School bans dictionary

A parent complained about it containing the term "oral sex" so the school pulled it. It looks like a First Amendment battle will ensue.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/755936--u-s-school-bans-the-dictionary?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

I finally confirmed what sex actually was by looking it up in an encyclopedia in my fourth or fifth grade classroom. True story. I had a guilty conscience for days.

 

The school district down here wiped all references to oral sex out of the libraries 'cause they were afraid that it might lead to dancin'.

 

Insane. I'd love to see the dictionary these people would approve. How long would it be? A few pages?

Here's the definition: “oral stimulation of the genitals”. Wow! Titillating. Kids are going to be running to the bathroom to take care of themselves after reading that.

 

The ban is silly.

But is it illegal?

 

I'll never forget the day I stumbled across "vulva." I don't know what I could have been looking up -- vulcanize? -- but I went racing through the dictionary that night. I always did have a good vocabulary.

 

"Mulva?"

 

You tell me.

Communities should be able to set standards and keep out clearly graphic materials.

By any standard the Merriam-Webster dictionary should be available. Besides, it's a legitimate tool for learning.

I wonder how the internet filters work at this -- and other schools. Obviously you'd want to ban porn sites, but are they going to block dictionary.com too?

 

How is a dictionary 'clearly graphic?'

???

 

Where did I argue that?

 

Yeah, I don't know. I was asking rhetorically. I'm not completely familiar with how the First Amendment applies to schools. I know that it's not absolute - for example, you wouldn't be allowed to just march into a classroom and burn your draft card while screaming that it was your First Amendment right. That's an extreme example, but the larger point it illustrates stands.

 

I feel sorry for that woman's son.

And her husband.