children's book controversy - interesting link

jcc64 wrote: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/books/18...ad88&ei=5087%0A


Am I just completely out of touch with the mainstream in this country?!! Can someone please tell me what is so scandalous about using proper terminology for a body part? If a vulgar colloquialism was used, the objections would be more understandable- but why would anyone be so freaked out about having to explain to kids what this word means? Shouldn't they know what the proper name for their body parts are?
Sometimes I'm embarassed to live in such a repressively puritanical culture.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Yeah, it's all over the news here in Colorado. Totally ridiculous IMO. I'm going to be sure my boys know the correct words for their body parts. I'm already trying to teach Wil, although balls is much easier for him to say!

gr33n3y3z replied: its crazy use the proper words

luvmykids replied: I think it's a little odd to have the snake bite him there instead of on the leg in a childrens book, but don't have a problem with it, or using the correct term for it either.

Boo&BugsMom replied: I do not teach Tanner the proper words yet and there are many parents who don't, so before I give my two cents I'd just like to say I don't think it's fair if anyone judges someone else for not teaching them from birth. I just wanted to say that since I feel that may be the direction this thread is going in, IMHO. To each is own I say and there is no right or wrong.

Even though I don't yet, I have no fear of using them or him learning them in the near future. The reason I don't at his age is because I don't feel comfortable with it yet at his age. So, does that make me an aweful parent? It most certainly doesn't. Although I understand many parents not teaching the proper terms at an early age, I don't understand the uproar the book has caused. If someone doesn't like it, then don't read it to your children, plain and simple! Just like anything else, then don't watch it, read it, use it, whatever.

As a teacher I wouldn't read it to my kids. Because the fact of the matter is every parent is different and it's not the teachers job to teach those terms to the kids, it's the parents job until they are old enough for sex-ed. It's out of respect to other families.

It comes down to "to each is own" in the end, but the uproar about it is simply insane. Who cares! If you don't like it, don't purchase it or read it. I wont be, but I'm not making a huge fuss over it. It's a book for crying out loud. There are many other books a lot worse than that. I have one about the birth of baby Jesus that uses the term "ass" instead of donkey. Even though it's a correct term, I'm not about to teach 3-4 year olds the term "ass". I would rather them learn the word scrotum if I had to choose between the two.

TheOaf66 replied:
I can just see Tanner now, "mommy, I have a boo boo on my scrutum, I need a band-aid

Hillbilly Housewife replied: I don't see what the big deal is. If they ban that book, then by all means they should ban all the dictionnaries and encyclopedias, and let's not forget the internet.

jcc64 replied: I get what you're saying, Jennie. But this book was not targeted at children Tanner's age- it is intended for kids approaching puberty- ages 9-12, I believe.
I realize it may come off as judgmental, and that is not my intention- but I really cannot fathom how it can be considered inappropriate to teach a child the proper name for a part of his body. And while I generally agree with the idea of "to each his own", the uproar and its resulting fallout will likely prevent many people from doing just that because many libraries won't be carrying this award winning book. The choice will be made for us. I think Jennie's assertion that if you find the content of a book objectionable, don't read it or buy it is entirely reasonable- unfortunately, that's not enough for some people. That's what drives me nuts.

DansMom replied: Well, I see nothing wrong with the word; and I'm sure the author is deserving of the Newberry for capturing a phase of childhood in a way kids that age can relate to. At that age and older, as soon as I got wind that a teacher or parent wanted to keep me from reading a book for any reason, I'd get my hands on it. At 14 I was told by a very concerned teacher that I couldn't read Rubyfruit Jungle (it has to be that extreme to be shocking at a hippie alternative school). So I got my hands on it right away! The fuss will only enhance sales in the public sector, hopefully. And how does Judy Blume fit into all of this? I read all of those and they helped me transition into puberty in a healthy way.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
I totally agree. I don't find it inappropriate to teach children the correct terms either, it's just not my cup of tea with young kids. I don't understand the uproar either, and especially if the book is for older kids who probably "should" know the correct terms by then. Some people just need something to complain about I guess. It's always something that has someone's panties in a bunch. I wonder if the same commotion was started when the author of the book "Everybody Poops" and other similar titles wrote that series of books.

Calimama replied:
I agree completely. I'm not teaching my 9-12 to call their private parts "Wewee" or something of the sort.

My3LilMonkeys replied:
As am I. I'm not a fan of book banning for any reason - if you don't like it, don't read it, pure and simple. In this particular case, children who are 9-12 years old are certainly old enough to know the proper names for all of their body parts - I just don't get what the big deal is.

redplaydoh replied: We don't use correct terminology here either. I don't even call passing gas "farts". I have a reason for this though... I don't want to be out in public one day and my toddler announces that "mommy farted". We call them boops. When they're out of the stage of embarassing mommy with their loudly spoken phrases then they will know the correct terms.

As for the book banning... I think it is ridiculous. ITA if you want to read the book then do so, if not choose another book.

I myself think it sounds like a cute story and would probably buy it.

kimberley replied:

by these standards, Judy Blume woulda been burned at the stakes.

boyohboyohboy replied: we use the proper terms here. I think as a nurse I just always approached things like a nurse more then a mom....
that said, it used to drive my grandmother nuts when my 3 yr old said "penis" especially since he was the first boy around in a long time....

I think that the slang terms are very vulgar, and I agree to each their own.
some people are just not comfortable saying the terms, and some are just not comfortable hearing a small child say them, I think once again, its our societies way of making everything "sexual"....
its to bad really, its just a body, made by God, shouldnt be ashamed of it.....
JMHO

HuskerMom replied: I don't think it should be banned and I also agree that if people don't like it then they should'nt buy it. With that said, I won't be buying it. I do think it's kind of weird that that's where the snake bit him though. Why not on the leg or something, odd to me. It kind of made me think also that the reason the author put the word in the book was to get an uproar and to get attention cuz she knew that's exactly what people would do. I mean come on, saying the word is delicious? I don't care if she puts the word in there but saying it's delicious is a little much, IMO.

jcc64 replied: Apparently, the fact that the snake bit him in that particular location was based upon a true story. I think she was cannily appealing to the sophomoric sensibilities of kids this age ( I have one, I can attest to the prediliction for scatalogical humor), and I'm sure the publicity was no marketing accident either.
And btw, I agree about the use of the adjective "delicious". No offense, but there is nothing delicious about the word scrotum.

grapfruit replied: After reading the article, I disagree that the book wouldn't be interesting to kids older then 10 b/c the main character is 10. That's silly. How many of us have read books where we're not the exact age of the character in the book.

Further more, I pretty much agree w/everyone else, when you teach your child proper terms for body parts is your own thing. That's your job as a parent. However, I think by the time the kids are 10+ they should at least be aware what a scrotum is...

I think book banning is totally ridiculous. Especially if you're going to ban it for a single word or phrase. Maybe some people should go back and read Farenheit 451, which ironically was almost banned...