Bookshelf to Banned
Censorship has been an issue in society for a very long time now. Censorship and book banning has been around since people started writing on paper, and is still a problem today. It is mainly relevant in society at schools. Schools ban books because they think the material being read is not appropriate for the students. Even though schools are trying to protect children from reading inappropriate content, they should not ban books because it is un- American and books can help people through hard times.
Some schools think that is a good idea to censor and ban books. People who support this idea want to protect children from inappropriate and difficult topics. Studies show that if children are exposed to violence and sexual content at a young age they are more likely to exhibit these behaviors in the future. Schools do not want parents to blame them for their kids inappropriate actions. Although this is a strong claim, there is an even stronger claim that supports the idea of not banning and censoring books.
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A journal article says, "Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could easily defeat us" (Book Banning). Nazi Germany, North Korea, and the Soviet Union are some examples of places that have burned books because of their need to be in control. They were all extremely strict and cruel. The citizens of these countries did not like how much control the government had and wished they were more like the U.S. As Americans, one of our many rights is freedom of speech. Freedom of speech does not just include speaking, but also the freedom to express our thoughts through writing. When schools start to ban books, they are going against one of America’s original ideals; to have the freedom to think for ourselves and voice our own
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.
... Controls Ideology." Libricide: The Regime-Sponsored Destruction of Books and Libraries in the Twentieth Century. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 2003. 236-238. Rpt. in Book Banning. Ed. Ronnie D. Lankford. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.
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.
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...
People should be allowed to read whatever they want to read, even if it is a touchy subject to someone else. Although some people mainly believe in the banning of books due to explicit content, it actually causes a negative effect on people and children. Not only does it take away the people’s first amendment rights, but it also shelters children from real life situations that might affect their future. Banning books is unconstitutional and shelters children.
Book banning in the United States and anywhere else in the world I feel should be abolished. Books are published and written for a reason. The reason is to expand the mind to new things. Sure some books are better than others but there is no reason to challenge or ban books.
Books have been challenged and banned for years. Censorship is the one factor that negates our true freedom of speech and expression that is part of our constitutional rights. The first amendment states that congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The first amendment has never been followed correctly due to censorship, challenging, and the banning of books. People challenge books because they think they are protecting the youth an...
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.
This article addresses some of the reasons that censors attempt to remove books from the curriculum: Many censors feel that works are not age appropriate for students.
Is book banning necessary or unnecessary in a society? This has been the center of debate throughout literary history. The practice of banning books is a form of censorship, from political, legal, religious, moral, or commercial motives. While some believe that book banning benefits a society by keeping harmful material away from individuals, book banning isn’t necessary in a society because it restricts freedom of speech and conversation, and denies the appreciation of great literary work.
As the American Library Association notes, books are usually banned "with the best intentions—to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information" (Brunner). People, normally adults, collaborate on a reason a book should be challenged, and then banned. They tally each example of a wide range of controversies that a book has and come to a single conclusion. Their decision to ban a book is usually for the safety of younger readers. What may seem appropriate for a high schooler may not gain the same reaction for an elementary school third-grader. Because all viewpoints are different, parents want to keep their children safe from all inappropriately discussed
One of the most common reasons books are banned is because of racial topics covered in books. Debating the controversial issue happens often among scholars and concerned parents who are either fighting for the right to read the books or the right to ban the books. Throughout the history of the United States racial equality commonly presents itself as an issue. Censorship against the oppressed is a way racism and oppression are perpetuated. Burying the issue in a pile of censored books is not a way to solve the problem of inequality in the United States.
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.
The American Library Association says,“Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us.” f you ban books, you’re taking away the First Amendment from readers and writers, you’re taking their freedom of opinion and
Censoring of Books Books are extremely important in school. The banning of some books from schools and libraries would take away an ability to learn. Many people believe that some books are inappropriate for schools because of sexual content, drug use, or the demonstration of homosexuality. It is common now for kids to read books with this kind of content and taking them away would be taking away freedom of expression, there are also ways around it if the books are too inappropriate for small children. Many parents have taken on a new form of parenting and do not hide what happens in the world from their children.