I recently read Dear Martin, by Nic Stone, a young adult novel challenged for themes of racism, violence, vulgarity and sex. The story opens with a scene describing an ex-girlfriend who’s falling-down drunk, nearly passing out, but determined to drive herself home. Her ex has walked a mile to get her home safely. This was not what I expected.
Objections to Dear Martin regarding its inclusion in High School curriculum are understandable, but at least one teacher has been disciplined for including this as part of the curriculum for his 7th grade students.1
This book is considered age-appropriate for 9th-12th graders.23
Do you agree with John Barret II’s claim?
Am I a bad guy for wanting adherence to age-appropriate guidelines in Public School curriculum?
Objections are objectionable? Where’s the freedom in that?
So I commented (with image of 1st page), “I'm curious if you consider this content appropriate for middle schoolers.”
BW: You are curious?
FH: yes, I am curious as to your thoughts on this. Would you consider this appropriate for 12 year olds?
BW: Why are you are curious about my personal opinion about a short quote from a book I don’t even know? Are you curious if I would approve or read this to my children? Or if I would have it banned? Or what? Why do you ask as if you are just curious when you seem to be leading to some point you want to make. I find this disingenuous.
AM to BW: True. But frankly, I see nothing inappropriate about this. For many kids, this is a daily reality.
BW to AM: And the question behind her question is whether books should be banned from all children or adults just because I personally approve or disapprove. I don’t know where she wants me to go with this. She is being evasive.
CH to FH: there are millions of middle schoolers. Are you saying one person should make the decision for all of them.
RH to FH: as someone stated before for many this is their actual reality ….so it’s a realistic view of the world. And at some point they need to see the world the way it is sometimes and also be able to identify with it. 
EM to FH: Next you’ll be be trying to ban Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, Grapes of Wrath & The Jungle. Don’t say that won’t happen because it already has.
Book banning doesn’t work anyway, they’re all available online now at the Brooklyn Public Library, Google Books, etc. libguides.com.edu
SHR: Some children see this everyday between their own parents, I did.
KL to AM: I was thinking the same.
KL to EM: all amazing books that made a difference in my life.
SHR: By the Grace of G D i did not follow in their footsteps. Thank you Mr. Jones, my DE teacher and… See more (*This commenter deleted her posts.)
FH to BW: no need to be suspicious, it's not a trick question. Or perhaps I misunderstood the point of this post. I like to read books that are under contention. I just finished the book that i shared, so it was fresh on my mind. If a book aimed at high schoolers is presented to middle schoolers as part of their curriculum and objections are raised, it gets flagged as banned...even though it remains on the shelves in that middle school's library. You seem to take offense at the accountability of public educators who honor age-appropriate guidelines. I find that curious.
Since I'm a fan of reading "banned books", I'm also intrigued by the assumptions made about me and my perspective. It is okay to embrace freedom with some boundaries. As always, I appreciate the opportunity to explore different views.
BW to FH: Thanks. I can understand cataloguing or even identifying books by grade level. But that doesn’t mean they have to be “flagged” or banned, as if students are doing something wrong if they read them. Nor is it the same thing as a parent censoring their own children’s books — without labeling them for all students, or insinuating that they are off limits and that there is something wrong with students who read them.
I am curious why we would ever label books as banned or insinuating that students who read them are doing something bad.
FH to BW: I don't make the rules. If someone objects to a 9th-12th grade book being taught to 7th graders, that book gets tracked as a banned book.
Who insinuated the reading of such books marked the child as bad? In my research, I read reviews of the book written by 12 and 14 year olds. I stand by the age guidelines offered by educators and the publisher, not the poor judgment of the 7th grade teacher. Does that make me a bad person?
SHR to FH: no just an ignorant or non aware person. Both conditions can be cured with humility and the ability to listen… See more (comment deleted)
FH to SHR: Having read the book, the publisher's guidelines, the children's reviews and the parent's objections, I wonder what else I might do to overcome my ignorance and/or non-awareness regarding the age-appropriateness of this particular book. I'm listening.
BW to FH: I think general recommendations on curricula are fine for helping educators gauge their choices. I just disagree with absolutes like banning. If educators can be trusted to gage reading material, they should be trusted to make exceptions, not forced to comply with rules that force teachers and students to limit what they can read, as long as they are being taught what society needs them to know.
And banning from the library shelves seems even more ludicrous. What is the point?
SHR to FH: Bruce gave you pretty much my answer. I totally agree with him. As far as getting you healed of your ignorance and. Non awareness , I am afraid you need an intervention. Like maybe find a retreat on FREEDOM. Begin there and if you are willing to undergo the transformation there are oídles of books that probably were banned when you and maybe myself were growing up. However I have never given my G D given right to exercise my reasoning and my… See more (comment deleted)
SHR to FH: also I have read every book that has ever been banned. I remember the Nuns telling us not to watch Red Skelton. After watching it I asked said Nun what her objection was “he used the PG word on his show “ she had to explain to me what PG mean… See more (comment deleted)
FH to SHR: have you read Dear Martin?
SHR to FH: I don’t believe I have but I will
SHR to FH: thank you awesome book From Wales right?
LCC to FH: unless one were to know the rest of the content of the book, one could not possibly discern the appropriateness of a particular passage in a book for a particular age group. And one would also have to have a background in reading, child/adolescent sociology, psychology, etc to even consider appropriateness of a book.
BW to LCC Exactly. It says something when a person sends you a little quote from some book you are not familiar with and without any context, and then proceeds to ask you for an opinion. That’s why I reacted the way I did. It sure comes across as a set up, not just being “curious.”
DS to FH: 1st graders need to know the truth!!!
DS: Meant as a laugh to a loaded question
I’m not laughing.
I’ll continue to defend my right to hold a different view, although perhaps a little less rigidly than you hold yours. If you post your opinion, I might have something to say about it.
Is my opinion welcome? Not so much? What does that say about you? Frankly, your intolerance of diversity is remarkable in the face of your self-image.
Let’s do this!