A Southern California school board has pulled the Merriam-Webster dictionary off its shelves after a parent complained about the entry “oral sex.”
The collegiate-level dictionary was being used in grade four and five classrooms. The school now promises to begin a thorough scouring of the dictionary for other offensive entries.
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16824 posts, RR: 57 Reply 1, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 1428 times:
When I was a kid we used the Scott, Foresman, & Co. Dictionary, which was more than adequate for an elementary school classroom.
Why is a collegiate dictionary in a 4th grade classroom?
Airstud From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 1858 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 1424 times:
I'm pretty sure M-W publishes school dictionaries, that are much more appropriate for grade-school-aged children. The school here is only pointing out its own idiocy in not having proper school dictionaries in the first place.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38505 posts, RR: 80 Reply 3, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 1404 times:
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 1): Why is a collegiate dictionary in a 4th grade classroom?
Quoting Airstud (Reply 2): I'm pretty sure M-W publishes school dictionaries, that are much more appropriate for grade-school-aged children. The school here is only pointing out its own idiocy in not having proper school dictionaries in the first place.
That is what I was thinking. The thread starter is totally misleading.
This is nowhere near as bad as a city mayor trying to fire a librarian for refusing to ban certain books......(cough, cough..Sarah..Palin...cough)
The heavily Republican city of Menifee, California did the right thing.
KevinL1011 From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 2964 posts, RR: 51 Reply 5, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1367 times:
Quoting dxing (Thread starter): parent complained about the entry “oral sex.”
Isn't that two separate words?
Besides, doesn't oral sex just mean talking about it?
Aaron747 From Japan, joined Aug 2003, 7637 posts, RR: 28 Reply 6, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1364 times:
What a nutcake school board. Hope the ACLU sues on behalf of the teachers who wanted to use MW. It's not like they have "dirty Sanchez" in there - these parents need to get a grip.
If you need someone to blame / throw a rock in the air / you'll hit someone guilty
KevinL1011 From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 2964 posts, RR: 51 Reply 7, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1363 times:
Quoting Aaron747 (Reply 6): It's not like they have "dirty Sanchez"
Airstud From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 1858 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1348 times:
Quoting dxing (Reply 4): From the story:
The dictionaries were originally intended for use by children working at advanced reading levels.
Were these children identified as working at collegiate reading levels?
san747 From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 4934 posts, RR: 13 Reply 9, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1342 times:
No surprise hearing this- I go to college in Menifee. The whole Inland Empire is heavily conservative and primarily non-denominational or evangelist Christians. I have had 20-year-old men chastise me for referring to a woman as hot.
So hearing that a suburban Souther California school district is banning a dictionary over an entry about a subject that most 4th graders wouldn't even be interested in, let alone be knowledgeable in, while sad, doesn't shock me.
Quote: The school now promises to begin a thorough scouring of the dictionary for other offensive entries.
I can't wait to hear what else they deem offensive!
Goldenshield From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 5441 posts, RR: 12 Reply 10, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1304 times:
Quoting san747 (Reply 9): The whole Inland Empire is heavily conservative and primarily non-denominational or evangelist Christians. I have had 20-year-old men chastise me for referring to a woman as hot.
Must have been a private school student. At that age, my public-schooled friends and I (from the "rich" part of the IE) would've added a few more adjectives.
Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.
san747 From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 4934 posts, RR: 13 Reply 12, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 1190 times:
Quoting Goldenshield (Reply 10):
Must have been a private school student. At that age, my public-schooled friends and I (from the "rich" part of the IE) would've added a few more adjectives.
Precisely! He went to Linfield Christian High School in Temecula and was taking a class with me at Mount San Jacinto College's Menifee campus when this happened. And as for a few more adjectives, this girl was definitely deserving of them
Quoting iairallie (Reply 11):
That doesn't sound like a conservative complaint it sounds like a guy who has been brainwashed and neutered by feminists complaint.
Perhaps. This incident occurred about 3 years ago, so I don't remember the exact conversation, but he seemed more upset that I was being "disrespectful" or something. In retrospect, maybe he knew the girl.
Sponsor Message: 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38505 posts, 
From Japan, joined Aug 2003, 7637 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
