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This year the number of challenges because of "Mysticism/Paganism", due to the high number of complaints about Harry Potter
books, surpassed the "Profanity/Inappropriate language" category and
led in number of challenges. Since children's books have always been
rife with stories about magic, witches, etc. (Cinderella, Hansel and
Gretel, e.g.), objection to books containing this material seems new
and unusual. However, the trend has been in place for several years and
seems to be based on religious fundamentalism, and associated with the
increased activism of these groups. It would appear that some religious
activists consider that any description of supernatural events outside
the context of their own preferred religious beliefs are sacrilegious
or blasphemous. The increasing trend to oppose books for this reason is
disturbing and could be in contradiction with constitutional values.
Many
books contain language that might be offensive to some people, for
reasons of profanity or for derogatory or blasphemous content. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,
a book widely used in high school curricula, was challenged in 3 school
districts for inappropriate language (use of the word "nigger"). More
different books are challenged for this reason than for any other, a
result corroborative of previous year's results.
Complaints
about sexual content in books are pervasive, and include books with
fictional accounts of romantic encounters as well as educational books,
such as The What's Happening to My Body Book? For Boys, The What's
Happening to My Body Book? For Girls, and several books about
homosexuality. Many parents and others simply object to sex education
of any kind in schools. In the Hutto ISD, both Brave New World and A
Midsummer Nights Dream were challenged for sexual content (both were
used in curricula); students involved were allowed to choose another
book to read.
Compared
to previous years, challenges for reason of violent content and
mysticism are increasing, and challenges for other reasons remain
relatively constant.
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