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Sections in this issue outline (in order):
1. What they said. 2 The issue at a glance. 3 Background. 4 Internet information links. 5 and 6 Arguments for / against. 7 Further implications on this issue. 8 Newspaper items used in the compilation of the outline.
2005/02: Andy Griffith's 'The Bad Book': should school libraries and booksellers carry this book?
What they said ...
'Pursed-lipped teachers, librarians and booksellers are trying to ban the latest book by Andy Griffiths, one of the few authors who writes specifically and spectacularly successfully for reading-averse little boys'
Miranda Devine, published in The Sydney Morning Herald, September 30 2004
'This is the first book I've refused to stock in 15 years. But some of us have to take a stand . . . I don't think children need this, with so much violence going on'
Kate Colley, children's bookseller, of Bloomin' Books at Caringbah in Sydney
The issue at a glance
Australian children's author Andy Griffiths had his most recent work, 'The Bad Book', published on September 1, 2004, by Pan Macmillan.
Mr Griffiths is an extremely popular author. His previous titles include the short story collections 'Just Tricking!', 'Just Annoying!', 'Just Stupid!', 'Just Crazy!' and 'Just Disgusting!'. Mr Griffiths is also the author of 'The Day My Bum Went Psycho' and 'Zombie Bums From Uranus'.
Griffiths most recent work, 'The Bad Book', has, however, meet with a negative response from some school libraries and some booksellers. Some of Pan Macmillan's educational suppliers stopped stocking 'The Bad Book' after schools banned it from their libraries.
Background
There have been complaints from a variety of sources made in relation to Andy Griffiths most recent book.
Our Lady of the Pines College, in Donvale, Victoria, made an official complaint about Griffiths' recent visit. Then Spensley Street Primary School, in Clifton Hill, cancelled a planned visit by the writer after an assistant principal felt it would be inappropriate to sell the book at the school as part of the event.
Chris Harrington, from Melbourne's Books In Print shop, said he was displaying the 'Bad Book' but 'our main children's book buyer is not happy with the book and she explains that customers should think before buying it'.
Richard Hogan, the Angus & Robertson franchisee in Warriewood, New South Wales, said that, while he stocked the book, he kept 'The Bad Book' in his storeroom.
'We've sold Griffiths extremely well before, but we don't think this one has a place in a responsible bookshop. We'll sell it if people ask for it, but we won't promote or display it.'
While Kate Colley, of Bloomin' Books, Caringbah, Sydney, has refused to stock the book at all.
'Poop fiction' has been defined as a literary genre that uses toilet humour and crude jokes to appeal to young children.
The first known use of the term was in an article entitled 'Poop literature' published in the Illawarra Mercury in August 2002. The piece was written by Kim Cotton and included the observation 'The introduction of what could simply be described as poop fiction is capturing the attention of a generation of reluctant readers. It is a genre of texts where stories can include words such as fart, bum and the gamut of bodily functions, as well as plots based on naughty antics that poke fun at adults.'
Generally included in the genre is Canadian author Glenn Murray who wrote 'Walter the farting dog'; Dav Pikey who has written the Captain Underpants series; and Andy Griffiths whose work has already been referred to.
Internet Information
Andy Griffiths has an extensive and informative Internet site. For those interested in his views on writing, the site repays careful attention.
Andy Griffiths' home page can be found at
http://www.andygriffiths.com.au/Index.html
The following links will take you to sections of the site where interviews with Griffiths are reproduced in which he gives his attitude to writing:
http://www.andygriffiths.com.au/News_2003_The_Day_My_Books_Sold_Out.html
http://www.andygriffiths.com.au/News_2003_The%20Cairns_Post.html
http://www.andygriffiths.com.au/News_2003_Moving_on_up.html
http://www.andygriffiths.com.au/News_2003_The_Story_of_his_Success.html
http://www.andygriffiths.com.au/News_2002_Disgustingly_funny.html
http://www.andygriffiths.com.au/News_2001_The_bottom.html
On September 30 2004 The Sydney Morning Herald published an opinion piece by Miranda Devine titled, 'A grim tale of humourless narks'
The piece is supportive of Andy Griffiths' writing and critical of those librarians that have refused to put his latest book on their shelves and those booksellers that have attempted to limit its sale.
The opinion piece can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/29/1096401645757.html
The Eagle Forum is a conservative American lobby group with interest in a variety of issues, including education. In July 2003 it published a piece from its education commentator, Orlean Koehle. The opinion is titled, 'Gross, Grosser & Grossest: How far has children's literature sunk?' It is a criticism of Andy Griffiths' 'The Day My Bum Went Psycho' which has been published in the United States by Scholastic as 'The Day My Butt Went Psycho'.
This opinion piece can be found at http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/2003/july03/focus.shtml
On May 5 2004 the United States news network CNN published a report titled, '"Poop fiction" big hit with kids' The report gives an overview of the 'poop fiction' phenomenon and discusses some of the writers involved, including Andy Griffiths.
The article can be found at http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/books/04/29/poop.fiction.ap/
The on-line guide to modern culture, The Word Spy, gives a detailed account of the phrase 'poop fiction', its meaning and recent usage. This material can be found at http://www.wordspy.com/words/poopfiction.asp
On September 26 2004 The Sydney Morning Herald published a letter from Elizabeth Jones and headed, 'Always some censorship needed in younger days'
This is critical of Andy Griffiths work.
The letter can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/26/1096137097586.html
On September 25 2004 The Sydney Morning Herald published a letter from Ken Goodwin which opposes censorship of children's literature.
The letter can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/26/1096137097586.html
Obscenitycrimes.org is an American lobby group that claims to exist to promote and protect standards of public decency, especially as regards material published on the Internet.
In May 2004 the group's Internet site published an opinion piece titled, 'Cultural Conditioning and Trickle Down Coarseness' by Sharon Secor
The author attempts to link the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib to a general decline in American culture, including a supposed decline in children's literature. The piece refers specifically to the work of Andy Griffiths among others.
It can be found at http://www.obscenitycrimes.org/espforparents/espforparents2004-05.cfm
Arguments in favour of limiting access to Andy Griffiths' 'The Bad Book'
1. The book contains much potentially disturbing material
Critics of the book have argued that many of the rhymes it contains deal with material that is potentially disturbing to any reader, but especially to child readers.
Children's bookseller Kate Colley, of Bloomin' Books at Caringbah in Sydney, has said of Andy Griffiths' most recent book, 'I'm not a prude, and a lot of the book is fun. But after reading the whole thing, I couldn't sleep.'
Ms Colley cited the stories of a grandmother eating her own excrement, a child setting a cat on fire, and a mother sending her child across a six-lane road to be run over by a truck.
Ms Colley commented, 'This is the first book I've refused to stock in 15 years. But some of us have to take a stand . . . I don't think children need this, with so much violence going on.'
2. Many young readers may not realise the book is not intended to be taken seriously
Critics of the book have argued that its supposed humour may not be appreciated by young readers who may take some of the episodes it describes seriously.
Among the rhymes which critics fear children will fail to see the humour in is one titled, 'Bad Mummy and the Very Busy Six-Lane Highway.' In this a boy asks, 'Mummy, can I run across this very busy six-lane highway with my eyes shut?'
The mother says, 'Well, I don't know.' The child nags and the mother relents. 'All right' she says, ' but be careful.' The child is run over and the mother says, 'Oops.'
Another rhyme in which it is feared children will miss the humour is one in which one of the characters , Bad Daddy, always says 'no' to his son until finally the child asks for permission to breathe. The exasperated father shouts 'No!' and the boy falls over, dead.
Critics are concerned that children will not find these stories amusing but will instead learn to doubt their parents' love, concern and competence.
3. Some young readers may attempt to copy some of the behaviours described in the book
It is also feared that young children may try to emulate some of the behaviours described in Andy Griffths' book. This is of concern because these behaviours include setting a cat alight, severed heads, severed arms and 'bum lighting'.
There are those who argue that many of the behaviours described in the book are obviously hazardous and that children or others would be at risk of harm if young readers were to attempt to carry out these actions in real life.
This point has been made more generally by Orlean Koehle, an American primary teacher, who is the Californian president of the conservative lobby group, Eagle Forum. Mrs Koehle wrote, 'Why are [Andy Griffiths' books] being read to students in the classroom? Children tend to imitate what they see and hear. The more gross the material, the longer and more vividly it is retained in their memory banks. Are these the kinds of images and ideas a teacher would want her students to remember and emulate?'
4. The book does not promote positive attitudes in children
There have been a number of critics of the negative values the book supposedly promotes. Two women staff of Our Lady of the Pines, a Catholic primary school in Melbourne, complained to Pan Macmillan that references to swearing at parents, 'kicking his Dad up the bum' and driving over old people were 'examples of the undermining of commonly held values in our society'. They argued that the stories and rhymes set a tone that 'gives children permission to speak and behave in a manner which is vulgar, violent and disrespectful'.
The complainants concluded that The Bad Book had 'taken children's literature into extremely bad taste and embraces with gusto negative, base sentiments that do not promote positive, healthy understandings'.
A similar point has been made by Orlean Koehle, an American primary teacher, who is the Californian president of the conservative lobby group, Eagle Forum. Mrs Koehle wrote, 'I am also concerned and offended by Griffiths' books because I believe they are directly opposed to what teachers are supposed to be teaching in the classroom - morality, manners, decency, and dignity ... Griffiths' books teach just the opposite. Many of the words in his books would be classified as profanity. I urge all teachers with any sense of dignity and propriety to try to elevate your students not degrade them. If the "Butt Book" or similar books appears in your classroom, give them back or throw them away.'
5. There is a need to be discriminating about the reading material offered to children
It has been claimed that merely encouraging children to read is not a sufficient reason for giving young readers books of questionable quality. According to this line of argument, there is no automatic virtue in reading if what is being read is not of value.
This point was made in a letter from Elizabeth Jones published in the Sydney Morning Herald on September 25 2004. Ms Jones stated, 'say[ing] that "at least the children are enjoying reading something" ... is no more sensible than saying that children who eat only chips and sweets are "at least eating something".'
A similar argument has been put by an American, Orlean Koehle, a Santa Rosa teacher, who is the Californian president of the conservative lobby group, Eagle Forum. Mrs Koehle wrote, 'Good humour is uplifting and makes you feel good inside, not embarrassed. Literature should have redeeming value or it is a waste of time.'
Arguments against limiting access to Andy Griffiths' 'The Bad Book'
1. The book is not intended to be taken seriously and is unlikely to disturb child readers
Defenders of Andy Griffiths' most recent book, including the author himself, have argued that children are readily able to appreciate the type of humour the book presents.
Mr Griffiths has stated, 'Adults have to remember that kids have a great appreciation of black humour and know the difference between a joke and reality.' He claims that children are able to appreciate that his anarchic stories are intended largely to entertain and will not be distressed by their content.
Griffiths further argues that a tendency to take the world too seriously is at the root of value systems he condemns, such as religious fundamentalism. 'We spend so much time preparing kids for life, but one of the best values you can teach children is humour. A punchline jolts us into a different way of interpreting a situation, and protects us from fundamentalism at a deep level. It's hard to be fundamentalist when you see there are different ways of seeing the world.'
2. The book is primarily intended to entertain, not promote positive values
Despite arguing that developing a sense of humour is a positive value, Andy Griffiths claims that his books are primarily intended to entertain, not to foster particular attitudes.
'What I set out to do is enthral and entertain children and I have always seen that as children's literature's first duty,' Griffiths' claims.
Griffiths has further stated, 'A lot of my books are based on slapstick ... One thing that kids have in common, no matter what background they have, is they love to laugh.'
'For a while,' Griffiths has suggested, 'children's books seemed to be all very earnest; there was always some kind of moral or lesson involved. When I began writing books I was much more interested in creating humour with an edge to it.'
The writer has also explained, 'My writing teacher ... said, "You can't have a rose without the thorns." But you shouldn't just have thorns. You've got to balance it. That's the trouble with "issue" books. You just give the thorns and think you've done a big drama. What I try and do is construct a story so silly, a situation so ridiculous, that there's no other option but to laugh.
The laughing is what I want to give the kids, many of whom are dealing with serious issues in their lives and are looking to reading for a bit of relief or escape.'
3. Andy Griffiths' books are very popular among young readers
Andy Griffiths books have enjoyed great popularity among his young readers.
'Just Tricking!' became an instant bestseller. So were the follow-ups 'Just Annoying!', 'Just Stupid!', 'Just Crazy!' and 'Just Disgusting!'. Recently all five books featured in the top 20 children's books for 2002. Altogether the 'Just' series has sold well over 500,000 copies.
Andy Griffiths' books have won numerous children's choice awards and topped the bestseller lists in Australia and the United States. 'Just Disgusting' won the 2003 Fiction for Older Readers COOL Award, and 'Zombie Bums From Uranus' has been short listed in the same category for the 2004 COOL Awards.
'The Day My Bum Went Psycho' sold 250,000 copies in the United States, debuting at eight in the 'New York Times' children's bestseller list.
4. Andy Griffiths' books succeed in encouraging children, especially boys, to read
Supporters of Andy Griffiths' books have noted that they have been very successful in encouraging children to read.
Mr Griffiths is a former school teacher and he has claimed that one of his aims is to draw more young people to the pleasure of reading. He has stated, 'I will do anything I can to get them reading whether it's staging a revolution of bums taking over the world or talking about kids filling the shower with silicone glue and flooding the bathroom.'
Though Andy Griffiths books are also popular among girls, they have been very successful with young male readers, a group whose apparent disinclination to read has many educators concerned.
Andy Griffiths has noted, 'There does appear to be something that happens around grade 6, when boys don't want to be seen as reading. They want to be seen as active, to push away the feminine, and reading is seen as passive and introverted and characterised as feminine - quite unfairly, I think.'
Miranda Devine, in an opinion piece published in The Sydney Morning Herald on September 30 2004, claimed, 'Pursed-lipped teachers, librarians and booksellers are trying to ban the latest book by Andy Griffiths, one of the few authors who writes specifically and spectacularly successfully for reading-averse little boys.'
5. Adult critics are imposing narrow and inappropriate standards on Andy Griffiths' book
It is claimed that many of the adult critics of Andy Griffiths' books are imposing adult standards on material intended to interest and entertain children.
The president of the Children's Book Council of Australia, Lefki Kailis, has argued, 'Some adults might say "Oh my God", or find it repulsive, but we're putting a very middle-class perspective on it. People like Griffiths have a direct line to what children, not adults, like.'
The author, Andy Griffiths, has said, 'I write what pleases the eight-year-old within me and it's a very happy accident that it pleases a lot of others.'
Josh Guthrey, 10, from Macarthur Anglican School, Narellan, has said, 'My parents hate them [Andy Griffiths' books]. I think they have different tastes because they're grown-up, but I don't know, maybe they're just old.'
Further implications
The issue of how Andy Griffiths most recent book should be treated is not a simple question of censorship. Generally, when censorship is being discussed there is the possibility that a government agency will completely prevent a particular novel, painting or film from being read or exhibited. That is not what is being considered here.
Andy Griffiths has himself referred to the treatment of his 'The Bad Book' as a case of 'silent censorship'. What in fact has happened is that a number of school libraries have either been critical of the book or have refused to have it on their shelves. There have also been concerns expressed by some booksellers to the point where some are not promoting it or are keeping it in their storerooms rather than on their display shelves so that customers who want the book have to request it specifically. Only one bookseller has been reported as refusing to offer it for sale.
Obviously none of the above means that Andy Griffiths book will be banned. What is happening is that some children's opportunity to read the book will be reduced, either because it will not be available in their school library or because their parents will find it difficult to buy. There is also the possibility that some parents will judge it unsuitable for their children to read, perhaps in part because of the small controversy that has grown up around it.
The larger question is how much discretion librarians, in particular, and responsible adults, generally, should display in determining what reading material is put before children. For some significant time the determiner has been what children appear to enjoy. In an age when there are so many different forms of entertainment competing for children's attention many adults are highly concerned that reading for pleasure will become an obsolete pastime. This appears to have been one of the factors that has lead to a liberalisation of standards with regard to what constitutes suitable children's fare.
Despite the upsurge in the United States, and to a far lesser extent in Australia, of conservative lobby groups seeking to promote what they term 'family values', the trend toward a more liberal approach toward literature for children seems likely to continue.
Interestingly, though we have clearly moved beyond a time when children's literature is expected to be 'improving', we do not seem to have any clear consensus as to what values, if any, it should embody.
Sources
The Age
25/9/04 page 2 news item by Michael Knox, 'Bad book just not good enough say critics'
27/9/04 page 10 letter from Julian O'Donnell, 10, 'Not so bad'
30/9/04 page 19 comment by Christopher Bantick, 'The dangers of making children's reading a fun-free zone'
The Australian
25/9/04 page 3 news item by James Hall, 'Kids' author in the bad books'
29/9/04 page 5 comment by Jodie Minus, 'Author's willy-nilly reply to silly PC'