Banning Books In Schools

1545 Words4 Pages

Kanani Vizcarra
May 2, 2018
English 102
Research Essay
Book Bans in the U.S.
Banning books in schools is an action that is becoming more common in the states across
America. People who believe that banning books will not affect students exist as well as those who believe all bans on books should be lifted. Many valid and different reasons have been brought up by people that debate over the topic of banning books, two of the main reasons being, banning books is unconstitutional and some believe it can be beneficial.
To ban a book, the person wanting to restrict or remove the book will present their issue to whomever oversees the English department at the school. The process of suggesting a ban on a book is called a challenge, which can be made …show more content…

The themes in the books that people see as inappropriate or vulgar draw the attention of the students and they will look past the vulgar and inappropriate language and prove those who think they are not mature enough to handle these pieces of literature. Students who are required to study and read
American literature tend to be in their junior or senior year in high school and are more than capable of discussing the usage of vulgar language, sexual content, and the morally challenging themes presented in American Literature.
The American Library Association advocates to improve the careers of those who have dedicated their lives and careers to improving opportunities involving the library. Members of the ALA connect, meet, and network with professionals from all areas of the library, engage in the latest trends and issues. Other organizations have come together with ALA, these organizations are, Assn. of College & Research Libraries, United for Libraries, and public library association. Together these committees have made sure that issues such as banning books are addressed professionally. The form of advocacy the ALA practices regarding banned books …show more content…

The Office for
Intellectual Freedom creates and edit policies, strategize plans for working with communities and families, and provide workshops and programs about the First Amendment, privacy laws, internet filtering, and intellectual freedom.
Banned books is an issue that librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers face often. Banning books is seen as an offense of the first amendment or censorship.
Books that were challenged or banned are books that are considered classics or even novels. The titles that were once asked to be banned in a school in New York ended up dealing with a legal case known as Island Trees School District v. Pico where the Supreme Court sided with the students because banning books went against the first amendment. Two perspectives are presented, those who agree with challenging and banning books and those who oppose it.
Organizations have devoted their time to making sure that students are able to exercise their intellectual freedom.
Works Cited
Anonymous. “Banned & Challenged Books.” Advocacy, Legislation & Issues, 13 Apr.
2018, www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks.
“Banned Books That Shaped America.” Banned Books Week, 12 Apr.

Board Of Education V Pico Summary
581 Words | 2 Pages
The respondents, including Steven Pico, Jacqueline Gold, Glenn Yarris, Russell Rieger (students at Island Trees High School), and Paul Sochinski (student at Island Trees Memorial), argued that banning the books from school libraries violated their first amendment rights. Therefore, the respondents took the case to court (I...
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The Banning Of The Book Forever By Judy Blume
723 Words | 2 Pages
Have you ever read a book and wondered “How is this book allowed in public libraries?” Most students do not pay attention to content; however, many parents disagree with the content their children are reading, whether the book is being taught in class or the child picked it up in the school library. Surprisingly, some school librarians and teachers disagree with certain books permitted in schools. The book Forever by Judy Blume is an example of a challenged and controversial book. Judy Blume is a children’s book author, which most people would not think that her books have been challenged.
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Foerstel, Herbert N. Banned in the U.S.A.: a Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1994. Print.
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The Banning of Books in American Schools
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Trelease, Jim. "Book Banning Violates Children and Young Adult Freedoms." Book Banning. Ed. Ronnie D. Lankford. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. At Issue. Rpt. from "Censorship and Children's Books." Trelease-on-Reading.com. 2006.Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
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The practice of the censorship of books in schools has been prevalent due to the explicit content of them. Parents have been complaining to schools about books that count as required reading because they disapprove with the points made in the book. If a book consists of offensive or sexually explicit material, then parents would challenge the schools about them in order to prevent their children from reading them. Censorship in general has been an intensely debated issue because it is considered an infringement to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution while others argue it is used to conceal inappropriate things (Aliprandini and Sprague). The banning of books in school curriculum has also been debated since parents see certain books as inappropriate while others argue that banning them hinders student learning. Against the censorship of books in schools, Fenice Boyd and Nancy Bailey, authors of Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, believe that banning books creates a barrier between students and intellectual development (Boyd and Bailey, 655). Banning books from schools and removing them from the curriculum prevents students from exploring different ideas and developing creativity and critical thinking skills.
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Censorship and Book Banning
1822 Words | 4 Pages
Book banning is a prime target for censorship. Censorship in print media, notably book banning, occurs across homes, schools, stores, and other facilities daily. Censorship in the schools is the most widespread and exposed place for book banning. Do administrators and school boards have the right to ban books? Are we taking away the rights of children to read? In case of Island Trees Schools District V. Pico in New York, the Supreme Court gave the school board broad discretion to frame curriculum and teach civic and moral values. This case resulted in the school board removing ten books from the school library for being "anti-american, anti-christian, anti-semitic, and just plain filthy." Another case involving book banning was Hazelwood School District V. Kuhlmeier. In this case the Supreme Court again gave school officials the broad discretion to control curriculum. This time the court left open the question if this affects the school libraries. In Olathe, Kansas, the district's superintendent made the decision to remove all copies of Nancy Gardner's Annie On My Mind because of it imposing views for gay actions. This standpoint resulted in a public book burning by a homophobic community group. At Hempfield High School in Western Penn...
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1699 Words | 4 Pages
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4607 Words | 10 Pages
The children are the real losers because they are the ones that are not able to read the classic works of literature, which are the backbone of classroom discussions all across the United States. The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) defines censorship as: “The removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary, artistic, or educational materials. of images, ideas, and information.on the grounds that these are morally or otherwise objectionable in light of standards applied by the censor” (Miner 1998). In schools there are three types of censorship, one type is a “parent” who doesn’t want their child to read a particular book. Another is a parent, teacher, administrator, or school board member who argues that no one in the class, or school, should read the book in dispute.
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2019 Words | 5 Pages
In 1982 was when Banned Books Week was introduced to the world (ASJA, 1). “Banned Books Week is the national book community’s annual celebration of the freedom to read”. In the United States, the First Amendment protects American citizens from being denied the right to read any book they desire (Banned Books, 1). Banned Books Week is usually on, the last week of September (Cho,1). Banning a book is called when the content in the novel is not suitable for certain ages (American, 1). Books can be
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Censorship in Schools
3744 Words | 8 Pages
This burden often falls on teachers. The purpose of this research paper is to discuss censorship in schools and to argue that the censorship of books in the high school English curriculum is limiting and takes away literature that is meaningful to students. How a Book is Censored Brinkley describes a few actions that can lead to the censoring of a book in a school or school system: An expression of concern is simply a question about the material with overtones of disapproval; an oral complaint is an oral challenge to the contents of a work; a written complaint is a formal written challenge to the school about the contents of a work; and a public attack is a public statement challenging the contents of a work that is made outside of the school, usually to the media to gain support for further action (1999). Brinkley also points out an important difference between selection and censorship: Selection is the act of carefully choosing works for an English course that will be age-appropriate, meaningful, and fulfill objectives, while censorship is the act of excluding works that some con... ...
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1465 Words | 3 Pages
Due to books being challenged, many organizations came together, like the American Library Association (ALA) to form Banned Books Week. Banned Books Week is an annual event
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699 Words | 2 Pages
Banning books from students shouldn’t be allowed in schools considering that it takes away their chance to read and explore something new. Schools shouldn’t be banning books under any reason. School administers feel the need to ban books when parents report books that their child has read. When parents are calling or reporting that their child is reading an inappropriate book and that it should be banned, they are taking other children's choices away from them (Bancroft 1). Parents have the right to tell their children what to read and what not to read, but deciding what other children should read is not their choice.
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998 Words | 2 Pages
There is a difference between banned books and challenged books. According to the American Library Association (ALA), “A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group (About banned, para. 2). A banned book is when a book or other reading material is removed from certain locations and not available. For example, one of the most challenged books in the 21st century is The Giver by Lois Lowry (100 Most). The novel, The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Sheman Alexie was banned in high school in Oregon because a parent complained that the book was offensive (Doyle, 3).
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Banning Books In Schools
1057 Words | 3 Pages
If the books challenge is successful, the book will be banned. The official act of banning a book is its removal from a library or course material (“Banned & Challenged Books”). Board of Education, Island Trees School District v. Pico created the requirement that school libraries must bring books up to a board before a
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Censorship In Schools Essay
1440 Words | 3 Pages
The most debatable and controversial form of censorship today is the banning of books in school libraries. Banning books that educate students is wrong and selfish. Censorship of books in school libraries is neither uncommon nor an issue of the past. Books with artistic and cultural worth are still challenged constantly by those who want to control what others read. The roots of bigotry and illiteracy that fuel efforts to censor books and free expression are unacceptable and unconditional. Censoring school books in libraries can often lead to censorship of our basic freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment. In some cases, a minority ends up dictating the majority in censorship cases. To be told what is permissible reading material and what is not is a direct violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution.
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Banning Books In Schools

Board Of Education V Pico Summary

The Banning Of The Book Forever By Judy Blume

The Tyranny of Banned Books

The Banning of Books in American Schools