It had to happen eventually. A small clip in a national paper announced that some Ontario schools were being pressured to remove "On the Banks of Plum Creek" from school reading lists--and from school libraries.

This book is the third in the Laura Wilder's series of pioneer life. "The little House in the Big Woods" begins the series, followed by "Little House on the Prairie" (shamefully maimed in the TV version). Then comes "Plum Creek". As a teacher, I read one or all of these to children from Grade One to Grade Six--with equal enjoyment for us all. If you want an inexpensive meaningful gift, and a valid tale of pioneer days, start giving your special child these charming tales-- starting at about age six. Even Garth William's carefully researched drawings are included in the paperback version.

So why is "Plum Creek" being attacked? Well, of course it is sexist-- Ma is in the kitchen; Pa is out farming or hunting. It's racist: Ma is terrified of the "savages", and there is no attempt to understand these new neighbours. "Prairie" is particularly bad; as the family moves (with government approval) into Indian land. Words like "squaw" and "papoose" are used--it could not be more politically incorrect. Still, rather than banning this book, surely it needs to be read aloud in schools and homes as long as it is discussed and critiqued.

How will we teach our children to discriminate, help them to achieve understanding and tolerance if we ban such books from our shelves? Isn't this what education is all about? What can we learn from these books? I'd hope we 'd be able to say, "We have advanced --somewhat. But we still have much to learn." Surely we still need to know much more about acceptance, in today's world. This is where thoughtful parents and teachers come in. These are not books to hand to a child, but to read aloud, with plenty of discussion! Two working parents may find it hard to include the necessary discussion time--this may be where grandparents come in. And we owe our children this kind of interaction. It's direly needed in our society.

The "Little House"series, which continues up to the time of Laura's marriage, portrays happy family life under frugal circumstances. Each book has a Christmas story, which I loved to read to children in early December. That family had so little, but was so happy with what they had. A perfect lesson in "Simple Abundance." A wonderful contrast to our over-commercialism.

There have been other samples of unclear thinking. One B.C. School Board removed "The Indian in the Cupboard " from its shelves. Apart from being a great favourite, and a good story, this book reveals so much about the limited experience of its British author, who knew only the Hollywood type version of "Cowboys and Indians". Again, read aloud, and discuss. Some loggers agitated to have "Maxine's Tree" banned. It's the story of a little girl who loves a huge first-growth monster tree and labels it hers. Even a pre-schooler can start to think of the implications here. Why should we be logging our forests responsibly?

Books are natural sources of education. No doubt some rotten ones need to be banned. But not these treasures! We want to teach our children--all children-- to think. In reading such books with them, we too may learn tolerance and understanding. By addressing our own prejudices, we can help the world become a more peaceful and loving place.

May 07,Dodi Morrison