholic.”
There is something that I think many of you are overlooking here and that is the fact that this book is fiction. This isn’t a treatise on athiesm or an arguement, per se against the Catholic faith or any of its tenets. This is an imaginitive book, fantasy, fiction and these books don’t speak to the reason of the reader so much as appeal to the reader’s imagination. When the author of this book says he want to “kill God in the imaginations of children” he means just that. He isn’t arguing against God or Catholicism, he’s just placing images in children’s heads that incline them to think one way or another. You can talk yourself blue in the face about why the ideas behind these books are false, but that won’t take the images that associate Church authority with dictatorship out of your child’s imagination.
Of course I have other opinions, but a combox is a little place and I’ll leave those be. I will say, however, that I am saddened to find here people of faith so willing to let secular culture infringe on our religious liberties so long as it isn’t their religion that is in question. I would defend your right as a Jew or a non-Catholic Christian to teach your faith to your children in the way you thought best. I know other Jews and non-Christians who would, and have, defended mine. I thinks that’s the best way to proceed here. People of faith need to stand together. Secular culture is a lot bigger than all of us and looking atv the big picture it’s easy to see that we are more on the same side than not.
I have to admit I am having trouble determining why this has become such a big issue. Parents of young children are able to “control” what their children do read and do not read. Where does the need to ban or boycott the book or movie come into play?
I am curious though (and I do mean I am truly curious — no snarky intent here!) as to what some parents are afraid of, in regard to reading the series. From where I stand, it is not only “okay”, but it is a good thing to question and examine and weigh religious beliefs. I love Jen Maier’s comment in this regard about something like this being an opportunity to have an open, honest discussion with one’s children about belief systems, tolerance, understanding.
As far as I am concerned the issue is about fear. These parents are afraid that this book will make their children question their belief in God or Catholicism or religion so they choose to breed ignorance and fear. These books are not “against” anything as far as I could see but encourage people to think, to question, and to open their minds to other possibilities. How is it possible to say you truly believe in anything unless you have taken the time to look at it from all sides? What a great opportunity to talk to your children about the beliefs of others and to clarify what you stand for with confidence, tolerance, and an open mind.
I love what sci-fi said — that last sentence. brillers. totally how i feel. GREAT post, by the way.
Of course I respect your opinions! And I would never agree with this book being removed from public school libraries or public libraries – but isn’t the Catholic school in question just doing an informal review of the book based upon parental panic over it? Because they’re a religious school and responding to parental concerns, for me it falls into a slightly different catergory, you know?
Also, one of the comementors at my place made an important comment about the difference between books that are pro-something (the Narnia series) and books that are against something (she discussed the anti-Catholic literature of the 1800s), and as a parent, that’s an important distinction. I don’t worry about my children being exposed to differing religious views, but I do worry about a children’s book that expresses hatred against what my children are being brought up to believe in.
I read The Golden Compass waaaay back in 1995 and then the rest of the series while I was pregnant with The Girl, I believe, and yes, I find it DEEPLY amusing that people are only cottoning on to it now. Ha.
I haven’t read this book.
But … I’m in Halton, and a lot of the daycare parents have their kids in the Catholic system. So, it was a hot topic at a birthday party I went to on the weekend.
What bugs me about this isn’t just that a book is banned, but that if you went through the libraries you would find all sorts of stuff that should be banned, based on those guidelines, but isn’t because no one has read it or thought to ban it.
I went to a private faith-based school (which was much more “religious” than our area Catholic schools) and they had some very strict guidelines in the school library. It was a small library, and all of the books actually were reviewed for content, the librarian had read most of them.
In that case I think it would be okay to ban a book such as this one because it would not be an isolated event. There was a very strict standard. It was also one school, not an entire board.
As for this incident – it’s a little ridiculous.
And, I don’t agree with not distributing the Scholastic catalogue. If you’re going to do that you should also take away public library cards and deny access to bookstores. It’s a little extreme.
And, the outcome … I bet a ton of kids are going to read that book now!
I have not read the book either (or yet…).
My initial reaction when I heard about this about 2 months ago and rec’d email to boycott it was, well of course, I will. But now, I’m not so sure. All your points are valid. Narnia, never new the religious views about it when I was a kid either, not sure my parents did .. or if they did they never passed that on to me. And just because I read, and enjoyed, Davinchi Code, does not mean, for me, mean that Jesus had a wife and has a child roaming around somewhere. It was fiction to me. So, I guess I may pick up this book, and yes, I will probably read it to my son, just as I read him pop-up bible stories etc. It is another view-point, and, IMO can only serve to expand our children’s minds.
Preface: I have not read the book in question.
Interesting. I wonder what the school board would do if a Hebrew school pulled The Chronicles Of Narnia from its shelves because of the clear Christianity parallels. I am guessing there would be cries of anti-Catholicism and complaints lodged against the school. (Note that I’m not even going to get into the blatant anti-Semitic content in much of Catholic literature.)
My suspicion is that the messages in the book are not so much anti-religion as they are pro-thought, which, in some faiths’ eyes, is the same thing.