Dad has perfect response to kid's 'Fahrenheit 451' permission slip

Kelsey Weekman

Daniel Radosh, a father who happens to be a writer for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, is very good at writing notes, as you would imagine.

His son come home from school with a permission slip Radosh had to sign before his child, who is in eighth grade, was allowed to read Ray Bradbury's novel "Fahrenheit 451."

Someone call Alanis Morissette, because this is just about as ironic as it gets.

The novel is widely believed to be a book that fights censorship. The story takes place in a dystopian society in which the possessions of people who read forbidden books are burned.

Forbidden books, like, you know, "Fahrenheit 451" in this case.

The book has been the subject of challenges from parents for years. For example, once in Conroe, Texas, a parent demanded that the books be removed from the curriculum because characters occasionally swear.

Radosh took a very different approach from those parents, and wrote a fiery letter:

I love this letter! What a wonderful way to introduce students to the theme of Fahrenheit 451 that books are so dangerous that the institutions of society -- schools and parents -- might be willing to team up against children to prevent them from reading one. It's easy enough to read the book and say, 'This is crazy. It could never really happen,' but pretending to present students at the start with what seems like a totally reasonable 'first step' is a really immersive way to teach them how insidious censorship can be I'm sure that when the book club is over and the students realize the true intent of this letter they'll be shocked at how many of them accepted it as an actual permission slip. In addition, Milo's concern that allowing me to add this note will make him stand out as a troublemaker really brings home why most of the characters find it easier to accept the world they live in rather than challenge it. I assured him that his teacher would have his back.

He posted a photo to Twitter:

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