Idiot school officials ban Anne Frank's diary

From The Washington Post: "Culpeper County public school officials have decided to stop assigning a version of Anne Frank's diary, one of the most enduring symbols of the atrocities of the Nazi regime, after a parent complained that the book includes sexually explicit material and homosexual themes. "The Diary of a Young Girl: the Definitive Edition," which was published on the 50th anniversary of Frank's death in a concentration camp, will not be used in the future, said James Allen, director of instruction for the 7,600-student system. The school system did not follow its own policy for handling complaints about instructional materials, Allen said. The diary documents the daily life of a Jewish girl in Amsterdam during World War II. Frank started writing on her 13th birthday, shortly before her family went into hiding in an annex of an office building. The version of the diary in question includes passages previously excluded from the widely read original edition, first published in Dutch in 1947. That book was arranged by her father, the only survivor in her immediate family. Some of the extra passages detail her emerging sexual desires; others include unflattering descriptions of her mother and other people living together. Allen said that the more recent version will remain in the school library and that the earlier version will be used in classes. The 1955 play based on Frank's experiences also has been a part of the eighth-grade curriculum for many years. The diary's "universal theme, that there is good in everyone, resonates with these kids," Allen said. The decision was made in November and published in the Culpeper Star Exponent on Thursday. Culpeper's policy on "public complaints about learning resources" calls for complaints to be submitted in writing and for a review committee to research the materials and deliberate, Allen said. In this case, the policy was not followed. Allen said the parent registered the complaint orally, no review committee was created and a decision was made quickly by at least one school administrator. He said he is uncertain about the details because he was out of town." He was probably at The Conference For Enormous Tools, hanging out with the dictionary banners from the other day.

Comments

[Tracy]

Oooh, and you know what? The word "diary" appears in...the dictionary! Coincidence? I think NOT.

[Jim M]

Not sure why the book-burners don't chill out. Even their own funny books should not be burned. How else to spare posterity from repeating the same history without a 'been there / done that' file.

[Vangrungy]

Sex... the scariest theme in America...

[Lindsay]

Really?? Ok fine if there's some "explicit" stuff but hey, why not look at it this way. Perhaps the kids reading the book are beginning to feel the same way (re:sexual urges), it may give them a new level with which to connect to history while at the same time letting them know they're normal and not the only one feeling this way. And what kid hasn't disliked a parent at one time or another? It is pure idiocy to simply ban a book because there is stuff in the assigned reading that the parents are uncomfortable about. Why not ban tv, the internet, movies and prevent children of different ages intermingling. It is the removal of history that allows it to repeat itself. If we are not constantly reminded of the outcomes of actions and feelings, then history, as it has proven, will repeat itself. Let's think before we ban.

[sky]

If she wrote it,why is it being censored ?? I don`t get it.Wasn`t that the very kind of thinking that got countless million innocents such as Anne murdered ??

[JasonStyris]

Just finished reading ‘ The Diary of Anne Frank’ ( http://www.shmoop.com/diary-of-anne-frank ) and was amazed by the sheer zest for life, the creativity and optimism of this young girl! And to learn that some people want this book banned was quite surprising. The book not only gives us a personal account of the War but is also a poignant story of the maturing of a young girl. Every boy and every girl goes through this self-awakening stage. It is but natural. No need to make it a big issue and ban the book. The book is a must-read and so is the information on Shmoop.com! Really helped to bring the book closer home!