The Sandy Elementary School teacher who was shocked to find one of his second-grade pupils reading a Beavis and Butt-head book says he plans to turn in not one but more than 50 complaints asking the Salt Lake County Public Library to ban the material.
Dan Higley said Tuesday he has received dozens of phone calls from community members who support his contention that the irreverent cartoon duo doesn't belong in the public library."I think they should remove the book, but I would be happy if they'd put those books aside and allow adults only to check them out," said Higley, who said he found "Beavis and Butt-head's Ensucklopedia" shelved in the Sandy Branch Library's humor section along with Charlie Brown and Garfield books.
"I don't believe in censorship, but I don't believe children should be exposed to books like this."
The Beavis and Butt-head cartoon series, featured regularly on the cable television network MTV, has been criticized for depicting dangerous actions, adult situations and for the use of vulgar language.
A complaint is required by the county library system before it can formally review the material in question. Higley said he has already gathered 20 signed forms and hopes to collect more than 50 by the end of the week, when he plans to submit them.
Higley said he would like the county system to ban all Beavis and Butt-head materials from its 17 libraries. The system currently circulates 29 copies of the best-selling "Ensucklopedia" and two copies of "MTV's Beavis and Butt-head's Greatest Hits." The system has seven cassettes and seven CDs of "The Beavis and Butt-head Experience." An Aerosmith cassette and CD also includes selections from "The Beavis and Butt-head Experience."
All of the county system's Beavis and Butt-head materials can be checked out by anyone with a library card, including young children. All of the materials are currently checked out.
Higley's public outcry has apparently struck a chord with his Sandy neighbors, co-workers, parents and complete strangers.
"If individuals want perversion, they should not have it provided for them by the public library system," wrote Virginia Webster, a Sandy resident with 26 grandchildren.
"I won't allow that program in my home. Why should it be on the shelf of the public library?" wrote Suzanna Briggs, a substitute teacher.
Higley said he believes Beavis and Butt-head could be emotionally damaging to young children, who may think the books are like any other cartoon available to them.
Higley has not released the name of the 7-year-old or his parents. The boy checked out the book at the Sandy Branch Library and brought it to school last week to read during free time in Higley's class.
Scott Russell, marketing and community relations manager for the Salt Lake County Library System, pointed out, "We still have not heard from the child or the child's parents. We have no idea what their reaction to this is and what their feelings are."
Higley said he encourages anyone who shares his feelings to call or complain to the library, not him.
"I was up until midnight last night answering the phone," he said Tuesday morning.