(Image Source: The Patriot-News ) 

 

BY KERRY LEARY

 

A Pennsylvania school district banned a children’s book called The Dirty Cowboy from the shelves of its elementary schools. And, no, it has nothing to do with “Brokeback Mountain.”

 

The book is about a dirty cowboy who takes his yearly bath while his dog watches over his clothes. After the bath, the dog doesn’t recognize the cowboy’s smell so he won’t return the clothes.

 

This story is supposed to be about the cowboy getting clean, but apparently it’s just too dirty for students in the Annvile-Cleona School District.

 

The book was banned in April, but an online petition of Pennsylvania parents kept the debate going. As of Friday, the petition has 270 signatures to reinstate the book.

 

But, the school board stood by its decision to ban the book on Thursday. A local librarian blogged about the book and the importance of teaching children about banned books.

 

“I brought The Dirty Cowboy into the library for my fifth grade Banned and Challenged book class discussion today. I explained that often fifth graders (and older) will have a different point-of-view in comparison to a Kindergartener when it comes to nudity in a book.”

 

The book has won several awards, but parents praising the ban at the school board meeting believe the book doesn’t have any redeeming social value, especially in a public school. According to those parents , there are 16 pages of almost-naked cowboy pictures.

 

"There is no reason whatsoever why that should be on the shelves of the library no matter how well accepted it is by the world who have rejected God, who have rejected the standards of the Bible. This book has nothing good to offer about it!"

 

The school district superintendent says the parents want the book banned because he believes children may come to the conclusion that nudity is okay, and therefore, pornography is okay. A blogger for the Patriot News sarcastically remarked:

 

“I don’t know what is more frightening, one prudish couple’s complaint wielding that much power or a whimpering school board voting 8-0 to yank the book. Frankly, I’m terrified at the prospect that some kid somewhere might think bathing is OK.”

 

The author of the Dirty Cowboy posted a thank you on her blog to those parents who support the book.

 

“This is to the community fighters... Thank you. I've appreciated this so much. And I know it's not about me or my book (really) but about the kind of community you want to live in. I admire that. You guys inspire me.”

 

As of now, the book will remain banned in the Annville-Cleona Pennsylvania school district.