'Jackass' gets book banned in Mass.

.upi ^ | Dec. 11, 2010

[JoeProBono]

BOSTON, - Two Massachusetts school districts rejected a book meant to encourage youngsters to read because of its offending last line -- "It's a book, jackass."

Pat Earle, who operates a literacy program, the First R Foundation, told The Boston Globe people offended by the book, called "It's A Book," have been filling her in-box with offensive e-mails. Earle made "It's A Book" her choice for first-graders and offered copies to elementary schools in Gloucester and Rockport.

"This is the first time I have had people who don't know me say nasty things about me," Earle said. "I'm 'subversive.' I'm 'poisoning children's minds.' They feel they can say anything. This whole public discourse becomes so uncivil."

The characters in "It's A Book," include a donkey who has trouble understanding how anything without a wireless connection and batteries can be entertaining.

Lane Smith, the author and illustrator of "It's A Book," said the work has sold well across the country and been translated into 20 languages without offense.

"I can't say that I'm amused or excited by the controversy,'' Smith said. "Mostly this makes me uncomfortable.''

[JoeProBono]

[FrankR]

Oops...wrong Jackass...

[cripplecreek]

I spent most of my day on one of them there paper computers while I fixed the real one.

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

[GeronL]

Some are still shocked when they find people that have any kind of standards at all aren’t they??

The no-class idiots like this always pretend to be the ones “offended” by decency.

[JoeProBono]

Lane Smith, the author and illustrator of "It's A Book,"

[AppyPappy]

It’s a great book.

Jackass

[RichInOC]

It’s a jackass. What’s the problem?

[jakerobins]

Did they think it was about Obama??

[Celtic Cross]

Ach...I’m so embarrassed to live here.

[Hildy]

You’re offended by the word jackass?

[ROCKLOBSTER]

It's a book, jackass.

So...this is a book for democrats?

[ConservativeChris]

“You’re offended by the word jackass?”
Maybe you missed the part about where they were giving it to first graders.
And yes I would be GREATLY offended if someone tried to give that to my 7 year old!

[Othniel]

While the phrase "Jackass" might be inappropriate for 1st graders, Lane Smith is one of the best kids' author/artists around. His stuff is screamingly funny, and his illustrations are creative. That said, I think even Oscar Leroy would be saddened if 6 year olds started calling each other "jackass".

[LongElegantLegs]

Read A Book

Not Safe For Work, but extremely funny.

[JoeProBono]

[SunkenCiv]

"This is the first time I have had people who don't know me say nasty things about me," Earle said. "I'm 'subversive.' I'm 'poisoning children's minds.' They feel they can say anything. This whole public discourse becomes so uncivil."

The idea that the author didn't realize the word "jackass" is itself uncivil public discourse is laughable. Thanks JPB.

[JoeProBono]

[GeronL]

No, I’m offended that people want to shove it into the faces of elementary school kids.