tdaxp

"LPS mulls best Native books," by Margaret Reist, Lincoln Journal Star, 3 October 2006, http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2006/10/03/top_story/doc4521bf0c8a4b7965832929.txt.

Recently, my blog friend Adam of The Metropolis Times highlighted Banned Book Weeks. Ironically, the day after Banned Books Weeks Ended, Lincoln Public Schools set to work banning some more

And in addition to seeking out the best Native literature it could find -- 128 new recommended books -- it took the unusual step of recommending school libraries remove 12 books from their shelves.

Here is a list of the books:

• “The Indian in the Cupboard” (1980) and the sequel “The Return of the Indian” (1986) by Lynne Reid Banks

Writes Doris Seale, co-editor of “Through Indian Eyes: The Native Experience in Books for Children”

• "Indian School: Teaching the White Man’s Way” (1999) by Michael L. Cooper


• "The Courage of Sarah Noble” (1954) by Alice Dalgliesh


• "The Matchlock Gun” (1941) by Walter D. Edmonds, illustrated by Paul Lantz


• "Brother Eagle, Sister Sky” (1991) by Susan Jeffers


• "Sitting Bull and His World” (2000) by Albert Marrin


• "The Place at the Edge of the Earth” (2002) by Bebe Faas Rice


• "My Heart Is On the Ground: The Diary of Nannie Little Rose, A Sioux Girl, Carlisle Indian School, Pennsylvania, 1880” (1999) by Ann Rinaldi (from Scholatics “Dear America” series)


• "Millie Cooper’s Ride: A True Story from History” (2002) by Marc Simmons, illustrated by Ronald Kil


• "The Sign of the Beaver” (1983) by Elizabeth George Speare


• "The Girl Who Chased Away Sorrow: The Diary of Sarah Nita, a Navajo Girl, New Mexico, 1864” (1999) by Ann Turner


• "Wounded Knee” (2001) by Neil Waldman, illustrated by the author

The best justifications are those that are explicitly racist, such as

Misrepresents Lakota spiritual beliefs and cultural practices. Relies too heavily on research by non-Natives.

for Sitting Bull and His World and

Misunderstanding of Navajos’ strong oral storytelling traditions (no child would take notes while an elder told a story). Pathetic attempts at Native humor. “Whitewashing” of Native experiences.

for The Girl Who Chased Away Sorrow: The Diary of Sarah Nita, a Navajo Girl, New Mexico, 1864

"Books to avoid" about Thanksgiving from the same group that inspired this censorship list -- Oyate -- are available below the fold. A shorter version is also available.

"On Campus, Only Some Free Speech Protected, by Wendy McElroy, iFeminists, 28 July 2005, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,163705,00.html (from Brendan of I Hate Linux).

Free speech in the modern Academy:

The public notice (in full, with original formatting, from pdf original):

From: ANNOUNCEMENT
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2005 3:37 PM
Subject: women's studies Department - Women's History Month
Expires: Saturday, March 19, 2005 5:00 PM

Please do not hit reply, click here. MAILTO:ScalaA@wpunj.edu
Women's History Month
Film & Discussion: Ruth and Connie: Every Room in the House, a lesbian relationship story
Date: March 9, 2005
Time: 7-9 PM
Place: Library Auditorium
Sponsor: Women's Studies Department

Contact person: Dr. Arlene Holpp Scala x3405
Dr. Arlene Holpp, Chair
William Paterson University
Department of Women's Study's

The private reply, to the requested email address:

From: Daniel, Jihad
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 6:59 AM
To: Scala, Arlene
Subject: Homosexuality

Do not send me any mail about “Connie and Sally” and “Adam and Steve”. These are perversions. The absence of God in higher education brings on confusion. That is why in these classes the Creator of the heavens and the earth is never mentioned.

The debate of ideas in the modern University

On March 10, Scala filed a complaint with the university claiming Daniel's message sounded "threatening."

"I don't want to feel threatened at my place of work," she explained.

On June 15, university President Arnold Speert issued a letter of reprimand, to be placed in Daniel's permanent employment file.