Taking Banned Books Into Her Own Hands … Er, Locker
One Catholic school student apparently has decided to stick it to the man. Or at least stick it to the people at her Catholic school, which has released a list of books that the students are not allowed to read. 
According to a posting on Boing Boing, which points to a question posed by the student on Yahoo! Answers, the young lady has started a banned books lending library in the locker next to hers, a place where her peers can get access to such “offensive” tomes as The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Paradise Lost, and Lord of the Flies. Her Yahoo! Question is whether she can legitimately get in trouble for doing what she’s doing. The response, for the most part, has been positive, with several people calling her both brave and a hero. But at least one reader questions the truth of what she’s saying.
And I can sort of see that person’s point. I mean, it’s a great story and that makes me want to believe it. But some of the books on the school’s “banned” list seem a little ridiculous (Bridge to Terabithia? Really?) I also wonder why the girl would post this question on the World Wide Web if she is genuinely concerned about getting caught.
But, for the sake of argument, let’s assume it is true. It’s definitely awesome that she’s taking matters into her own hands and exposing her fellow students to some really spectacular literature. (Even more awesome? The kid has standards: “Twilight is banned also, but I don’t want that polluting my library,” she writes.)
As far as the issue about getting into trouble, she might be better off running the lending library off of school grounds. Of course, that’s not as delicious as clandestinely keeping the novels in a locker. But it might achieve the same goal and avoid the possibility of her getting suspended.
But that’s just my advice, and I was never this rebellious. Again, if the story is true, the school finds out and action is taken against the girl, the ACLU would be on this case faster than you can say, The Canterbury Tales. Which, by the way, is another book on the school’s banned list.
Image: Guardian
If I went to school with her, I’d think she was a hero.
If it is a private Catholic school, then they have the right to ban those books and I think she SHOULD get into trouble. If this was a public school then, as an avid reader of anything I can get my hands on, I’d support her all the way. But it’s not. It’s private and if she wants to go to that school she should follow their rules. If she doesn’t want to follow the rules she can go to public school.
I completely believe BTT has been banned. Once you start looking for questionable themes and material you can find them anywhere. Nothing exceeds like excess. Such a shame, but I wonder: why does she stay in that school? Is she able to compartmentalize this particular policy while still appreciating the rest of the education she gets there?
Actually, I do know some schools that banned Bridge to Terabithia due to “sexual overtones”