IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS A LEGAL ISSUE

Can literature with obscene language be available in public schools? Can a teacher discuss the use of such language with students? This paper presents two points of view--one advocating the censorship of obscene language in literature and teaching in the public schools, and the other opposing it. The paper describes outcomes of court litigation regarding the rights of school boards and administrat,ion to remove books from schools following parental protest, teachers ' verbalization of profanity, success of "right to read " groups in fighting removal of books from school libraries, teachers ' right to discuss novels containing "bad " words, and teachers ' assigning literature with offensive words. The paper argues that positive educational exposure of students to meritorious literature should not be limited by the dictates of special interest groups who seek to impose their beliefs on young people through the public schools. Dilution of the curriculum prevents students from grappling with moral and ideological issues intellectually before they contend with the same issues in real life. (LMI) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. et