Originally Posted By melekalikimaka <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/books/18newb.html?ex=1329454800&en=0abee8846d8919f4&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss" target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02 /18/books/18newb.html?ex=1329454800&en=0abee8846d8919f4&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss</a> Excerpt: The word “scrotum†does not often appear in polite conversation. Or children’s literature, for that matter. A Newbery-winning book has been banned from some school libraries around the country. Susan Patron, the author of the book and a librarian, said the controversial word was just part of the character’s learning about body parts. Yet there it is on the first page of “The Higher Power of Lucky,†by Susan Patron, this year’s winner of the Newbery Medal, the most prestigious award in children’s literature. The book’s heroine, a scrappy 10-year-old orphan named Lucky Trimble, hears the word through a hole in a wall when another character says he saw a rattlesnake bite his dog, Roy, on the scrotum. ______ My favorite quote is near the end of the article: Ms. Nilsson, reached at Sunnyside Elementary School in Durango, Colo., said she had heard from dozens of librarians who agreed with her stance. “I don’t want to start an issue about censorship,†she said. “But you won’t find men’s genitalia in quality literature.†Men's genitalia? It's about a dog. It makes me sick that a anatomical word like "scrotum" would be so offensive to people. Isn't there so much more to worry about in life than your child reading the word and possibly having to explain what that is? I don't understand how people can be so uncomfortable with their bodies and bodily functions.
Originally Posted By DlandJB I saw that too and thought it was ridiculous. I thought teaching kids the proper names for things was a good thing. We are such a weird society.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 These ladies are living up to the stereotypes of how a librarian is. <sigh>
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Originally Posted By gadzuux >> I don't understand how people can be so uncomfortable with their bodies and bodily functions. << It's "sex" that they're uncomfortable with, including the necessary organs and related parts. What's really incredible is the idea of librarians supporting the banning of books.
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Originally Posted By DAR <<The word “scrotum†does not often appear in polite conversation.>> Obviously the writer never heard my conversations. But it should be up to the parent to explain what that word means or if they feel it's an appropriate time for their child to learn it.
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka <<But it should be up to the parent to explain what that word means or if they feel it's an appropriate time for their child to learn it.>. I would agree with that for things like curse words or even very graphic sexual terms but not anatomical words. There are so many words with powerful meanings...scrotum isn't one of them.
Originally Posted By onlyme That's just silly. Now, if the author had used an alternative 'street' term, I could see their point btw, I'm surprised that none of the men on here mentioned this.............OUCH, poor doggy!!!
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy <“But you won’t find men’s genitalia in quality literature.â€> Oh, what, one of our "special parts" isn't good enough for *quality* literature?? Huh?? I'll have her know male genatalia even found its way into a few Greek myths. And in those cases not even genatalia of men, but of the immortal gods themselves. Priss.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>I'll have her know male genatalia even found its way into a few Greek myths.<< Yes, but only after several dates.
Originally Posted By alexbook >>That's just silly. Now, if the author had used an alternative 'street' term, I could see their point<< I'd bet a "street" term wouldn't have caused as much fuss, because it's in common usage. "Scrotum" jumps out at most readers because it's not a word most of us read or hear every day. In case you're curious, you can read an excerpt from "The Higher Power of Lucky" at the publisher's web site. The magic word is at the end of the second paragraph. <a href="http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=4&pid=522283&agid=2" target="_blank">http://www.simonsays.com/conte nt/book.cfm?tab=4&pid=522283&agid=2</a>
Originally Posted By knightnfrees >>I'll have her know male genatalia even found its way into a few Greek myths.<< It's just a myth, a myth!
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy Kid: "Can I have another cookie?" Parent: "Not unless you say the magic word. ;-)" Kid: "Scrotum. " Parent: ":-/"
Originally Posted By knightnfrees <<"Scrotum" jumps out at most readers because it's not a word most of us read or hear every day.>> You know, If "Laugh-in" was still around, they'd comment on it. They also might paraphrase one of their lines... "Sack it to me!"
