Mature reading not necessary in libraries

Dear Editor,

It appears that Mr. & Mrs. Vanarsdall just got more of the same from [Director of School Community Relations] Debra Marlow's response to their letter [Apr. 9] about the book, "Fat Kid Rules the World" by K.L. Going. I understand exactly what they are going through, as my husband and I went through a similar experience when our daughter was a student at Bailey Bridge Middle School and Manchester High School. What exactly is the purpose of a "mature reading" section? Are school administrators and members of the Level III Book Review Committee so naive to think these "mature readers" are not going to show the book to readers who aren't "mature"?

It reminds me of the "mature viewing" section at video stores. I wonder if Mrs. Marlow would think an eighth-grade student should be allowed in there? And exactly what does one being mature have to do with reading such objectionable material? I am the mother of a college sophomore, and I don't read literature that contains the expletives that are now allowed in our schools. It makes me wonder what else is in that "mature readers" section of our schools. So let me get this straight, if students utter these expletives in school, they get in trouble, but it is fine for them to read them in "literature"?

Diane Dalton

Chesterfield

Dear Editor,

Oh for more parents and grandparents who monitor the books their children bring home from school. I commend the Vanarsdalls who wrote [Apr. 9] regarding a book their grandson had obtained from the Bailey Bridge Middle School library, which contained the "F" word and other expletives. These people went through the proper chain of command, going first to a committee at the school and then before the Chesterfield County Book Review Committee. The conclusion of the committees was that the book would stay in the library, would be put on the mature list, and only eighth-graders could check it out. Sounds like the perfect plan to get every sixth- and seventh-grade student lined up to checkout the book as soon as they reach eighth-grade!

An article submitted by the school board appeared above this letter to the editor. In that article, the board's vision for 2012 stated that the schools "…stimulate citizens of all ages to trust in, invest in and benefit from public education." Decisions to keep such books in the library will certainly not inspire many to trust in the system.

Elaine Hanger

Chesterfield