Bazoongas banned
Tue, 2007-11-13 07:04
#1
Bazoongas banned
Tue, 2007-11-13 07:04
#2
An elementary school librarian has banned the book [i]Trouble on Tarragon Island[/i] by children's author Nikki Tate for her use of the word "bazoongas" which a child character used to describe part of a woman's anatomy.
Ms. Tate will be in Kindersley, Saskatchewan to distribute her book freely to school children living in the area.
[url=http://tinyurl.com/2ejj6t]http://tinyurl.com/2ejj6t[/url]
Highlights:
quote:
Author protests ban over phrase 'generous bazoongas'
TOM HAWTHORNFrom Tuesday's Globe and Mail
November 13, 2007 at 5:51 AM EST
VICTORIA — Children's author Nikki Tate is taking her bazoongas to Saskatchewan.
The Victoria writer will be giving away copies of Trouble on Tarragon Island, a work of fiction banned at Elizabeth Elementary in Kindersley, Sask.
The publisher learned of the ban this summer after school librarian Debbie Wagner called to complain about scenes of bullying, one of which includes the use of the word bazoongas to describe part of female anatomy. "I feel so strongly that what's happened there is wrong," Ms. Tate said yesterday. "My message to the students is, 'If you want to read this book, here it is.' " The novel will be available free to any elementary pupil in Kindersley who requests the title. The public library in the town of 4,500 is helping with the give-away program (the Kindersley branch carries a single copy of the title, which is currently checked out). The combined student populations of Elizabeth and Westberry elementary schools is nearly 600...
Tue, 2007-11-13 08:20
#3
Dumb as a post. This brings to mind an interview I saw on the Michael Coren show I think, some years ago. An educator of Ms. Wagners ilk had compiled a dictionary for use in elementery schools which had been purged every word which had even the most remote sexual reference. She said, and I quote, "you know when some words are looked up, you'll hear a little titter run through the room". I really would have liked to be there to ask if the word "titter" had been eliminated.
This person needs to spend a lot more time engaged with reality.
Tue, 2007-11-13 08:26
#4
This is awesome! Thanks for bringing it to our attention!
I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to move this thread to the babble book lounge forum. I'm also going to pass the word along to our editor who does "book it" events in the rabble book lounge.
Tue, 2007-11-13 08:45
#5
You know, usually librarians are at the forefront of free speech issues when it comes to literature. They're generally the last people to participate in book bans and such.
Which makes this librarian especially assinine. She should be ashamed of herself. And the principal of the school shouldn't be backing her up on such nonsense.
Tue, 2007-11-20 18:33
#6
It's possible there was a right-wing takeover of the local school board, and that this led to people like this woman being imposed as librarians.
My question is this...
When kids in this school learn North American geography, are they taught about the Grand Tetons?
[ 20 November 2007: Message edited by: Ken Burch ]