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Petition For 1984

224 Comments

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Susan Young
8 years ago

I am surprised and disappointed in the decision of principal Lord's in banning 1984 by Orwell. I see no reason for this move and believe that it should be returned to the library and curriculum.

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Cindy Cook
8 years ago

Catering to the "one"person has got to stop!

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Caroline Stucki
8 years ago

I am shocked at how far education must have slid in the 8 years since I graduated from Rigby High School. George Orwell was part of the curriculum for government, and was on the list of required books that could be read by Advanced English Dual Enrollment and AP students. I remember specifically reading both 1984 and Animal Farm my junior year. How far will we allow this censorship of the press and of free speech to go? Will we begin in the schools, as did Hitler, by removing any dissenting material? Will we become like the society depicted in Ray Bradbury's Farenheit 451? Will that then be the next book to be "banned?" The entire point of education is to learn dissenting opinions, to learn from history to keep us from repeating its mistakes, and to teach us how to converse, debate, and ultimately coexist with those whose opinions and beliefs differ from our own. This is never done by censorship and heavy handed oversight by governing bodies. This is done by airing grievances in the public forum, learning to disagree without violence or antagonism, and ultimately realizing that our entire way of life rests on the principles of free speech and democracy. Both are endangered by such actions- and will only continue to become more threatened if this is allowed to continue.

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Richard Kim Hatch
8 years ago

This is a book that makes people think.. much like Animal Farm, Fahrenheit 451, and yes the Bible. It tells a story of what has been happening in our country NOW, not in some future tense, but it is happening right before our eyes. Let's teach our kids to think, to analyze things and to make decisions, not tell them what decision to make.

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Spencer Aday
8 years ago

What's next: burning flags ???

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Joe Robinson
8 years ago

It saddens me to hear that our "public school system" has decided to take this book off the shelf. Just because a book tells things that are controversial or thought prevoking, or outside of what the school district think is appropriate doesn't mean they should have the right or nerv to censure classic literature. What's next? Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet The Odyssey, are you in Dick and Jane? If the school board, or the principal and administrators think a book is inappropriate for our fragile young children to read they should hold a meeting and take a boat on the book that is in question instead of acting on their own free agency to do what "they" think is in the best interest of everyone. I for one have my own mind and I like to think for myself. My tax dollars do not go for the public school officials to think for me.

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Kylee
8 years ago

Well, I think this is dumb. An alternative assignment is sufficient for those that don't want their children reading this book. There is no need to ban the book!

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Paul Summers
8 years ago

Welcome to George Orwell's 1984 system. The school is doing exactly what was done in Orwell's classic. Don't worry. Because it was banned, kids will purchase the book on their devices simply because it was banned. Idiots. You don't like the freedom in this country? Move to a country where free speech is not allowed.

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Kara Orgill
8 years ago

What's next???

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Tommye Jo Hyder
8 years ago

Banning this book is stupid and against our rights as a nation with free speech. What is next....The BIBLE? We are not a socialist nation!

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Lisa Morgan
8 years ago

Please provide an alternative book/project selection for those families that object to 1984, but keep it in the curriculum.

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Mitchell Russell
8 years ago

Ridiculous

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Aaron Gee
8 years ago

It's rather useless that the book was banned in the first place, when so much worse things are praised in today's musical industry.

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Adam
8 years ago

I believe that the purpose of school is to educate, and it is a school's duty to its students to provide every opportunity for its students to learn. An acceptable alternate would be to have the teacher give warning of the vulgar scene to the students, so as young adults, they can make the decision to read those pages or not. 1984 is a great classic book, and if schools are taking away the opportunity to read classics, than what is the point of schools? I don't know that it would be education.

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Elizabeth Lengle
8 years ago

My children are not in highschool yet, but I do not agree with this decision. We have created a generation of snowflakes with all this "protection" if we continue down this path future generation will have no ability to maintain this country.

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Richard Casper
8 years ago

Please do not allow censorship at Rigby High School

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Clarissa Hanks
8 years ago

This is why parents choose home schooling over indoctrination centers known as public schools. This school and school district should be ashamed and book banning should never happen in the Free Repubublic we enjoy.

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Bart Whiting
8 years ago

Freedom!

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Kristy mortensen
8 years ago

Ridiculous, these kids should be able to read what they want.

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Camille Andersen
8 years ago

Although I support individual standards, banning books for all is a sign of a society in trouble.