Censorship in Public High Schools?

Since last week was American Library Association's "Banned Books Week", and since, during this week, I received paperwork for an official book challenge, I decided to open this topic up for discussion.

The book in question is "30 Days of Night",  by Steve Niles, illustrated by Ben Templesmith. It is a "Graphic Novel",  If you are not familiar with Graphic Novels, they are like a step up from comic books, usually hard bound, and with (often) more literary story lines.  They are often sold in series, a continuing sage, so to speak.  If you've been to the middle aisles of any big book story you will see them alongside manga, which are Japanese graphic novels, read back to front.

30 Days of Night is about a clan of vampires that decide that Barrow, Alaska would be a great hunting ground, being that there is a whole month without daylight.  There is a lot of killing, blood splattered, heads dismembered, but the artwork is beautifully done. Highly stylized, not detailed like photography would be.  The book has actually won several awards for the art work. Yes, this book was made into a movie.

I bought the book for our collection based on the description, because it was a 1.) a vampire novel, and 2.) a graphic novel.  Both of these are very popular right now especially with struggling readers (and YES we have plenty of high school kids who struggle with reading).  The book had been in our collection for 3 years, and had been checked out 22 times by 22 different patrons. No complaints or even comments until  this 15 year old girl checked the book out. Other students say her big mistake was to show the book to her parents.  (lol). 

The county I work for has a policy by which we select library materials; loosely, that we support our curriculum, provide materials of a wide variety of interest and maturity levels, materials that promote thinking and desicion making, etc.  I feel I was within my rights to purchase the book for the public high school library.

Now: the parents complaint:  They did not read the book in its entirety, but protested the language (quite a few 4-letter words, but nothing you don't hear at lunch time in the cafeteria), and violence. They felt the book had no value whatsoever, and should not be read by anyone. They think the book should be pulled from our collection.

We (I first, then one of my Assistant Principals) listened to their complaint, and suggested that we put a note on their child's records in the circulation computer that prevents her from checking out materials meant for more mature students. As a parent of a minor child they have the right to make that request, and we would follow up on it. The parents were not satisfied. They want it gone. BUT DO THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO PREVENT EVERYONE ELSE"S CHILD FROM CHECKING OUT THAT BOOK?  One of their arguments was that the book should be rated "R" like the movie, and that high school students can't get into "R" movies without an adult.  First, we have quite a few high school students that are over 17; second, for many of our families, going to the new vampire flick is a  family outing!

Lastly, if we pull that one book, it opens up criteria for many other books in our collection to be pulled. The book was not required reading, it was student selected. Another alternative is to put the book in my office and require a permission slip for underage students to check it out.

Love to hear what you think!

Cayla