Censorship and Banning Books

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Recommended: Controversy in censorship in schools

Administrators should not have the right to ban books from school libraries. Banning books from libraries keeps students from their privileges of exploring new thoughts. Administrators should give alternative choices, so students still can explore new literature. Although some argue that administrators have the responsibility to protect their students from inappropriate material, they should not have the right to ban books from their school libraries because banning books is an affront to the first amendment and keeps students from gaining knowledge of the world around them. Nazis, communist governments, and extremist governments in the Middle East ban books from their citizens. As Americans we see this as an attempt to violate our First Amendment rights by giving the people little option on what they can legally read, and administrators banning books from students is no different. According to administrators, their responsibility is to keep their students from reading or viewing unsuitable material. John A. Miller gives his opinion in his article “Banning Books Is an Affront to the First Amendment” stating “I doubt that any teenager much above the age of 13 is unaware of the words and situations most frequently cited as that the evils in banned books” (Miller). Students already hear this violence or inappropriate language at home and even at school from other students. Also, students can choose whether or not they would like to check out a book from the library. Students are not forced to read any obscene material. Students take great offense to banning books because it takes away their freedom of speech. Banning books does not let the student feel like they have power or control in what they intake. In “Students Turn Book into C... ... middle of paper ... ...she would prefer to read, the parents should be required to give their approval. Works Cited Bowean, Lolly, and Kim Geiger. “Students Turn Book into Cause.” Chicago Tribune: 6 Mar. 17 2013. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 12 Nov. 2013 . DiBlasio, Natalie. “Schools Once Again Face Bind Over Censorship vs. Book Lists.” USA TODAY. 19 Aug. 2011: A. 1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 15 Nov. 2013. Falk-Ross, Fran, and Jeanettea Caplan. “The Challenge of Censorship.” Reading Today. 30 Apr. 2008: 20. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 15 Nov. 2013. Miller, John A. “Banning Books is an Affront to First Amendment.” Morning Call: A.21. Oct. 18 2012. SIRS Issue Researcher. Web. 12 Nov. 2013 Wordsworth, Matt. “Banned Books Pitched to Teens.” AM-Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 04 Feb. 2012: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.

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