East Penn Community Responds to High School ‘Porn’ Controversy

East Penn residents are taking sides in a growing online debate about “pornographic” books on the optional summer reading list.

It all began when two East Penn residents came before the Monday night to voice their concerns about “Prep” by Curtis Sittenfeld, a 9^th-grade selection, and Tom Wolfe’s “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test,” a 10^th-grade choice.

That school board meeting ended with a from the summer reading lists, which will be voted on by the board at its Sept. 24 meeting.

Among the 100 or so comments generated across four articles related to the the topic on the East Penn Patch sites, as well as posts on the Emmaus Patch and Lower Macungie Patch Facebook pages, the conversation has centered on a common theme: a desire to protect our children and how best to do it.

Frequent Patch commenter and Patch blogger Ronald Beitler said that kids today get bombarded by the grittier side of life in enough places, and therefore the material they read in school should remain more pure.

In an early comment on a Patch article titled “” Beitler wrote on Sept. 11: “I'm typically not a fan of political internet ‘memes’... They over simplify things and cause polarization. But there's one I love and post sometimes. ‘The world needs more Mayberry and Less jersey shore.’”

Beitler went on to summarize his thoughts:

“But my point is with less than moral content all around kids every day and the fact they are bombarded with it daily...I'd be ok with the schools cherry picking a reading list that promotes morality, civility, responsibility, self discipline, loyalty and generosity to name a few,” he said.

In contrast, other commenters on the same article said that such literature could be used as a teaching tool to help prepare young people for the tough choices they will inevitably face related to sex and drugs.

A Patch reader who posts under the name “atthebeach” wrote: “Here's a novel idea...Parents read the same book as your child an (sic) have a discussion about the book(s). Involve yourself in your child's education. I did this. The rewards are endless.”

Still other commenters focused on the idea that the books in question are optional and it should be a parent’s choice whether or not a child is ready to read them.

Abel Anderson wrote: “If you don't want your kid to read it, tell them not to. Be a parent. If they had an adult video or magazine, you would take it from them, dole out some punishment and use it as a teachable moment. If you, as a parent, review the list and find particular works objectionable, feel free to encourage your kids to wait a few years before reading them.

“Feel free to exercise as much parenting as you like over YOUR children. Please do not police my children or attempt to censor their access to works of art and literature,” he wrote.

Finally, a few Patch readers discussed the “slippery slope” that emerges when people start to categorize books as acceptable and unacceptable.

Kevin Kelly wrote on Sept. 11: “…These debates go back to when parents wanted to ban the Catcher and the Rye or Huck Finn. Banning books is a much greater evil than ‘evil words.’”

Here are some of recent Patch stories stemming from Monday night's school board meeting:

It’s not too late for you to join the discussions. Post your thoughts on the “pornographic” books on the Emmaus High School Summer Reading List in the comments below or click on the links to the previous Patch stories to catch up on what your friends and neighbors have to say and join those conversations.