An award-winning children’s novel, "The Higher Power of Lucky," is drawing fire from some librarians because in the opening, a character talks about seeing a rattlesnake bite his dog on the "scrotum."
Some librarians apparently think the word is inappropriate for children. One librarian went so far as to accuse the author, Susan Patron (herself a children’s librarian), of engaging in Howard Stern-like shock tactics.
Please. As one Wichita librarian noted, "it’s not even a dirty word" — "scrotum" is a precise and neutral anatomical term. True, it might occasion a few snickers from the target audience, 9- to 12-year-olds, but beyond that, what’s the fuss?
This isn’t some trashy novel — it won this year’s Newbery Award, the most prestigious prize in children’s books. What’s really shocking is that in 2007, some children’s librarians would try to censor a quality book.
It’s good to hear that Wichita librarians aren’t overreacting. But I’m not as optimistic about the response of certain conservative members of the Kansas State Board of Education.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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65 Comments
The snake could just as easily have bitten the dog on the leg or the butt. Scrotum, while not a “dirty” word, is not used in polite company.
How ’bout this?
clitorus clitorus clitorus
Some of these folks complaining about this need to 1) choose not to read the book, and 2) pull up their big person panties, grow up, and get a life.
Would they have rather the book said penis? Or balls? Or what? This is kind of crazy. I would understand the controversy if this book was for 6 year olds but we’re talking 12 year olds. I think they need to get a life…
“get a life.” Check mark for GMC
“they need to get a life…”And another one.
“Check mark for GMC”
What exactly does that mean?
You use the dreaded “get a life”.
What’s next? “and what not?”
It’s a part of the male body with a name, a purpose, a place. If the mystery was removed maybe we would all be less up-tight about our sexuality. Sure there are parts of our bodies that are more private but they aren’t shameful and they can be talked about. We don’t talk about many things with strangers. When was the last time you included trimming your toenails in conversation? Children can and should be taught what we keep more private.
These librarians shouldn’t be working with children with their attitudes. This sends a completely wrong signal to these children and makes the scrotum seem like something that is secret and forbidden. I can tell you I would want to see, maybe touch and investigate that forbidden part of the body if I were a 9 – 12 year old girl. Why do we pass along our own discomforts to our children? Don’t we want their life to be without some of our trials?
And the significance of that is, what, exactly?
I understand precisely what “get a life” is shorthand for. Do you?
No, GMC, I don’t, please tell me.
“clitorus clitorus clitorus”
::sigh:: Fleet, if you’re going to type “dirty words,” please, for hevean’s sake, spell them correctly.
CLITORIS
It could be there was a very good reason the author used that particular part of the anatomy for the dog bite. Could be it might be more lethal than, say, a bite on the leg? I don’t know for sure, but if someone thinks this is important, I’ll contact my friend, the head vet at the OKC zoo, and ask him. ;)
Delorus Delorus Delorus
I remember 6th grade in the 70’s, we had How Girls Grow, 50’s movie for the boys to watch. Girls in another room go to see How Boys Grow.
Then a kid in my class started to blurt out words for female body parts to girls, making them cringe and get upset. I told him to shut up and ridiculed him for years what he did.
It’s like Fleetwood today, blurt out the word for a female body part, can’t spell it.
Probably can’t find it.
WOW, Balls got his own thread!Scrotum is fine.Balzac is a nasty thing.
Do you people let your kids use wikipedia regularly?They can learn some great human biology right there!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erectionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagina
After all, it is only information.(With close-up glossy color photographs, complete with arrows and labels!)
MRAGE, fleety can take the vagina link.That will clearly edumacate him about the forbidden love-button.
Penis Vagina Penis Vagina…
Yah… I really miss The Larry Sanders Show!
Oh, oh,The Cons are starting to cannibalize each other. And since this thread is on the word scrotum, I just don’t want to think about that any more.
Fleet:
Please, get a life.
There ya go; you can figure it out.
Funny how Tracy posts the erection one first….First from his internet shortcuts I guess?
Yeah SOB.EVERYTHING I post is funny.
Like this:DIDN’T YOU USE TO POST UNDER ANOTHER NAME?hahaahahhhaaaaweeeeeeeeeeeweeeeeeeeeeeee!
Truth be told, male sack – offensive; scrotum – not offensive.
The FORBIDDEN love button? Yikes! Forgotten more often than forbidden. heeheheheheheheheheh
Dont get me started…..
KFG, I don’t have a slang collection for that particular part of the female.Sorry.
“the little man in the boat”
To answer the question posed: no.
If a snake bit me on the scrotum, would you suck out the poison for me?
And, Tracy -Thanks for noting that I DID get my own thread. It’s an honor, and I thank each of you for posting kindly and gently. And *I* personally celebrated this thread by reaching down and discretely attending to that one nagging itch that has been bugging me all day (damned new boxer briefs).
=)
I think the point is not that scrotum is “dirty” but it’s not necessary. The accusation of being shock jock like is the only real “bone” of contention. Being the upstanding Libertarian type, I would leave it up to each libarian to stock it and each parent to allow it for their children, and what not.
Jesus freak- You gonna die.
When I have seen this topic two words came to mind “EMOTIONAL MATURITY”.
Jesus Christ, Randy, this is so not newsworthy. What shocked me was getting to the end and finding out you wrote it. I would have sworn it was Rhonda, just because she was getting off on typing the “word”.
“The problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis, and onlyenough blood to run one at a time.”
Balls, I forgot about the boat.Thanks.
And, TBW, Randy, “scrotum” is as You state, a precise term, but not “neutral”. By definition, “scrotum” is quite gender specific.
“The problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis, and onlyenough blood to run one at a time.”
Amen. A testament to the current posts on this blog. Mention anything connected to sex, and the entire conversation takes a nosedive.
(We ladies refer to Wiseman’s quote as “The big head and the little head theory.”)
“Clitorus” this is a chorus singing the praises of a clitoris . . . maybe . . .
Whoa folks we got two for the price of one here.
The B logs D umbest P oster , fleettwood is upset about the reference to “naughty bits” and at the same time demostrating the very juvenile behavior such thinking generates in others.
Geez fleetie and tight ass librarians. GROW UP.
“…the entire conversation takes a nosedive.”
Now we’re talkin’!
Sure, it’s a technical name of a body part – but so what? It’s probably not appropriate in a child’s book that is not based upon health.
But it’s not that big of a deal either.
“I think the point is not that scrotum is “dirty” but it’s not necessary.”
junior- I’m not upset, are you OK?
Again, it depends on the context in which it was used.
I’m sure we’ll see this book on the Banned Books list in September/October.
I wonder if these librarians understand that the more you tell a middle reader (that’s the approriate term for that age group) that they CANNOT read a certain book, that’s the book that’s checked out all the time.
Do we actually live in 2007 or are we in some alternate 1780’s flashback?
This reminds me of the “hoohaw monologues”.
SOB posted about Delores….and interestingly so does Fleets. It’s the one thing I get from enema, a reference to Jerry Seinfeld’s show.
I can hear it now, all the little fundie kids asking mom and dad “what’s a scrotum”…and them freaking out.
LOL Testicles (I get to call you that for this thread only :P) I laughed out loud at your little man in the boat. Don’t forget the boat!
Reminds me of the James Joyce novel “Finnegan’s Wake,” which was banned for a while by U.S. Customs because it contained the “F” word, not once, but four times! Of course anyone dumb enough to go looking for the word would immediately find that it’s one of the most difficult books in the English language to read. It’s also one of the most influential.
jed-Perhaps you could get a job as an intern at the Eagle. I hear they pay well.
Pmom,You can call me testicles, balls, testes, nuts, scrote, scrotum-breath or cream-filled-sac-o-love if you like.
I’m impervious to name calling.
Flint,I did that number about 35 years ago, thank you. And no, they didn’t pay well!
jed-But wouldn’t you agree that internships are an excellent way for young people to learn a skill?
“The problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis, and onlyenough blood to run one at a time.”True. But at least he gave us a brain, which is something he forgot to give women.
Cream filled sac o’ love? EW!
Sounds like sandman wishes he had a woman.
“Sounds like sandman wishes he had a woman.-Already have a wonderful one with a better sense of humor than you have.
“Cream filled sac o’ love? EW!”Sounds like ‘political mom’ a serious case of scrotum envy.
“SandMan” = KSGolfnut
“SandMan” = KSGolfnut
KSGolfnut???
That’s too cryptic, too cerebral for me…remember that we males don’t have enough blood circulating properly operate our brains.
Actually, internships are mostly a good way for companies to get the gruntwork done for cheap.I wasn’t an intern, I was a teletype operator, and the skills I learned on the job have been obsolete for more than a couple decades. I did put my free time there to good use though, and learned quite a bit from other employees, not that management was too pleased.
Actually, internships are mostly a good way for companies to get the gruntwork done for cheap.I wasn’t an intern, I was a teletype operator, and the skills I learned on the job have been obsolete for more than a couple decades. I did put my free time there to good use though, and learned quite a bit from other employees, not that management was too pleased.
Yes, please, I do so want two crumpled up hairy prunes between my legs to sweat and scratch too. Oh please can I can I?
Only then could I quote my idol, Eric Cartman…
“Suck mah balls, b*tch”.
“Yes, please, I do so want two crumpled up hairy prunes between my legs to sweat and scratch too. Oh please can I can I?”
If that’s the best you can do, then I’m turning in for the night. Got get my beauty rest so I can wake up ready scratch!
Well, good night gang. You’re all in my dreams.
Sandman/Golfnutz, you need to get that itching problem attended to. Jock itch is hazardous to your health.
If Sandman/Golfnutz sees us in his dreams, he’ll be holding that prized possession of his in his hands (no that that’s unusual), while running from the knives we’re carrying.
You HAVE been circumcized, right, SM/GN? If not, we can obliged you, whether in your dreams or…
I’m sure they’d make a lovely set of earrings.
SNip snip.
Polmom,what about a SILK PURSE?
Ah, the lovely prudism and hypocrisy of conservatives in America.Scrotum is a bad word, and public institutions should not allow adolescents to be exposed to words like that.On the other hand, there are no qualms about send troops to foreign lands to kill. And reporting it on the news where kids of all ages are exposed to it.
Can someone help me understand this?Bible thumpers get worked up when a proper scientific name for a body part appears in a book at school, but you never hear them throwing a fit about violence on television or real violence in any number of places around the world (Iraq, Africa, etc.) or about helping those less fortunate that cannot help themselves.The Bible has a lot to say against violence and killing. And a lot more to say about loving everyone, especially ‘the least of those among us.’ To my knowledge there is nothing in the Bible about not saying scrotum, or any other word aside from the name of God. This seems like a real inconsistency.
Don’t forget the new killing for God video games. That’s awesome!
Can’t watch war on the tv, but we can send our sons to live it.
And now this interesting related story: They’re looking to ban bull balls from vehicles.
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/16760615.htm