Kaffir Boy: Inappropriate for Children?

Article referenced found here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/04/12/MNGKFP7A9K1.DTL

Burlingame schools Superintendent Sonny Da Marto has banned this title from being taught in the school system. Eighth grade teacher, Amelia Ramos had been teaching her students the book for a year but received an email from a concerned parent during this term's coursework. The complaint made its way to Da Marto who decided that, while the book is "outstanding," the material (specificially a few paragraphs that describe a man preparing to engage in sex with young boys) was inappropriate for the 13 and 14 year old students.

I found it so interesting and inspiring that the students themselves became upset at this decision. One eight grade boy confronted the board and asked, how "shielding us from the scene in the book will benefit us." Many other students have told parents and administrators that they will be reading the book anyway...outside of school. The idea that the children are challenging the decision and the adults that made it makes me realize exactly why intellectual freedom is such an important issue to discuss. These children want to read this book and they want to learn about issues and stories far removed from their community. This story really puts into perspective exactly how the banning of books effects the children and their intellectual growth.