A bit extreme, Harold, to label ALL hierarchies as worthy of distrust. A family such as yours is a hierarchy, and given that it is supported and promoted through legislation and culture it is institutionalized. Likewise the courts and the UN, that you have cited with favor and trust, are institutionalized hierarchies. I must assume, therefore, that your distrust is only for those institutions that you dislike or disagree with - a rather subjective standard. Freedom of expression is a two-way street. Mr. Pullman is more than welcomed to write what he wants. Likewise I (and an entire school community) am equally welcomed to not listen to what he has to say. Yet, with your professed mistrust of instutionalized hierarchies you would trust one in the form of a court system to tell you or me that something is hateful. Why relegate that to an institutionalized hierarchy? As for banning books ... again a bit extreme to raise that. The school is a private, Catholic institution that takes its responsibilities seriously. They have every right, whether you or I agree or disagree, to remove a book from their shelves. They are not banning the books outright. Just as you and I are within our right to remove whatever book we wish from our own personal library for any reason. Does such removal constitute banning? Not in the least. The UN Convention that you cite (the UN as another institutionalized hierarchy that you earlier blanketed with disdain) disregards, to its detriment, the doctrine and practice of subsidiarity. Article 13 is a nice sentiment. I would prefer to exercise my obligation as a thoughtful parent rather than abrogate my responsibilities to the UN.