Banned books can be a threat to children and teenagers. There are many reasons parents and guardians agree with this. Some parents or guardians want to be able to control what their child reads and what they are exposed to. Children or teenagers should not be exposed to inappropriate content that is not appropriate for their age group. Some other religious authorities want to control the spread of dangerous ideas and the information available to their followers. Therefore, books that are damaging to children and teenagers should be banned from school libraries. To begin with, studies show that children and teenagers exposed to certain content at a young age without their parents' notice or permission tend to do a lot of inappropriate actions …show more content…
The significance of Jordan's argument is that parents should be in charge of their children’s exposure to certain topics. As Alisha Kirby states, “Of 853 parents and guardians with children under 18 surveyed during September 2023, 67 percent reported thinking that “banning books is a waste of time,” and 74 percent agree or somewhat agree that book bans infringe on their right to make decisions for their children.” Basically, Alisha is corroborating the idea that most of the parents taking the survey agree that book banning is a profitable idea and it shouldn’t come to an end. As a result, by parents paying more attention to the material their children are exposed to, children will be protected from harmful knowledge. Furthermore, one of the main purposes of banning books is that children shouldn't be open to unsuitable content that is not suitable for their age group and protect young and innocent minds. For this reason, banned books should not be available to children due to their maturity …show more content…
As a result, religious authorities strongly support book bans for their followers' exposure to certain topics that might distract them from their religion. Some believe that banning books is a profitable idea, however, some critics argue that banning books is limiting education. on the authority of Siby Shaji, “These challenged and controversial texts often delve unflinchingly into the complexities and challenges of life, addressing issues such as bullying, abuse, discrimination, and societal injustices that young individuals may inevitably encounter as they navigate their path to adulthood. Shielding children from these uncomfortable realities can leave them ill-prepared to face the harshness of the world.” However, reading banned books affects people negatively and many parents and teachers agree that a book ban is a very profitable idea and shouldn’t stop. According to Jeremy Hogan from the Bloomingtonians, “An overwhelming 74% agree or somewhat agree that book bans infringe on their right to make decisions for their children”. Book banning will protect people, especially teenagers, from harmful or inappropriate
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.
As the American Library Association notes, books are usually banned "with the best intention…to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information." (Brunner). If a book has frightening or controversial ideas in them, adults willing often censor that book from children. From 2000 to 2009, of the 5,099 challenges that were reported, 1,639 of these challenges were in school libraries and 30 challenges in academic libraries. (Frequently Challenged Books). At various times in American history, even some of the tamest books have been banned. Harriet the Spy, was banned because it supposedly taught children to "lie, spy, back-talk, and curse." Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl was banned for being too depressing. A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein, was banned because it might encourage kids to break dishes so they won't have to dry them. (Frequently Challenged Books). While some of these excuses are more reasonable than other excuses, the banning of these books prevents the children from empathizing...
Banning Books “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.
Banning books from public schools and public libraries is wrong. It’s irrational to have a parent or school board member’s opinion determine what a school district should be reading. Books including and not limited to, The Scarlet Letter, The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Lord of the Flies, and Animal Farm all have one thing in common. They have all at one time or another been subject to banishment. These literary classics have been around for a long time and proved to be vital to the education of many, especially children and adolescents. These novels teach values and educate children about world affairs that can not come from an everyday experience. These controversial novels encompass the materials that ultimately boost our educational wealth. Banning books infringe
We live in an overprotective society, where people try to control other people’s lives from things that they find explicit. Many parents believe that by sheltering their kids from offensive things it will keep them safe. But, trying to live life as if there is always sunshine and no rain turns out to be a big disappointment. The banning of books has a negative effect on children and adults alike, as it can shelter children from real life situations, and revokes the rights of the people. Although people believe in banning books that contain vulgar language and profanity to help their children, it can actually hurt the child and can be considered unconstitutional.
Although some may say that certain books contain graphic/violent content, banning such books is not an effective method to prevent young children from being exposed to such content, and therefore is unnecessary. One person that harbors such beliefs is Christina Healey. In her article “Book Banning can be Justified in Some Cases,” she argues that in some cases, book banning is...
Imagine you have a child. This child loves to read books on their own. They read so much you finally tell them to get their books from the library. Then, one day, your child asks you what does this word mean, you are horrified to see that the child is pointing to a curse word. From that point on the child gets in trouble with teachers and other adults for saying that word. This is why book banning is necessary to keep children from finding themselves in that situation and others. Book banning is required because a child may be taught bad habits, lose the magical innocence of childhood, and because children may not be mature enough to decide what materials to read.
There are many reasons behind book banning and what it stands for, that make a case for book censorship. One main advantage of book banning is that it is protecting children from inappropriate content. A book is usually banned because it contains material that is deemed unfit for minors. Most parents and schools do n...
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.
Book banning has been a debatable issue in the United States, with debates swirling around the reasons behind it and the consequences it brings. Ella Feldman's article, "Over 1,600 Books Were Banned During the Past School Year," sheds light on the alarming frequency of such incidents. Book banning is rooted in moral and religious objections. Certain groups or individuals may find certain content morally objectionable or conflicting with their religious beliefs. Books that address topics such as sexuality, religion, or violence are often targeted for censorship due to these concerns.
Whether in a general library or school setting, the argument regarding book banning is a controversial topic that is discussed by many. This issue in modern society is caused by the concern of protecting what is being discussed in books being read by children. While advocates of book banning argue about concerns regarding sensitive subjects and age-appropriate content, opponents of book banning can oppose these concerns, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and one’s understanding of diverse topics. Furthermore, it is also important to note that the banning of books can lead to more problems than solutions. Despite the fact that book banning can be seen as a positive aspect for children because of the exposure books can provide,
What makes a book so bad that it must be taken off shelves and banished from the public’s eyes? What is contained in the pages that society must be protected from? Who are the leaders given the authority to decide what is “good” and what is “bad”? A seventeen-year-old sits in their room embedded in a book that banishes society to darkness. Her eyes read the words of conflict and impurity written on the pages.
A student goes into the library and decides to look for the book he needs to get for his class. He looks for hours trying to find it. He finally goes and asks the librarian where it is, but she gives him his worst nightmare. The book was banned by one of his classmates' parents as they thought it was inappropriate for their kid. This is happening all over the world because people are banning books that they think are unsuitable for their kids to read.
But the truth is, book banning is always unjustified since the parents and politicians who ban these books are restricting other children from getting the knowledge they need to learn about life. To explain, the National Coalition Against Censorship writes, “Even books or materials that many find ‘objectionable’ may have educational value, and the decision about what to use in the classroom should be based on professional judgments and standards, not individual preferences” (ProCon). It is admirable that parents would like to protect other children, but the decision on whether a book should be removed from other students should be based on professional opinions, not just a parent’s perspective on the book. Even then, these professionals could judge the books in the wrong way, causing the book to be banned and not serve its purpose. Therefore, since children are our future, books shouldn’t be banned, so children can be educated on important issues and lead the world out of hate and pain.
In the year 2022, over 2,500 books were banned in total. Books continue to get banned every year, which can negatively impact students in many ways. While some books can expose students to sensitive topics, books should not be banned in schools because they limit students' perspectives and decrease students’ engagement in reading. Books, especially banned books, can broaden students' minds and if they are banned then their perspectives will be limited. A teacher in Georgia read a book for her class and was "fired for reading a best-selling children’s book to her class, My Shadow is Purple" (McArdle and Wilkerson's).