Email from Irate Parent to School over Atlas Shrugged - Kyle's Mom in Political Action

[Matthew5]

The reason why this is being posted in General Politics is for the benefit of any teacher on this forum who may have to deal with similar outrage over any sort of instruction that goes against the government school norm.

This is not beneficial. And this is a private school, where I'm sure a lot of money is paid. So dang straight I'd be complaining. lol

Total non-issue...a father is merely expressing his opposition to it. He never demanded the book be removed, only made helpful suggestions. It is an adult book and best perhaps left to the 16+ crowd. 13 is way too young, in my opinion.

 

[jmdrake]

Seriously, this kid is getting a more graphic education on sexuality watching an hour of TV after school than reading this book. This guy should try homeschooling and disconnecting from the real world while he at it if he wants to protect his child's innocent, untainted mind.

Or he could pay to send his child to a private school with similar values as his and then complain if the school didn't live up to his expectations. Oh, wait a minute....THAT'S WHAT HE DID! It's funny how some only like the free market when they get the results they want.

 

[amy31416]

Of course, when the kid realizes that dad doesn't want him reading Ayn Rand, he might actually mosey on over to the nearest library or book store and see what all the fuss is about. I know I would have.

My parents had a ton of books in the house, and by the time they thought to hide some of the more explicit ones (including my mother's nursing textbooks), it was already too late, I'd read them. And the only ones that may have contributed to any neuroses I might have are probably the nursing texts--man, there's some nasty diseases in the world. Salinger had a temporary effect. Oh yeah, and the bible--they had a pretty graphic version of the Old Testament.

 

[Justinjj1]

Forcing a kid to read that pile of shite is akin to cruel and unusual punishment.

 

[Dilberto]

Total non-issue...a father is merely expressing his opposition to it. He never demanded the book be removed, only made helpful suggestions. It is an adult book and best perhaps left to the 16+ crowd. 13 is way too young, in my opinion.

He did infer that it should be removed from the entire school.

This whole book seems to look down on helping others and being kind and respectful to others. I am not proposing you teach religion, but I do propose you don’t teach things that could steer them away from God, morality, and respect for others.

 

[Rothbardian Girl]

Of course, when the kid realizes that dad doesn't want him reading Ayn Rand, he might actually mosey on over to the nearest library or book store and see what all the fuss is about. I know I would have.

Exactly. That's always what I've done when my parents didn't want me to read or see something. My dad thought my school was being forced to watch the Obama inauguration (we weren't), but since he was making such a big fuss over it, it increased my curiosity and I ended up watching it anyway. I mean, I don't like Obama at all, but curious kids *will* sidestep a ban any chance they get.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Is "the Giver" banned yet?

 

[Agorism]

Did they ban Heart of Darkness?

 

[Acala]

Lol

This thread should be re-titled: "Random person doesn't want his kid reading Atlas Shrugged."

 

[1000-points-of-fright]

Which is all irrelevent. If this parent doesn't like the content they are free to express their reasons why and suggest alternatives.

I wasn't commenting on the a parents right to complain. Bitch away to your heart's content. I was commenting on your notion that the sexual scenarios and cursing in Atlas Shrugged are inappropriate for a 13yr old living in the 21st Century.

Is this a good book for schools to be using anyway?

I've certainly never heard it touted as an example of good literature.

I agree. This is what the parent should be complaining about.

 

[AZKing]

So did he talk to his son about this or did he just bitch to the school?

 

[Xenophage]

I read Atlas when I was 13.

 

[libertarian4321]

While the book may promote libertarian ideas, it's more of a philosophical/political diatribe than a well written novel. I found it a chore to wade through both of Rand's books (Shrugged and Fountainhead) as an adult- Shrugged is better suited to being a door stop than good literature (though it is slightly less bad than Fountainhead).

I probably would have just said "screw it, I'll read the Cliff's notes" if faced with such a chore as a student.

I think being forced to read a book like Shrugged would turn a lot of kids AWAY from libertarianism.

It's not great literature, and it's not a good read, and it's probably not appropriate for a 13-year old. I can see the guy's point- there are certainly a lot of better choices out there.

 

[low preference guy]

While the book may promote libertarian ideas, it's more of a philosophical/political diatribe than a well written novel. I found it a chore to wade through both of Rand's books (Shrugged and Fountainhead) as an adult- Shrugged is better suited to being a door stop than good literature (though it is slightly less bad than Fountainhead).

I probably would have just said "screw it, I'll read the Cliff's notes" if faced with such a chore as a student.

I think being forced to read a book like Shrugged would turn a lot of kids AWAY from libertarianism.

It's not great literature, and it's not a good read, and it's probably not appropriate for a 13-year old. I can see the guy's point- there are certainly a lot of better choices out there.

Forcing people to read ANYTHING to convert them to libertarianism is probably bad. The reason why in south park they burn Ayn Rand's book in one episode is that Matt Stone was forced to read it.

 

[Gumba of Liberty]

The students in my high school economics class has the choice of reading Economics in One Lesson for Extra Credit

 

[low preference guy]

was it Atlas Shrugged or the Fountainhead the one with the anal sex scene?

 

[heavenlyboy34]

While the book may promote libertarian ideas, it's more of a philosophical/political diatribe than a well written novel. I found it a chore to wade through both of Rand's books (Shrugged and Fountainhead) as an adult- Shrugged is better suited to being a door stop than good literature (though it is slightly less bad than Fountainhead).

I probably would have just said "screw it, I'll read the Cliff's notes" if faced with such a chore as a student.

I think being forced to read a book like Shrugged would turn a lot of kids AWAY from libertarianism.

It's not great literature, and it's not a good read, and it's probably not appropriate for a 13-year old. I can see the guy's point- there are certainly a lot of better choices out there.

I'm only a chapter into it, but it's not that bad. I've certainly read worse. The dialogue is rather wooden, though. In regards to the OP, the parent's complaints are rather silly. Generally, assigned literature is discussed in class to clear up confusion and allow students to think deeper about the text. It's almost sillier than the people who want to ban Huck Finn because of the N-word usage in it.

 

[Dilberto]

was it Atlas Shrugged or the Fountainhead the one with the anal sex scene?

I think you are referring to the semi-rape scene in The Fountainhead.

 

[MJU1983]

Sounds like a parenting problem. I was never censored and turned out great!

 

[josh b]

The students in my high school economics class has the choice of reading Economics in One Lesson for Extra Credit

You live a privileged life my friend. My Econ professor goes on regular rants about various things like how we don't need to balance the budget, or how we need to inflate to avoid a deflationary spiral. It's always out of the blue and not related to the topic as well. I wish I could read Hazlitt for extra credit.