Maus is under fire in Tennessee!

A school district in Tennessee has pulled [I]Maus[/I] from the curriculum. And their reasons are incredibly ridiculous. You can read about it [url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/maus-pulitzer-prize-winning-book-053737272.html]HERE![/url]

Adding a little more context to this than that particular article does....the Tennessee State Board of Education approved the use of Maus. The local school board decided against using the book due to the graphic use of language (the son cursing out the father) and the nudity depicted in the book. The book isn't even approved for the 8th grade level, it's suggested reading level for grades 9-12, which there is a large gap in cognitive processes and maturity level for the average 8th grader and 9th grader. The book is not being removed from the libraries of the schools in question, the subject isn't being removed from the curriculum, it's that this particular book with certain scenes have been deemed more mature than their average student in the classroom. The two people in this article were the worst that could have been interviewed from the school board.

One of the other reasons for the ban, [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BmjCDoIyV0"]according to Spiegelman[/URL], was because of the word 'damn'. These are the people against Critical Race Theory.

[QUOTE=shooshoomanjoe;5917777]One of the other reasons for the ban, [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BmjCDoIyV0"]according to Spiegelman[/URL], was because of the word 'damn'. These are the people against Critical Race Theory.[/QUOTE]

Why am I not surprised?

That was part of the discussion, yes, but again the book was NOT BANNED. It was taken out of the curriculum to be taught. It's still in the libraries, it's still on the recommended reading lists, it is still suggested to be taught in the high schools.
It's laughable that CNN is promoting a false story in such a glorified manner. Nowhere in any of the discussion was the word BANNED ever used, no where was it mentioned or alluded to. It was just pulled from the 8th grade class curriculum. There was discussion about the language, but the main reason it was pulled was due to the scene that depicts Spiegleman's naked mother's suicide. They are still teaching the holocaust, they just chose to use a book more suitable to the 8th grade reading level. Maus has a recommended age range of 9th to 12th grade. That's the story, but it's not nearly as sensational as the media is making it.

[URL="https://twitter.com/HolocaustMuseum/status/1486526106203209729"]US Holocaust Museum Tweeted about the ban[/URL]:

"Maus has played a vital role in educating about the Holocaust through sharing detailed and personal experiences of victims and survivors. On the eve of International #HolocaustRemembranceDay, it is more important than ever for students to learn this history. Teaching about the Holocaust using books like Maus can inspire students to think critically about the past and their own roles and responsibilities today. For those looking to teach about the Holocaust, find lesson plans and resources here:"

[QUOTE=OBrianTallent;5917926]That was part of the discussion, yes, but again the book was NOT BANNED. It was taken out of the curriculum to be taught. It's still in the libraries, it's still on the recommended reading lists, it is still suggested to be taught in the high schools.
It's laughable that CNN is promoting a false story in such a glorified manner. Nowhere in any of the discussion was the word BANNED ever used, no where was it mentioned or alluded to. It was just pulled from the 8th grade class curriculum. There was discussion about the language, but the main reason it was pulled was due to the scene that depicts Spiegleman's naked mother's suicide. They are still teaching the holocaust, they just chose to use a book more suitable to the 8th grade reading level. Maus has a recommended age range of 9th to 12th grade. That's the story, but it's not nearly as sensational as the media is making it.[/QUOTE]

If they aren't allowing teachers to use Maus for 8th graders then it's a ban.

[QUOTE=shooshoomanjoe;5918019]If they aren't allowing teachers to use Maus for 8th graders then it's a ban.[/QUOTE]But is it still available to 8th grade students at the library?

[QUOTE=MajorHoy;5918029]But is it still available to 8th grade students at the library?[/QUOTE]

For now.

[URL="https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/local/obscene-books-tennessee-school-libraries-will-be-pulled-shelves-if-bill-becomes-law/YAIY2MUV5FC73HJ5VA3NTIV2TY/"]“Obscene” books in Tennessee school libraries will be pulled from shelves, if bill becomes law[/URL]

We're talking about 13 year old kids. You really think a drawing of breasts and some curse words they've heard constantly will damage them somehow?

"We can't have these awful curse words and nude drawings here" "Now kids read fahrenheit 451 full of curse words and later we will go look at the naked people art at the museum as a field trip".

[QUOTE=MajorHoy;5918029]But is it still available to 8th grade students at the library?[/QUOTE]

Yes and I PROMISE you I can find books worst than Maus on those school shelves.

These are the folks who cherry pick rage and I SERIOUSLY doubt most if any have read the books they want off shelves.

Jerry Craft's New Kid and Class Kid are banned at school in Texas for "adult" material. Neither book has it.

[QUOTE=shooshoomanjoe;5918019]If they aren't allowing teachers to use Maus for 8th graders then it's a ban.[/QUOTE]

But what about 7th grade?

I don't get the big deal about this. Aren't books added and removed from the curriculum all the time? The school board should be consistent with whatever rules they set. If their policy is to not teach books with curse words, then they should be consistent.

[QUOTE=Gaastra;5918442]"We can't have these awful curse words and nude drawings here" "Now kids read fahrenheit 451 full of curse words and later we will go look at the naked people art at the museum as a field trip".[/QUOTE]

George Takei had quite the tweet about this;
[url]https://preview.redd.it/m4d7nx42n3f81.jpg?auto=webp&7136f308[/url]