[Protagoras]

However, I fail to see why the book is inappropriate for classroom use.

Someone has to decide what to recommend to the children. In a more perfect world, it would be the parents by choosing what schools to send their children to. Unfortunately, the government has forced people into their schools.

Is the complete works of the Marqui De Sade appropriate? Someone must decide.

[Senator Bedfellow]

I don't see how presenting the books as a topic of study is "recommending" it. Whether or not one agrees with the ideas or arguments contained within, they are worthy of discussion. It would be a rather poor study of WWII (for example) that did not have students read Mein Kampf, but such a presentation can hardly be construed as an endorsement of the ideas therein.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Is the complete works of the Marqui De Sade appropriate? Someone must decide.

Yes, someone has to decide. How about Anais Nin, "Delta of Venus"? Appropriate? Hardly. Well maybe for married couples.

My college English professor had the decency to offer a choice in one book being used, without prejudice toward grade. The book that was chosen was, "Youth in Revolt" (C.D. Payne). Holy crap, was that ever explicit. I didn't think it was appropriate for the young uns. My term paper based the story against The Seven Deadly Sins, as commited by the characters in the book. Got an 'A'. I used a lot of humor, with a message ;-)

Has Ayn Rand been banned for any other reason besides the fact it would take the whole semester for some kids to get through it?