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The Toronto Star reported that the award-winning novel Snow Falling on Cedars has been pulled from the Peel Catholic School Board, Ontario's high school library shelves following a parent's complaint about its sexual content. The novel describes a married couple's first sexual encounter and an encounter between two youths. According to the CBC, an anonymous letter of complaint was received and school board spokesman Bruce Campbell stated that the board believes it came from a parent.
So many challenges are received from parents who haven't actually read the book in question but this is the first time I have heard of a school board taking such a knee-jerk approach to an anonymous letter. If this parent is so concerned, why were they not concerned enough to sign a name?
The novel by David Guterson was part of the grade 11 curriculum and explores issues such as racism towards Japanese-Americans following World War II. Officials have removed the book until it can be reviewed by a board committee. The school board's policy with regard to challenged books states that complaints about books and resources that aren't resolved at the local level must be reviewed by a committee consisting of library services and religious education co-ordinators, two trustees, a parent and the superintendent of schools. The policy is used rarely and no one at the board can remember the last time it was used.
Shari Graydon, an author of two children's books on media literacy is quoted as saying,
Removing thoughtful fiction from the school library is like taking mashed potatoes out of the cafeteria when the problem is french fries at McDonald's.
A representative of Random House in Canada, publisher of the book, hadn't heard any complaints about the book in Canada. However, it has been challenged in the U.S. for its sexual content and also for its violence and exploration of racial issues.
Today the Honourable James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, announced that 29 people will be named to the Order of Ontario. Among the recipients will be author Deborah Ellis whose books have faced challenges and bannings in Ontario, the latest being Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak which was removed from Toronto and York School Board libraries.
According to Bartleman,
The men and women who are being honoured are stellar examples of the best and the brightest in this province. They are exemplary role models for us all.
Ellis is described as
Award winning children's author and human rights advocate who has donated more than $500,000 in royalties from her books to human rights causes. Ms. Ellis' books include: Looking for X; The Breadwinner; Parvana's Journey and Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak.
The Order of Ontario is Ontario's most prestigious official honour.
The award was created in 1986 by the Government of Ontario to recognize the highest level of individual excellence and achievement in any field. The men and women invested in The Order are representative of the best of Ontario's caring and diverse society and stand as shining examples for us all. Their lives have benefited society in Ontario and elsewhere.
In August 2006, Deborah Ellis was honoured by the Elementary Teachers' Federation.
The Toronto Star reported that the award-winning novel Snow Falling on Cedars has been pulled from the Peel Catholic School Board, Ontario's high school library shelves following a parent's complaint about its sexual content. The novel describes a married couple's first sexual encounter and an encounter between two youths. According to the CBC, an anonymous letter of complaint was received and school board spokesman Bruce Campbell stated that the board believes it came from a parent.