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Tennessee School Bans ‘Maus’ Graphic Novel16790

Collector dfoster43 private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by EbayMafia
Well we can all agree that this tempest in a teapot is bringing a lot of awareness to a very worthy book. Hopefully this will get it added to more curriculums, if not in 8th grade then maybe in high school. In reading it a second time, it really is masterful in how it represents so much of the Holocaust through the experiences of a single person. I'll bet 95% of high school students have never read Maus, so I'm not fretting over the deprivation of a few 8th graders in Tennessee. I'm sure they have other important books on their curriculum, just like every other school district.


Agreed, and I think (hope) we can agree that the Holocaust and all the related and myriad reasons why came about, was allowed to occur, and how it affected the world is a subject that needs to be taught. If it can reach more people and express into them the importance of the subject matter and create critical thinkers whil in the form of a graphic novel and do it more effectively than a dry textbook than more power to it.

There are other formats - video, movies, documentaries, etc. but there are reason why they may not be necessarily appropriate in a schoolroom setting. And at that young age a graphic novel (comic book) format and the visual impact of the art, the obvious trope/metaphor of Cat Vs. Mouse all kids are familiar with break it down into (no pun intended) the simplicity "Black & White" of it makes it more impactful or resonate more clearly well, then its served its purpose even more.

Years ago, when I showed it to my mother (whose father, my grandfather, was in WWII, Normandy, and came home a different person according to my grandmother) it moved her to tears and she thanked me for giving it to her. I'd never seen her react like that to that subject matter, not the 'Holocaust' mini-series or war movies, etc. so ... it has impact.
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Forum Crier OGJackster private msg quote post Address this user
After Tennessee school board bans Holocaust novel 'Maus,' comic book stores send students copies
Gabriela Miranda
USA TODAY
clickable text

After a Tennessee school board voted to ban "Maus," a graphic novel about the Holocaust, comic book store owners in California and Tennessee offered copies of the book to students.

Ryan Higgins owns Comics Conspiracy in California and tweeted that he'd ship 100 copies to families in McMinn County, Tennessee, where the Pulitzer-winning novel is banned.

Following suit, Knoxville Nirvana Comics announced it would loan copies of "Maus" to students. The comic store started a GoFundMe page to raise money to donate novels to families. The fundraiser passed its goal of $20,000, receiving more than $101,000 by midday Wednesday.




"Maus" follows a Jewish family's experience with antisemitism and their time at the Auschwitz concentration camp. Jewish people in the novel are depicted as mice, and Nazis are cats. The novel was included in McMinn County's eighth grade English and language arts curriculum.

Last month, the county school board voted to ban the novel because of "rough" language and a drawing of a nude woman.

'Absurd':Author of 'Maus' condemns Tennessee school's decision to pull book on Holocaust

What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news

Author Art Spiegelman said he was alarmed by the board's decision.

"This is not about left versus right," Spiegelman told The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. "This is about a culture war that's gotten totally out of control."

Since offering "Maus" for free, Higgins told CNN the shop's "phone has been ringing off the hook," and he ran out of copies and will have to order more.

"It should be required reading for everybody," Rich Davis, co-owner of Knoxville Nirvana Comics, told CNN. "If we don't show them what the Holocaust was, the next generation may think it wasn't so bad, and then the next generation may think the Holocaust didn't happen, and then the next generation is repeating the Holocaust."

'Maus' sales soar:'Maus' sales soar after book is banned by Tennessee school board.
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-Our Odin-
Rest in Peace
Jesse_O private msg quote post Address this user
I just LOVE it when people speak with their wallets!!!!!
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Where's his Bat-package? Byrdibyrd private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaryJohnson
I am outraged by the current school curriculum, because it does not try to teach us how to live, resolve daily issues and many others essential things, but it gives us only reasons to "sink in the author's thoughts" and comment them.

While I don't have an issue with classes that encourage young people to develop critical thinking skills (that would be things like lit), I am very much in agreement on the lack of basic life skills courses. So many schools no longer have home ec or driver's ed or shop or anything like that. I remember all of those (though I didn't take shop) plus classes like typing (showing my age now. Oops). We need to get away from the tiresome and, frankly, harmful idea that the only classes our kids need to take are ones that will contribute to their SAT scores.
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If I could, I would. I swear. DrWatson private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Byrdibyrd
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaryJohnson
I am outraged by the current school curriculum, because it does not try to teach us how to live, resolve daily issues and many others essential things, but it gives us only reasons to "sink in the author's thoughts" and comment them.

While I don't have an issue with classes that encourage young people to develop critical thinking skills (that would be things like lit), I am very much in agreement on the lack of basic life skills courses. So many schools no longer have home ec or driver's ed or shop or anything like that. I remember all of those (though I didn't take shop) plus classes like typing (showing my age now. Oops). We need to get away from the tiresome and, frankly, harmful idea that the only classes our kids need to take are ones that will contribute to their SAT scores.

We also need to get away from the idea that it is the school system's responsibility to raise our kids and teach them everything they need to know. School is not a substitution for parenting.
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Where's his Bat-package? Byrdibyrd private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrWatson
Quote:
Originally Posted by Byrdibyrd
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaryJohnson
I am outraged by the current school curriculum, because it does not try to teach us how to live, resolve daily issues and many others essential things, but it gives us only reasons to "sink in the author's thoughts" and comment them.

While I don't have an issue with classes that encourage young people to develop critical thinking skills (that would be things like lit), I am very much in agreement on the lack of basic life skills courses. So many schools no longer have home ec or driver's ed or shop or anything like that. I remember all of those (though I didn't take shop) plus classes like typing (showing my age now. Oops). We need to get away from the tiresome and, frankly, harmful idea that the only classes our kids need to take are ones that will contribute to their SAT scores.

We also need to get away from the idea that it is the school system's responsible to raise our kids and teach them everything they need to know. School is not a substitution for parenting.

Absolutely true. Schools just teach the kids (at least, that's how it's supposed to happen), and it's up to the families to actually raise them.
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" . " Davethebrave private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrWatson

We also need to get away from the idea that it is the school system's responsibility to raise our kids and teach them everything they need to know. School is not a substitution for parenting.


Agree. Unfortunately it’s difficult to mandate good parenting and the costs of bad parenting are borne by society. So there is some almo
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If I could, I would. I swear. DrWatson private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Davethebrave
Agree. Unfortunately it’s difficult to mandate good parenting and the costs of bad parenting are borne by society. So there is some almo

Perfect.
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Suck it up, buttercup!! KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user
I haven't been following this thread but I would just like to say... good job people!!

No way did I think it would make it this long without being locked!!
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Collector dennisqdw private msg quote post Address this user
This has turned out to be an interesting thread. We won't resolve the best balance between the job of schools vs parents, but as I hear from a friend of mine with teenagers, "teaching to the test" is destroying the interest his kids actually have in the topics. So no matter how you slice it, there must be a better way to do this.
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Collector* Towmater private msg quote post Address this user
If you talk to a teacher, they will tell you that the public schools now attempt or are forced to handle everything. They're a band-aid. They have an excessive number of responsibilities and are stretched too thin.
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Masculinity takes a holiday. EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Davethebrave
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrWatson

We also need to get away from the idea that it is the school system's responsibility to raise our kids and teach them everything they need to know. School is not a substitution for parenting.


Agree. Unfortunately it’s difficult to mandate good parenting and the costs of bad parenting are borne by society. So there is some almo


This is why it's nice to have choices with different states, counties and school districts. A couple years ago We lived in a district where there were a large number of kids that would slip through the cracks if it was left up to their parents. So the school district constantly rearranged itself to accommodate for that. My kids didn't need that, it was a drag on their development, so we moved to a school district that doesn't need to rearrange itself around the kids who are at risk. It's nice to have both options as a parent.
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" . " Davethebrave private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by EbayMafia
Quote:
Originally Posted by Davethebrave
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrWatson

We also need to get away from the idea that it is the school system's responsibility to raise our kids and teach them everything they need to know. School is not a substitution for parenting.


Agree. Unfortunately it’s difficult to mandate good parenting and the costs of bad parenting are borne by society. So there is some almo


This is why it's nice to have choices with different states, counties and school districts. A couple years ago We lived in a district where there were a large number of kids that would slip through the cracks if it was left up to their parents. So the school district constantly rearranged itself to accommodate for that. My kids didn't need that, it was a drag on their development, so we moved to a school district that doesn't need to rearrange itself around the kids who are at risk. It's nice to have both options as a parent.


Agreed. Push now to eliminate gifted programs cuz they “drive inequality.”
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" . " Davethebrave private msg quote post Address this user
Our society is moving from equal opportunity to equal outcome. Directing resources towards that objective is inefficient and ineffective.
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" . " Davethebrave private msg quote post Address this user
Not saying system isn’t rigged, btw. A look at legacy admissions at top universities is eye opening. The proposed fixes are no better.
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Collector 00slim private msg quote post Address this user
This came in while I was out of town working this week. The wife is blowing through it pretty fast.


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Collector* Towmater private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by EbayMafia
Quote:
Originally Posted by Davethebrave
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrWatson

We also need to get away from the idea that it is the school system's responsibility to raise our kids and teach them everything they need to know. School is not a substitution for parenting.


Agree. Unfortunately it’s difficult to mandate good parenting and the costs of bad parenting are borne by society. So there is some almo


This is why it's nice to have choices with different states, counties and school districts. A couple years ago We lived in a district where there were a large number of kids that would slip through the cracks if it was left up to their parents. So the school district constantly rearranged itself to accommodate for that. My kids didn't need that, it was a drag on their development, so we moved to a school district that doesn't need to rearrange itself around the kids who are at risk. It's nice to have both options as a parent.


Private schools and home schooling are always options too.
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If the viagra is working you should be well over a 9.8. xkonk private msg quote post Address this user
They're options assuming a family can afford to move, pay for private school, stay home all day to teach the child, etc.
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Collector* Towmater private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by xkonk
They're options assuming a family can afford to move, pay for private school, stay home all day to teach the child, etc.


That’s one way of looking at it. Another is that some people will sacrifice and do anything and everything for the betterment of their children.
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I don't believe this....and I know you don't care that I don't believe this. GAC private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Towmater
Quote:
Originally Posted by xkonk
They're options assuming a family can afford to move, pay for private school, stay home all day to teach the child, etc.


That’s one way of looking at it. Another is that some people will sacrifice and do anything and everything for the betterment of their children.


It's a realistic look. Explain how not being able to afford rent or mortgage or even food on the table is for the betterment of their children?
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Collector* Towmater private msg quote post Address this user
@GAC So, driving an older vehicle isn’t an option? Working extra hours or getting a second part-time job shouldn’t be a consideration either? How about not buying comics, not getting them slabbed, or selling a collection to open up funds to make a sacrifice for one’s child? It’s about prioritizing what is important and what isn’t in you life.

People do all of those and more everyday for their children to position them so they can achieve more than they did.

BTW, we have our son in a private school. We do it because the public school district we live in wasn’t meeting his needs and sent him home injured due to a school yard bullying episode. Then told us it was a teachable moment for the three kids who hurt him. They hurt him because he didn’t look like them. At that point, the public school system was in our rear view mirror.
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Where's his Bat-package? Byrdibyrd private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Towmater
BTW, we have our son in a private school. We do it because the public school district we live in wasn’t meeting his needs and sent him home injured due to a school yard bullying episode. Then told us it was a teachable moment for the three kids who hurt him. They hurt him because he didn’t look like them. At that point, the public school system was in our rear view mirror.

Good for you. Showing your son he is cared for and valued by his parents will help him process the trauma of bullying better than anything else. Shame on his previous school for letting that go on. Unacceptable.
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Masculinity takes a holiday. EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by xkonk
They're options assuming a family can afford to move, pay for private school, stay home all day to teach the child, etc.


Yes, money gives you options. That's basically what money is, a symbol for options and choices. Without it you get the a school system that rearranges itself to fill in for the shortcomings of parents. Which I believe is exactly what you are advocating for, no? So I'm not sure what the issue is.
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If the viagra is working you should be well over a 9.8. xkonk private msg quote post Address this user
@EbayMafia No, I never advocated for that. Schooling is a separate issue from parenting although there is of course some overlap in life lessons. More my point to you and @Towmater is that not everyone can just pick up and send their child somewhere else. Some people have the option or ability to cut costs or work a second job and some don't. The point of a public school system is that there's supposed to be a good option for folks that don't have or want to. The system obviously isn't there for everyone but that doesn't mean that some people don't need it.
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Masculinity takes a holiday. EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user
@xkonk I believe we are in some form of agreement.
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Collector* Towmater private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by xkonk
@EbayMafia No, I never advocated for that. Schooling is a separate issue from parenting although there is of course some overlap in life lessons. More my point to you and @Towmater is that not everyone can just pick up and send their child somewhere else. Some people have the option or ability to cut costs or work a second job and some don't. The point of a public school system is that there's supposed to be a good option for folks that don't have or want to. The system obviously isn't there for everyone but that doesn't mean that some people don't need it.


I don’t disagree with your point that some might need it. However, it isn’t needed by all and many can walk away from it if they are willing to make personal sacrifices to better their child’s path in life.
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Masculinity takes a holiday. EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user
Just went to meeting with a high school coach inside his classroom. I noticed about 25 hardback copies of Watchmen in the classroom. Thinking that it's a pretty complex story for high schoolers, I asked him what grade level reads Watchmen. He kind of blew my mind when he said that he teaches special education.
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Forum Crier OGJackster private msg quote post Address this user
@EbayMafia That is interesting.
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I wish I had a title. ComicNinja0215 private msg quote post Address this user
Is this available on a kindle ??
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