I'm Helen and I have been a high school Teacher Librarian for only two years. Before that I was a history/government classroom teacher. When I took over the library position I asked if a book had ever been banned from our school library and was so pleased to hear that none had been.
Last year I bought a copy of Nancy Redd's book Body Drama (the link will take you to a review of the book on my personal blog) and meant to read it myself. I finally did a few weeks ago and was really pleased with the book. It has chapters on skin, boobs, buying a bra, dealing with acne, body image, how the media airbrushes photos, etc. The book's goal is to demystify women's bodies, help girls to know and love their bodies (whatever the shape or color), and to educate. Lofty goals in this day of air-brushed media beauties!
I thought the book was so useful for high school girls that I put it on the "New Book" shelf hoping girls would see it and check it out. What happened is that yesterday a group of boys looked through the book and started giggling and making comments (there are naked photos of women's boobs and vulvas). Apparently there was a girl right next to them and their comments really upset her. I wish I had been there to stand up to them for her, but I was teaching. Instead she complained to the administration that she wanted the book gone. I think the boys' actions made her feel vulnerable.
I got called into the administration's office and went down today, book in hand, ready to argue about censorship, intellectual freedom, and the importance of this book. Turns out I didn't need to. The administrator didn't even look at the book. I said I'd put the book on the shelves in it's proper spot and he was fine with that. So, crisis averted, but boy was I ready!
