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Letters to the EditorDANGERS OF CENSORSHIPEditor;After reading your editorial regarding the book that was ban-library association and the California library association have had able, hardworking committees and members fighting conned from the high school library sorslup on the local, state and at one parent’s request, it occurs t national levels.1o me that, if tins uni lateral cen- At every regular meeting ofsorship becomes the order of the our legislature the California li-day, we might be surprised to find how much “ecnsorable” material there is on the shelves! For instance, there’s a playbrarv association fights proposed laws to censor books, usually in school libraries.Many adults are finding it dif-called “Romeo and Juliet” which ificult to understand the world in practically preaches disrespect j which we live, a world so en-and disobedience of parent s: tirely different from the 1930s there is the “Oddysscy” which j and 1940s, which in turn weremakes a hero of a man who didn’t seem very anxious to getradically different from the late 1890^ and 1900s. Our intelligenthome to his poor wife, ihere are youth are realty aware of their innumerable books on American' scientific age and it is a heart-history just brimming with revolutionary ideas, and presentingening thing to see them fighting for the same righhts the found-like to congratulate them on their fine way of handling the vole on one of their new members. It was good to see the kids handle the problem by themselves, without the help of the parents. They all seem to agree that they were quite foolish on the way they voted in members at the meeting of April 4.It makes you feel good to see young boys and girls handle things the way they did. I feel that the community will prosper by the maturity that these so-called wild teenagers possess.Again I would like to congratulate the members of the Junior Riders on their fine citizenship for the community.INTERESTED HORSE FANan aliiiude toward taxation which j ing fathers put in the Constitution is downright unorthodox, to sav! and Rill of Rights.the least! I needn’t list the books i An item in this week’s Moun-on philosophy, of course, since it tain. Democrat has greatly dis-would be easy to find any nmn- turbed me. There is a suggestion,her of people who would find any j as I understand it, that the pres-or all of them full of dangerous; ent high scholastic subject mat-ideas.The above is just a sample of what could be done. The possibilities are limitless! Oh, yes. ater with a 28(1 unit curriculum be cut to 240 units. As county librarian, I watched EUHS Superintendent James Hof frier (a liberalreally thorough censoring could ( arts major—our first) steadily certainly make that library ster- j raising our scholastic require-ile, all right! I men Is, and a new attitude toward1IALMAR FORREST MOSER study, appearing on the part ofthe students. This year I under-LIKED EDITORIALEditor;2 wish to express to you and the Mountain Democrat my real appreciation for your fine editorial on the EUHS students(SCRA) who are conducting acampaign against censorship. The high school administration is also to be congiatulted for providing the necessary climate m which the students could work out their protest.For many years the Americanstand some of our seniors have applied to Stanford University for scholarships'!! The best in educational standards is absolutelynecessary today if our students battles for us!Editor:This is a belated thank you note for your splendid editorial in last week's issue of the paper —the one pertaining to the efforts of the student body of the high school in its effort to bring a halt to the censorship of books.What surprised me most, however. was that there wasn’t a single letter of approval in this week’s issue from the adult body of the community. Can it be it has decided to have no part in the never-ending battle against censorship? This is something I wouldn’t wish to contemplate.Therefore, cheers to you for more cheers for the student body of the high school for waging ourare to compete successfully in our new world where knowledge is so essential.EDITH GANTTGEORGE YOHALEMCOMMENDS JUNIOR RIDERSEditor:After a recent El Dorado Junior Riders Club meeting. I wouldCONCERNING CENSORSHIPEditor:Tonight the school board of El Dorado Union High school will listen to (and T presume act upon) the suggestions of Student Committee for Responsible Action The recommendations of SCRA are related to censorship of materials in the high school library.When this issue came before the board only one board member was opposed to taking books from the library shelves because a couple of parents found a particular book objectionable Tomorrow we will know if any have changed their minds.The position of the board is one that plagues all representatives in a representative democracy. How is he to make his decision. Shall it be on the basis of his own sound judgment or as only a voice for the majority of those he represents? The board members who abide by the latter philosophy have no choice but to accent the recommendations of SCRA. When the original action took place last fall no opportunity was provided for those who opposed book banning to voice their views until after the action was taken. In fact, few of us knew about it until it was exposed by this newspaper. Shortlyafter the action, however, a group of responsible students joined together to air informed viewpoints on censorship and they themselves took the stand that in principle, censorship is inherently evil and opposed to the traditional American ideals of freedom of speech and press. They clearly identified themselves and their stand. No opposition came forward to challenge them or their principles.This fact is open to interpretation, One interpretation could be that there is no opposition and those members of the community who are concerned are behind the principles of SCRA. Another could be that there was an opposition which, after further investigation, changed their stand resulting in the present absence of vocal opposition. Still another interpretation is that there is an opposition which has purposely remained silent or have only remained silent in the public arena while exerting devious pressure by a q u i et under-the-table method.In this light, the board members who believe in representing the opinion of the people who elected them can only go along with SCRA.But what of the board member who believes in casting his vote based on his own sense of the right9 If he was for taking the book off last fall and is now for replacing it, he should of course back proposals of SCRA. A problem makes itself evident, here. What of the man who votes one way the first time and changes his mind before the second opportunity9 Perhaps thin man doesn’t want to admit his mistake or feels it would be a sign of weakness to reverse his vote the second time around. Frankly, I feel that it is a greater act of courage to admit a mistake than to hide the mistake behind a mask of stubbornness. It is imperative that everyone lake some public stand on the censorship issue which has implications that touch, the tap root of the democratic system.Still to be considered is the representative who holds a position opposite to the position held by the public he represents and insists on forcing this position down the throats of those who elected him. The representative has two choices. He can continue to do as he has been, secure in knowing he is right and that the people will see the light or he can resign. The people also have two choices. They can accept his views or they can choose another who is more consistent with their own commitment. I prefer the second choice.Tonight the board will have a chance to re-evaluate their previous 'decision. Last time they agreed with a minority without bearing from the other side Now a larger block of the public has spoken against the first decision without any opposition coming forth. Will the board now make a decision based upon the majority will or will they continue to hold a minority position? If the board chooses the latter, the people have no choice other than decisions are more faithfully represented.FRANK V. SORACCOing, etc., of a new high school. But, whal if Mr. Taxpayer remembers some of the frills that were not foresaken and decides, as lie has been doing quite consistently, to leave the two schools in dire economic straits? After all it is his only recourse to poor management except at election time.Tf anyone notes that this letter is from Shingle Springs, the location of Ponderosa High School, and thinks my motives are sectional. he should be apprised of the fact that botli schools are .under one board in one district 'and both schools will have to afford equal services under state law, Therefore both schools will suffer equally.Keep trying, Mr. Engstrom, and possibly reality will assert itself. A. J. ENZLEROPPOSES CENSORSHIPEditor: sI wish to compliment you on your recent article regarding the action of the large group of high school students who are attempting to recind the ‘book-burning” situation in the high school libraryThe idea of removing any book from any library, school or otherwise, is an abridgement of freedom and it is stupid. No one, in my opinion, has ever been contaminated by a book. In fact it would be better if people, youngand old, read more books. If we are to remove all the books which discuss sex or sex prom-leins it might be difficult to know where to stop. Even the Bible would have to be forbidden.The denial of information or literature containing references to or discussion of sex can only stern from and produce furtive and unhealthy attitudes, “Forbidden fruit” is the most eagerly sought.The acquiescence of the board who agreed to remove the booksshowed them to be remarkablylacking in courage. Certainly they could not believe that their action would really protect the morals of high school students How could it? If these children have not already been taught by their parents how to behave, and how to select good reading material on a basis of what is and is not good literature, removing library books will not help them. It may even harm them by making interesting whal is actuallySAPmey ahead/PREDICTS EUHS OVERRIDEEditor:Mr Engstrom should be 'congratulated for his efforts to provide preparatory funding for Ponderosa High School. A grave mistake was made when his planning was not accepted. It is now obvious that another override tax will be attempted during the next year. A high school override may not only fail and leave both high schools in dire economic straits but will also make it more difficult for elementary schools as they compete for the over-sought-after lax dollar. It no doubt can be shown next winter that there will be a real need for an override, what with staffing, supplyGIwmAUTlt;for as li
Newspaper Details
Placerville Mountain Democrat and Times
Placerville, California, US
Thu, May 10, 1962
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
CA 19 Jan 2021
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