Native students resist censorship/removal of Alexie novel

I'm always intrigued by efforts to censor things -- sometimes initiated by those who are prone to cry  "Liberty" as they oppose social justice measures and often by those who, in the name of security, would huddle figuratively and maybe even literally under their beds. And some censorship advocates are just plain multi-motivationally stupid.  Sometimes an outright ban is sought, and now and then we're confronted with surreal proposals to re-write classics in accordance with current politically correct measuring sticks. In any event, Sherman Alexie is a fine Native writer, sensitive and gifted at conveying humor, who deals candidly with the oft-heavy contemporary challenges Indian people face.  The stories in the Billings Gazette and Indian Country Today are worth reading.  (Frankly, Billings is not one of my favorite places.) (H)

Indianz.Com. In Print.
http://www.indianz.com/News/2013/011757.asp 

Indian students oppose removal of Sherman Alexie's book
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment | Education 
More on: books, montana, sherman alexie
    


           
      Indian students in Billings, Montana, are opposing the removal of a Sherman Alexie novel from the required reading list. 

      Students, parents and teachers spoke in defense of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian at a school district meeting on Monday night. Indian youth in particular said the book shed light on the challenges they face. 

      After hearing the support, a school district committee recommended that the book stay on the list. But the committee urged another look at policies to address future situations. 

      One parent objected to the inclusion of the award-winning book on the list. 

      Get the Story:
      Parents, students pack meeting in support of Alexie book (The Billings Gazette 11/12)
      Montana Student Fights to Keep Sherman Alexie Book on Curriculum (Indian Country Today 11/7) 
     

HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq / 
St. Francis Abenaki / St. Regis Mohawk 
Member, National Writers Union AFL-CIO

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