School district trustee in Orange County seeks to ban Maya Angelou book from libraries

There have been several attempts in recent years to ban certain books at Orange County schools. The list includes "Twilight" and "Snow Falling on Cedar." Now, a Westminster school board member has raised concerns about a Maya Angelou book that includes a rape scene.

Should the book be banned from school libraries? The Register's Annie Burris looks into the issue:

Judy Ahrens, a former Westminster School District trustee, took to the podium at Monday's Huntington Beach City Council meeting to read a scene from Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings'' that details the rape of an 8-year-old girl. The reading was a demonstration on why the book should be banned, she told the audience.

"I would like to say I don't wish to read this material … but for the sake of the innocence of our children … sometimes we have to do things in life we are uncomfortable with," Ahrens said during the meeting which is televised on the city's cable channel.

Photo: Maya Angelou; credit: Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images.

Comments

[Chuck Stewart]

Everyone who wants to ban books should not be allowed to vote. Period.

[Alika]

Orange County. Need I say more?

[cga]

So, books that depict things children can see on the news, in movies and in their own lives are unacceptable? Give me a break. This book is a classic and is culturally relevant. Unfortunately bad things happen in life, but this book is about moving beyond those events. It is a testament to dealing with horrible things and coming through to the other side as a survivor. I am disgusted by the idea of banning this book from any student interested in reading it. They should be applauded for reading such a high caliber work. Additionally, maybe we should ban Little Red Riding Hood as well. It is also about the chance of a young girl being raped and killed. People you need to do some research and get your facts straight.

[Anonymous]

Most of the time the things that are uncomfortable to read are written for that very reason. Sometimes we just need to be reminded of the discomfort that many people deal with every day.

[Alan Hotchkiss]

Excellent, "ban" the book. This is a wonderfully written and thought-provoking piece of literature, and being banned will not only give it free publicity, but encourage students to find out why and read it.

[Wrong book]

While you're at it OC, ban the bible too. There's a lot more rape and killing in that horrid book.

[Ms. Bruce]

The book should not be banned. Due to the fact that a person should have the right to read what ever they please. However, if the school district wants to secure the innocence of a child's mind they should put a restriction on the book and only approve check out if it is confirmed with the student parent. Maya Angelou is a profound author and it would be a shame if Orange County school district/residents (Adult/Youth were denied such talents. They really need to rethink this over. Especially, when the book has been on the shelves for years.

[busytimmy]

No one is innocent, not even children. People need to stop trying to hide their agendas and prejudices behind "the children". Period.

[Valerie]

I have an ever growing collection of books that people have tried to ban/or have succeeded in banning over the years. Every time I hear about one, if I don't have it, I go out and get it. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" was already in my collection.

[DRE DAWG]

Ahrens is "uncomfortable" with talking about rape, not the rape scene described in the book. And it's very unfortunate, especially when they're considering a ban on Maya, when parents think if they take out all the "bad things" their children's innocence will be preserved forever.

Rape is part of our human lives. It's not something I'm going to discuss at length with Kindergarteners, but I'm not going to sweep it under the rug and pretend it doesn't exist if I don't talk about it. That's dangerous to our society.

DON'T BAN THE BOOK OC!!!!

[Tom]

Touche, Judy Ahrens. Realizing that OC teenagers only respond to one thing: illicitness. Ban that book! Ninth-graders will read it in record numbers. Such a clever ploy to promote literacy. I see now why they made you a trustee.

[Shawna]

Growing up in Los Angeles I read this book when I was in the 7th grade. Kids are exposed to so much more vulgarity and obscenity NOW. For the sake of the innocence of her children, perhaps she should complain to all the video game developers and the inventor of the INTERNET.

[Ernesto]

How long has this book been sitting on the shelves? I read it about 20 years ago and they just decided to ban it? What is the real reason behind this action? What does it say about the school board? How many other books are sitting on the shelves that they have not read? Typical Orange County, typical California!

[Zach]

Children don't need more of this kind of protection. It's a hard world out there and banning a well-respected book with a rape scenario isn't going to change that for kids. In fact it's ALWAYS been a hard world out there, and childhood is when kids are supposed to learn how to deal with it, warts and all. That means they sometimes read things that make them uncomfortable. That means they get lessons in school that may expose them to things to which they'd not been exposed in your house.

Trying to keep kids away from such things is like trying to keep your kids away from chicken pox - you'll prevent illness now, but they'll just be hit harder later in life because they aren't equipped to deal with it.

[Dr. Aviva Kamin]

Any book by Maya Angelou that is banned is a cause for concern. I taught for one year at Westminister HS and left as it was the mose prejudical school. I went on to a community college. Enough said.

[C. Holmes]

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare, however; it depicts suicide, murder, controlling parents and rebellious children. Will this book be banned? Maya Angelou is a profound author and it would be a shame if the book was banned. Much worse is depicted to our children by peers, adults, schools, music, movies, tv and life in general. They are exposed daily to much worse then this book has to offer! Are some people really this ridiculous? I agree with cga!

[ELVISNIXON.COM]

The issue is not being framed properly.

This is not a matter of "censorship" per se.

The presumption is that Orange County is somehow ignorant and narrow minded and wants to ban Clinton's inaugural poet out of partisan spite or in a thinly veiled "racism."

The remarks that the LA TIMES saw fit make ignorant remarks stating people should have their right to vote annulled etc...

The issue is actually one of it being AGE APPROPRIATE.

It seems that there is an agenda on the part of certain groups to push adult materials on children. Let's imagine a telling scenario:

Suppose you had neighbors who said that they were raising their child to become a homosexual. Would you respond with "open minded" enthusiasm or sheer disgust?

I hope that you would recognize that horrible child abuse was going on.

Why?

Because our collective moral intuition is outraged by this unnatural and immoral life choice.

Let's delve further.

How would this neighbor go about this experiment?

The only way is to expose a child at an early an age as possible to adult sexual appetites.

Adult sexuality is an inappropriate subject matter for kids. Western Civilization has always recognized the inherently exploitive nature of adult-child activities of this nature and has universally condemned them.

Seeing that this is axiomatic (an argument that is beyond question), ask yourself another question.

Why do we allow government schools to do this with OUR tax dollars?

That is the entire point of "GLBS (gay, lesbian, bi, straight) Alliance" groups on California campuses.

That is the entire point of the ACLU suing the Boy Scouts of America to force them to expose little boys to adult male homosexuals as "Scout Masters."

That is the entire point of homosexual groups seeking to LOWER age of consent laws (as they have succeeded to do in Canada, the UK and much of Europe).

And THAT is the entire point of the Schwarzenegger-signed "Harvey Milk Day" law.

Why would you be horrified and outraged if your neighbor did that, but oblivious if the local kindergarten, elementary school and other taxpayer funded "educational centers" do it?

[EK]

What's next? Shall we ban The Dairy of Anne Frank, or other books about the Holocaust because these works might make some people uncomfortable? Dr. Angelou is a national treasure. By suggesting a ban, Ms. Ahrens demonstrates both her ignorance and small mindedness. Perhaps HER next book selection should be Ray Bradbury's FAHRENHEIT 451. Bet she's never heard of it, let alone read it.

[Sancho]

Bunch of Westsiders approve of children reading about rape. Raise your hands if you are from the Hollywood area!

[jh]

Hitler Regime coming back...this time in Orange Country....Next we will burn them? Come on...lets not keep our Children in a box! Expand their minds instead of expanding their closets!

[Mark]

Uh, why was this person reading the passage to the Huntington Beach City Council ? As a former district trustee, she should know that the HB City Council has no standing in school district affairs.

[Mon]

Just because rape is sometimes a reality doesn't mean I want my children reading literature describing it. Just because someone gets beaten violently to a pulp doesn't mean a child should view it. For the same reason a parent gives their child viewing boundaries, so should it be with literature. There's a fine line, and sexual assault crosses it in a school library. I say ban it.

[greylox]

**This woman is obviously thinking of running for some office again. Unfortunately, for her, Orange County is NOT quite the bastion of idiocy it once was. Even educated Republicans are standing against her attempts at riling the masses. It appears only about 12% of the electorate agrees with her calls for censorship. We've come a long way, baby!

[Canjac Canjar]

I agree! Ban the book, just so the kids can watch the real life depiction on television...Nuff said!!!!

[Brian Wright]

I think it depends upon which library and under what conditions. Certainly an eight year old girl should not be given a book such as this. It should be available for teens and older, or whatever age group is deemed appropriate, but we commonly restrict violent and offensive material from young children. This has nothing to do with racism; this has to do with the emotional development of the child.

If you believe that children should be exposed to everything then would you be in favor of allowing them to read Hustler, or skinhead propaganda, or a book on how to commit suicide? I don't know what the motivation of the former trustee was, but given the extremely limited information in this news article, you shouldn't jump to the conclusions that many of you have.