Many years ago in the far reaches of time I taught English literature to high school students. At one point a peer (read fellow(ette) teacher) was receiving severe flak from a parent group. I also did because I had used The Stone Angel written by Margaret Laurence. The parents were objecting to the sex scene in the novel. Folks, there IS no sex scene in the novel. Laurence alludes to it as happening in a room next door--details not provided. So, I requested a clearer explanation of what the `charges` were and would they allow me to present small portions of books that I used to teach literature to students. (I will admit that at the time I used The Bible--a book I perceive to be literature. That was verboten in a non-Catholic public school.) I chose material and a few days later met with the parents and gave each a three-page handout containing quotations from various books: then I told them where each had come from. I then suggested we ban all the books I`d put forward. Of course, amongst the books were The Bible--I think I used the New Jerusalem version--and it was some writing from Song of Songs from the Old Testament. Those passages got a bit steamy. And Twain, and Laurence, and Atwood, and Munro and others. Often, people ban (or try to) books and films they haven`t read or seen. I agree that some are NOT appropriate at certain grade levels. However, as has been stated often on this thread, just because someone doesn`t like it doesn`t mean it`s bad.

In one class I read from Dick Gregory`s book, `Nigger` and asked the kids what should be done about the title. Recall that the dedication in that book was to his mother. He wrote, `Dear Mama (or words to that effect), the next time you hear the word `nigger` remember that they`re advertising my book.`

Intention in the use of words is important. Twain`s intention was NOT to slag Black people. He too was a subject of his times.

I fail to see--for example--why many parents will allow kids to watch movies that are rated PG-13 when there are scenes of violence and fairly explicit sex and lotsa language, and again people are going after literature. Sheesh.

Best to you all.