Sheltering the Impressionable Young

Adults scarcely can imagine how readily children take up the challenge of learning new things. Their inevitable exposure to words, to situations, to things that go !ouch! in the night would astonish their parents if they only knew the degree to which their verboten-clever children have more than a simple impression of concepts their parents would never dream they know of.

The natural enough wish to shelter the innocence of their children from becoming besmirched with knowledge of the world as it is, is doomed to failure. But the sincere, and often misguided attempts by parents, politicians and educators to ensure that children are not "stimulated" by concepts surely beyond their understanding is invariably on the failing end of successful.

For one thing, when silence surrounds a topic of conversation innocently enough introduced at the family dinner table, the precocious child pricks up his consciousness of something odd, something denied, and that child is intrigued beyond belief. And becomes determined to somehow procure information that will clear up that little mystery.

Before heading off to the next challenge of discovery. Another book being banned. From a school library. In southwestern California.

This time a book that classifies, offers correct spelling of and explains the very meaning of words. Yes, a dictionary. "The idea that children can be protected from even things like a dictionary, just is - well, I can think of no better word than it makes me sad", offered the CEO of the Canadian Education Association.

The Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, from its title obviously intended for use by a relatively mature audience has been removed - perhaps on a temporary basis, until the matter is finally sorted out - from grade 4 and 5 classrooms in Menifee, California, at Oak Meadows Elementary School.

"A growing concern among the parents" that their children were being exposed to words, concepts, acts that were recognized as not being "age appropriate" led to the dictionaries' removal. Parents did not feel comfortable with their nine- and ten-year-olds looking up, let's see, "oral sex"?

A committee comprised of principals, teachers and community members has been convened, and given thirty days to review the situation to reach a final determination whether they should be returned to the classrooms or permanently removed. The 'advanced' dictionaries were placed there to begin with to assist students in learning root languages for preparation for spelling bees.

The students will not be entirely bereft of dictionaries should the adult-types be removed permanently, for they will still have the benefit of elementary-level dictionaries. Containing fewer words, and cleansed of those their parents and educational guardians consider to be too provocative and "sexually related".

Little do they know. Forbid it and they will hasten to learn of it.