Analysis Of What Johnny Can T Read, And The Censorship In American Libraries

In his essay “What Johnny Can’t Read, and the Censorship in American Libraries,” Suzanne Fisher Staples argues books being banned in libraries and schools all over the world. The reason most of these books are being taken off the shelves is because of what they say in them, mostly swear words, sex, gender change and more. It can be good to read what you want because if can teach you what type of person you are, and what you like and don’t like.

Every year more and more books are demanded to be removed from school, and most of the time it happens. The books that are being banned are ones which were classics back in the day. If a parent doesn’t like a book and does not want their kid reading it, they can demand to have it removed but that can be a process. So, in other words, parents just take them off the shelf themselves. Librarians have been known to do this too, because if someone does complain then it could lead to them possibly losing their jobs. With so many people complaining about books, schools and librarians have to be extra careful with which books they purchase and out on

the shelves. Authors of books are even starting to be more cautious with what they write about and the certain words they put in their books.

A librarian in Florida said, “we avoid controversy by putting bright pink slips in every book we think is controversial.” They did this to warn parents, which is a smart idea to save a lot of headaches.

It’s better than just taking these books off the shelves and wasting them, when there might be people out there who don’t have a problem and like to read these books. Suzanne says, “many parents confuse a books subject matter with the notion that the author or publisher advocates a moral agenda and regard books as enemies.” An example of that would be when there are swear words, parents think it’s telling the readers to swear but that is not the case. The reason parents get so protective about which books their kids are reading is because they have no control over their kids in a world of danger. So, by deciding which books their children are reading is a way of feeling in

control.

Although, at the end of the day you can’t always prevent what kids hear and learn because these certain subjects are not just in books but in everyday lives. Like Suzanne said, “each book has its own gift to offer, but the freedom to choose which to read teaches some of life’s most important lessons.” Books teach certain things that are good for kids to know, but some parents have different opinions and reasoning’s for what they want their kids reading.