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The debate on censorship
Censorship in schools cons
The debate on censorship
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“How dare that song say such a thing? There’s children listening”. Many songwriters, artists, and creators have heard this several times after expressing their work. In the sources read, arguments were presented in regards to censorship in media centers. Censorship is “the practice of suppressing ideas” and has a long history in America. Critics argue that music, movies, and art could be introducing inappropriate and foul information to our youth. The Library Media Center Committee should not ban certain books, music, and movies because each individual should have the right to choose what they would like based on their own personal preference, The vulgar language in literature allows for a better understanding of the time period and culture, …show more content…
But, while taking a look at historical movies and books these violent actions may have actually occurred at one point.And these moments should be heard in order to prevent History from repeating itself . Many of these Books and Movies with this historical value have been banned by schools because of this “censorship”. This is explained perfectly by saying that “ the suppression of the people of a society begins in my mind with the censorship of written or spoken word”, this goes to show how the suppression of a society’s historical events teaches young readers to not know wrong from right.Source #4 then also goes to show the books that have been banned from schools, these books include “The Catcher in the Rye,The Grapes of Wrath, and to kill a mockingbird” these books all have in common the fact that they are placed in an important time setting such as the great depression, and seem to show the “true” vulgar realities that had occured. Supposing that these harsh realities never occured could blind our youth from the truth. There is a true importance behind this censorship that goes unheard of when people lack the self restraint to keep children away from books and movies that are usually presented for adult audiences, but by creating this problem we are also allowing are country a lack of well educated
Despite being a worldwide best seller, J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye has been on the banned books list since 1961 ( (Baldassarro). The Catcher in the Rye tells the short journey, of anti-hero Holden Caulfield, between the end of the fall semester and Christmas break (Salinger). The story begins when Holden is expelled from his school, Pency Prep, for failing a majority of his classes (Salinger). Holden knows he must return home, so he attempts to prolong the scolding he will receive from his parents, for being expelled, by venturing around Manhattan until it becomes necessary to return to his home (Salinger). Holden tells his story in the most vulgar way possible. Holden accounts being offered a prostitute by an elevator operator when he asks, “Innarested a little tail t’night?” (Salinger 91). Offensive language is also used throughout the book, for example, “You’re a dirty stupid sonuvabitch of a moron” (Salinger 44). Underage drinking is also one of Holden’s favorite passtimes as evident in the quote, “I ordered a scotch and soda, and told him not to mix it- I said it fast as hell, because if you hem and haw, they think you’re under twenty-one and won’t sell you any intoxicating liquor” (Salinger 69). These three quotes express the precise justifications for banning books: sexually explicit content, offensive language, and underage drug use (Association). Although, many consider The Catcher in the Rye to be morally wrong, it should not ...
From the years 2000 to 2009, 5,099 books were challenged in school libraries, classrooms, and public libraries. Most of the books on this list were banned because of objectionable content such as sexual references, profanity, violence, and the fact that the book was considered “unsuited to age group” (American Library Association). Even prior to the year 2000, censorship and banned books had become an issue for schools in particular all across the country for these very reasons. While the The Color Purple by Alice Walker does contain the objectionable content mentioned prior, it should not be banned because objectionable content found in the book is accessible through the internet and social media, one person’s complaint should not determine another’s choice, and high school students should be mature enough to handle the adult content.
“It’s not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written, the books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers” (Blume 1999). Judy Blume can not explain the problem of book censorship any clearer. 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.
Mark Twain, John Steinbeck, Harper Lee, Maya Angelou. What do these writers have in common? Sure, they are all great American authors, but there is something else. They are all "banned." Censored. Forbidden. Who has not read a book by at least one of these authors? All are great pieces of literature and should be crucial parts of the high school curriculum. School censorship of books is detrimental to the educational development of high school students.
Censorship/banning of certain books help protect children from the evil ways of the world that they should not see until an older, more mature age. Books with cruel language and mature thoughts and circumstances should only be read by teen children or young adults. At a more mature age students are more likely to be able to comprehend the content within the book. As well as a lower chance of the students being frightened by the crude language and activities found within the text than a younger child might be. Young children are impressionable and these types of books may leave unpleasant thoughts and influence behaviors now as well as the futures of the children. The banning of books such as The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger and others as well, should only be banned up to eighth grade in school.
Public schools are becoming more laid back about what they teach in each subject to make it less uncomfortable for individuals to talk about; for example, sex education is taught in schools more in depth and at an earlier age today than in the past to make it easier for people to talk about sex in a more mature manner. Banning books that contain sexual content, vulgarity, and violence give children and young adults a reason to snicker about these topics when discussed in class because we are taught that these topics are not appropriate to talk about publicly. There are many factors that play a major role in how an individual perceives certain topics in books. If taught at an earlier age that these topics are suitable for mature discussion, a child is less likely to find it funny or become offended. How a parent reacts to certain material is how a child is raised to react the same way (Kelly). Authors being banned from their right to Freedom of Speech because parents cannot accept what they say.
Some books may be too depressing for children. Violent material may make children sad and take away the innocence that many adults look back on and smile. The article “Censorship: Banned Books”, states that, “…6,634 were challenges reported …737 were considered to be ‘violent’.” These violent materials may dampen the innocence that adults would cherish. Childhood is a precious resource that should be cherished, not spent on worrying about violence or other disturbing materials.
According to “Freedom of Speech” by Gerald Leinwand, Abraham Lincoln once asked, “Must a government, of necessity, be too strong for the liberties of its people, or too weak to maintain its own existence (7)?” This question is particularly appropriate when considering what is perhaps the most sacred of all our Constitutionally guaranteed rights, freedom of expression. Lincoln knew well the potential dangers of expression, having steered the Union through the bitterly divisive Civil War, but he held the Constitution dear enough to protect its promises whenever possible (8).
Censorship in School Libraries 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.
Walt Whitman once said, “The dirtiest book of all is the expurgated book.” Between the years 2000 and 2009 a total of 3200 books were challenged in school libraries in an attempt to expurgate, or censor, the content in books provided to students. Today the trend of censorship continues as popular novels such as The Hunger Games, The Fault in Our Stars, and Captain Underpants are censored from schools across the nation (Challenges by Reason).Censorship in regards to literature refers to the examination and suppressing of a book because of objectionable material. The process of censorship in school libraries often begins with an outspoken parent, teacher, student, or administrator and ends in the banning or abridgement of a novel deemed inadmissible. Censorship is protecting many students from controversial, immoral, and potentially unsuitable content; however, this is not always the case. Students, parents, teachers, and administrators with different backgrounds, beliefs, and morals are not creating a library pleasing to everyone because of the variety of opinion. Censorship in school is not justifiable, because it restricts discussion and knowledge of new, controversial, and necessary ideas, allows a handful of people to make decisions for a larger group based on opinion, and undermines democratic ideals.
Although students should read novels that they are mature enough to understand and comprehend, Lohmiller explains that by allowing all middle school students access to read novels with profanity and Christian derogatory, it is not certain that all students are mature enough to not have their daily language influenced by it. While children should read material that they are mature enough to comprehend, censoring material in schools because of language and Christian derogatory does not take away student exposure to any of the censored issues, but instead takes away student exposure to a learning environment that would teach meaning and context. The use of "hell" and "damn" and other Christian derogatory in novels is necessary in furthering the storyline and depicting a realistic illustration of the environment. It is necessary to expose children to the evils in novels because "[a]n uneducated world is a miserable world full of fighting and conflict...A world without books is a dystopian world" (Censoring the Pages of Knowledge 1). This explains that student exposure to profanity and Christian derogatory in schools would allow the youth to be educated on the evils and be the gateway for conversations that the students would benefit from later in life. Banning controversial novels for the evils within will create ignorance in the youth of America today, as they will not be educated on the usage in novels, but of the evils through other means that are not explained and understood by youth. By teaching and allowing students to struggle with profane language and controversial topics in schools, it is ensured that students will be educated on the meaning and reasons behind usage. For example, Fahrenheit 451 is a novel that satirizes and challenges censorship in modern society by depicting the effects of that censorship on a future society where all books are burned. By the use of profanity and Christian derogatory as a means of critiquing the society,
Censorship is “the restriction or removal of information, or the prevention of free expression” (Taylor 8). There are many things that can be censored such as books, movies, TV shows, newspapers, and the way people dress. People censor things for a number of reasons- they do not agree with it, find it offensive, or think that it is just inappropriate in general. Different people consider different things inappropriate, so the content of what is censored varies. Anyone can censor, including parents, teachers, school officials, and board members (Taylor 8-10) Many things are censored in schools and places where children are present because parents do not want their kids to be exposed to inappropriate content (Taylor 10). Students are entitled to their First Amendment rights just as much as adults are, but schools still censor things like newspapers, books, and clothing.
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... ...
Censorship is detrimental to society. People can’t learn from their mistakes if we hide them. People can’t decide the best option if we say there are no options. People can’t understand each other if they don’t know what anyone is thinking. People can’t mature when they are “protected” from mean words. People can’t be themselves when they are being censored.
One can read books to gain knowledge and increase their level of reading but not to come across offensive language and words. Especially in school, children are censored from these books that are controversial in the classroom. Parents are the ones who have a hard time letting their children read these books because they use curse words or have morals that differ from personal values. As a parent it is their right to fight the banning of books that use language such as the “n-word” or characters depicted negatively. Presently in the classroom, “race matters in these books. It’s a matter of how you express that in the 21st century” (Schultz). When children read these novels they may think that it is acceptable for them to a...