Creative Recreation for the Mentally Retarded
Amary
1975
Thank you to the anonymous submitter for this one! Wow. I’m going to assume that most librarians do not think this is a good choice for today’s shelves. Here’s a great example of how if you don’t keep up with weeding, when you finally get around to it you’ll realize how many ridiculous books like this you still have on the shelves. What must the public think?? There are lots of better, more current choices for books on this topic.
19 responses so far ↓
Melanie // May 22, 2009 at 1:36 pm |
Oh, my goodness. The main library in our statewide system still has this one! (I checked, geek that I am)
Laura // May 22, 2009 at 5:50 pm |
This truly is fascinating. I checked our collections also and we have it. However, despite the outdated title there may actually be some relevant info in there still (I assume b/c I haven’t actually checked). I hope this is true as well for the several other books we have with very similar titles. Still, we should update our collection since we obviously feel the content/subject matter is important.
Burtimus Maximus // May 26, 2009 at 7:04 pm |
I could use this book!
Laura W. // May 26, 2009 at 9:17 pm |
The only thing I thought was, “No way.” I have never even seen a book like this. Crazy.
Alison Moore Smith // May 26, 2009 at 11:03 pm |
I’m with Laura. Yea, the cover is dated and it’s not PC to use the term “mentally retarded”–although I’m not sure why other than the fact that it came to mean…mentally retarded.
All in all, what’s wrong with a book that has adaptive recreation activities for those who are “mentally challenged”? I’ve been a Special Olympics volunteer in the past. And that IS what SO does–provides recreation (with necessary modifications) for those without typical abilities.
Hill // June 1, 2009 at 2:34 pm |
Our copy has been checked out since 2001.
Dee // June 2, 2009 at 3:33 pm |
So does being a wheelchair user make you “mentally retarded”?
These kinds of books are still being published, of course, but with updated, contemporary content and “better” language: “Adapted physical activity” is one book that we have in our library. Subject headings have the phrase “people with disabilities” in them…
Justin // June 4, 2009 at 3:58 pm |
Chapter 5 “Shiny Things”
Rita // June 30, 2009 at 4:17 pm |
I just did a generic search on our computer system using the word “retarded” and am sad to say, but we did not have this particlar title. Oh no, ours was older, from 1968, and titled “Recreation for Retarded Teenagers and Young Adults”
Andrew // July 1, 2009 at 9:45 am |
I would love to have, oh, 10 copies of this. I think they’d be great gifts for certain people I know. Anonymous gifts.
Andrew // July 1, 2009 at 9:47 am |
Oh, wait. It’s available… for $99. Whoa. (http://tinyurl.com/n5qpcj)
Andrew Kantor's Place: Sadly, I know people who could use this book // July 1, 2009 at 9:49 am |
[...] Awful Library Books.) AKPC_IDS += "2182,";Popularity: unranked [...]
Jane // July 15, 2009 at 1:37 pm |
Wheelies and a stick and hoop game is the best they can come up with? Seriously, how patronising.
Shrike58 // July 21, 2009 at 8:31 am |
I’m sorry. I can remember 1975. Even back then it would been a non-PC title.
Liz // August 14, 2009 at 4:39 pm |
Yes, how DARE a library have a book with a politically incorrect title! Burn the non-pc books! Burn! Burn! Burn!
Liz // August 14, 2009 at 4:56 pm |
Btw Jane the “wheelies” are actually a bit of a wheelchair obstacle course if you look closer. And yes, even smart kids can enjoy running while pushing hoops. Kids have been doing things like that for centuries before computers. And ho said that the cover had the best ideas in the book? Or do you only judge books by their covers?
I don’t see anything wrong with the book. “Mentally retarded” is actually not that un-pc. It’s still being used in medical lit even nowadays. We’re just so used to hearing it used pejoratively that it sounds like an insult. But it’s not when that’s the facts of the matter. And if you think “mentally retarded” is un-pc, you should have heard the things people were called back in 1975! Words change. Deal with it. You think that’s bad — read Mark Twain.
I haven’t read this book, but I think it could be a helpful book. And I hope people will look for fun activities for their mentally retarded/handicapped/challenged kids instead of being so pc about things that they just end up ignoring them.
Kel // September 1, 2009 at 12:19 am |
I don;t find anything wrong with it. A library is a library and should house all books for the public to view. Remember “Don’t judge a book by its cover”
June // September 7, 2009 at 12:15 am |
Weeding out stuff like this is shortsighted, I thought if anyone ought to understand why retaining items like this is important it would would be a librarian. I worked at a library for years and was shocked to see how many amazing items got thrown in the trash due to the stupidity of staff who get to decide what does and doesn’t “belong” in a public collection
mary // October 12, 2009 at 9:08 am |
I am searching for a good idea book as I work with severely mentally handicapped kids and young adults. I personally like “mental retardation” better as a term meaning mentally retarded. MR/DD is more “PC” and is currentley acceptable acronym. I was hoping since you mentioned there were better books out there, you might have mentioned some titles.