A little while ago, I decided that for my reading book for English, I was going to read The Davinci Code. It was such a great book, that I decided I would try it. But, for some stupid reason, the teacher wouldnt allow it. I think that its wrong and they are barring my freedom of religion (somewhat). If we can read Stephen King in school, we should be able to read Davinci Code. What do you think?

What was the reason they gave you for not allowing you to read that?
Is it possible that it just wouldn't work with the project you were assigned? I've been told i wasn't allowed to read alot of books in high school, simply because they're not in the ciriculum.

I think your country is trying their best to prevent their students from reading what you want to read, or religion, and making you read what they think is absolute 100% fact, and to blind you from one side of the world and divert your attention to what they think is the true side.

They should let you acknowledge both sides.

They said that the religious content in the book was not appropriate... and keep in mind, that for my Honors English class, you can read ANYTHING. But, she said that it was not allowed... It got me angry........ Ive read worst books than Davanci Code, and the teacher has OK'd it.

Hrmm. I know that alot of religious content is banned in schools, but that's mostly in the form of teachers talking about it or forcing it upon students. Your teacher banning you from reading a book because of it's religious content is not right. I suggest you research the current bylaws in your area reguarding the situation and find out if they can actually do that. If not, take action.

I agree with what Burnside said

why do you think your teacher barred it.shes probably religious. also if the the da vinci code turns out to be true the whole of religion will collpase it will be proven that jesus christ was a mortal (which he was) and he was even married and had a child to mary magdalene howver u spell it.

Try "The way of the essenses - christ's hidden life remembered" instead. It should pass ok with your teacher and equals davinci code for controvercial content re the big J.

I personally would go over the teachers head to the school principal, to get his/her opinion on the matter.

It depends on how much you want to fight the situation. If the principal says no way, then there is the school board. It just depends on how big a deal you want to make out of it. I would really want to narrow down the reason the teacher disagreed with the title before I went any further so that you can really do a bit of homework on the subject and find out how many other books are allowed that have similar topics.

Be cordial to everyone, do not get "high and mighty" like you are going to go on a crusade if you don't get your way. Be respectful of your teachers opinion on the matter and let them know that you feel differently and would like the feedback of the principal to get a second opinion. Remain patient and do not get overly upset over the matter. If you get too upset and angry and say something uncalled for you will lose any bargaining power you may have in the matter.

Stick to the facts of the matter, as facts do not lie.

Hey I know how you feel. My mum wouldn't go to Waterstones with me because she thought I read occult books. Just for the record, I won that fight and got to look at my 'occult' books. They were just fantasy! Parents don't have a clue...

I know I got angry when you personally told me this yesterday, but I still have strong views on it. It reminds me of something discussed in government classes, the Supreme Court cases dealing with school regulation, and this would make a great one.

A teachers personal religious view getting in the way is utterly ridiculous. School, is supposed to be a healthy and unbiased learning enviroment. Just because she might despise the book because it goes against what she was taught doesn't mean that you must do the same. Unfortuneatly that is the exact opposite of what school is, seeing kids go aroung in their trendy CLIQUES and groups, blind to what goes on behind their backs and hating anything they don't agree with...WE should really do something about this.



Hahaha, I can really relate to that. I remember bringing in a fat encyclopedia on Vampire's into Study awhile back and getting disgusted and varied views. The book was on vampires in general but more "vamparic literature" and the like, not subjects such as "How to slay a vampire, ETC" although it did deal with that. To think I was thought of as a minion of Satan...J. Gordon Meltzen is a genius.

i've never ead the Da Vinci Code but ity sounds really good.
Religeon is a very touchy subject and maybe they don't want you to stir up to much truth behind truth so-to-speak

There is nothing wrong in reading novels or davanci code,in fact your mind must become more controled and creative after reading it.

"Even a good medicine is a poison if taken more"

Maybe he/she wouldn't allow it because you have already read it?

nice detective work there... i didnt even notice that... but i think your teacher is religious and its going against her views so its wrong to read in her eyes like fluffy said play it cool and relaxed and you should be able to make a deal... but we all know how sick the school system is...

Here's my thought. Perhaps your teacher does not want you to write a report with religious overtones because she is afraid that she would get in trouble from the administration for allowing religion in the classroom.

Some teacher around here somewhere got FIRED for reading her bible in the teacher's lounge -- some first grader got suspended for reading a kiddie bible story at "story sharing time."

Maybe your teacher is just covering her own butt. And you can't blame her for that.

Its sad that it has come to that. What can you expect from a government school though.

Ummm the religious have nothing to fear when it comes to the Da Vinci code...in an interview the writer claimed it was simply the works of fiction based on ideas and theories that held no factual relevance. I love it when people try and make the Da Vinci Code something more than it is...like its a vital piece of evidence against religion...Wake up call...i think THIS is the book of mythology and fairy tales skeptics love to talk about.

There is a big difference between Stephen King and the DaVinci Code. I don't think any religious book should be allwed in school. Kids have enough peer pressure to deal with without bring religion into the picture. Yes, I think it is a good book too. Please don't think I'm accusing you of this, but some teachers think that some kids try to push the subject on things that are not allowed in school. I am only trying to see it from anouther angle. Your teacher is probably only trying to keep the peace, something that is hard to do how days.

"When I think of all the crap I learned in high school it's a wonder I can think at all."
Paul Simon

I bet if you force the issue and end up reading it your grade will reflect it. If you have already read it then your not going to learn that much anyway. The one Dunchillin pointed out sounds interesting.
When it comes to high school IMO get the parchment and RUN AWAY......FARWAY......

I did not see where you said or anyone ask what type of school you go to I.E. Religious (Denomination), Public.......

That was exactly what I was thinking. In reality, she could probably care less what you read, as long as you are reading, she probably just does not want to have to deal with other parents ignorance. I mean, there are a lot of unreasonable people out there and she probably does not want a big "controversy" in her classroom. I can remember at the beginning of my daughter's school year, one of the parents threw a temper tantrum because they were asked to supply their child's own pencils and paper. Seriously. Can you imagine what some people would do with this?

According to the NCTE and the Dept. of EDU, the 'DaVinci Code' is not banned from any public school in the US.

If this is a personal matter between you and your teacher, then that's a different problem. But if you go to a public school and you're in 8th-grade or above, there is no legal reason why you cannot read Mr. Brown's book.

Wow would i love to be this kids mother, just the kind of fights i enjoy.... Da vinci code is interesting but nothing that is in there hasn't been said or thought of already.....another example of 'religious limits' known as fear lol......

If it were me I would get that bit you said regarding the policy of "anything goes" that you mentioned with respect to the books one can consider for this assignment, so I had that policy in writing. Then I would do my report on the DaVinci code, armed in defense with my rights as a student under that policy mentioned earlier, the fact that the book has not been banned in any public school along with a copy of the article wherein the author himself claims there is no religious relevancy to this fiction, and I'd turn in my assignment!

If they failed me I'd call the local press armed with all that evidence I had to present to the teacher, including the policy the class afirmed as anything goes, i.e. not restricting any titles to consideration for this report, and set the example that one can only be supressed by oppressors if they permit themselves to kneal! Espcially when the "authority" is now exercising contempt for their own policy of anything goes in committing a report of a book! What next, book burnings!? Oh yeah, that never has gone away! My bad! Then again, has anyone dared show up at one of those with a fire extinguisher in tow?

public or private school? it makes a difference.

a private school can be for or against particular relgious reading. while public can allow you they just can't support you in anyway.

I did think this was correct at first either until i was told my goverment teacher

This was my guess also.

i hope someone was sued for both of those.

i could think of several reasons a teacher would not let someone read the da vinci code for an assignment. topping it would be that the original poster had read it before and the da vinci code is a cookie cutter suspense novel with next to zero literary value.