Dear Local Board of Educators, Did you know that books like How to Kill a Mockingbird, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, and The Catcher in the Rye, have been banned in some schools as have many other books that students can use for class. Books have been around for hundreds of years and they have helped educate many individuals throughout their lifetime. By banning books, we are limiting education and dictating what students should and shouldn’t learn. Banning books causes students' grades to drop, and it also causes a negative impact on kids who love and need books. The parents’ or students’ should be the ones who make the decision to ban books because they know what is good for their kids or for themselves. The government or school …show more content…
It also shows the percentage of students who have been discouraged because of the lack of books. Another reason why banning books is disagreeable is because those who have needed them for learning have been negatively affected. For example, when I was 10 I used to use books to try and understand a topic better. My mom would buy English books to help me read better in English because I used to only understand Spanish,so by buying books my mom helped me understand the language better but by banning books how are kids supposed to learn better without the help of a teacher. For example, in the article “Banned books negatively impact representation” it states that “I think if we’re banning these different cultures and representations, I definitely think that it’s not helpful. I think that it’s going to limit our worldview a lot,” This text evidence expresses how the author of a book feels about the banning of books because they feel like they wouldn’t be able to help young kids understand more about their culture, lifestyle, or about
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.
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
School boards and teachers have a responsibility for protecting the minds of their students and covering age appropriate material. However, does this responsibility cover the extreme act of banning books from school classrooms? Does not the teacher have a duty to introduce to their students world issues in order to better the students ability to cope with problems in the world? How does a school decide which books should be banned from the classroom, and should it be left up to the teacher to decide what is decided in his/her classroom. By banning books from the classroom, we prevent our students from learning about controversial topics in a safe environment, and we also encroach upon the student’s freedom of reading what they want in school.
The first amendment of the U.S. Constitution states, “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 (Buchanan).” With the banning and the challenging of books all over the U.S. I believe that our first amendment is being jeopardized. We should be allowed to read whatever we want to read it is our right according to the first amendment in the U.S. Constitution with freedom of speech.
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.
"Don't join the book burners... Don't be afraid to go in your library and read every book." said Dwight D. Eisenhower. This quote means that you should not ban a book just because it contains some inappropriate language or graphical content. In the article “Book Bannings on the Rise in US schools, says anti-censorship group”, by David Barnett, the non-fiction article talked about an anti-censorship group banning and burning books just because parents were concerned about the graphical content.
Imagine a world where every book is an open door to new knowledge and freedom. Now, imagine those doors slamming shut. That’s a book banning. Overview: Book banning is the act of removing books from libraries, schools, or bookstores, often due to controversial content that some individuals or groups find objectionable. The reasons for challenging books can vary widely, from containing explicit language, sexual content, or themes of violence to promoting ideas that are considered unorthodox or against certain religious or political beliefs.
Adults should not be able to ban books because banning books restricts access to valuable information, removes support from people, and inhibits people’s empathy and understanding of others. Adults should not be able to ban books because it restricts people’s
The growing trend of censorship and banned books has amplified over the last 3 years. Controversy on whether certain books that espouse opinions on divisive topics should be banned from the learning curriculum or banned altogether from districts but banning them contradicts freedom of expression through literature guaranteed in the 1st Amendment. Furthermore, it has affected thousands of individual titles across the US in grades K-12, one of many being the book Speak by Laurie Anderson. While Speak does address divisive topics like rape, xenophobia, and self-harm, along with many other mature topics, it should be age-restricted to middle schoolers and below for a lack of maturity but allowed in grades 9-12 due to its educational value to promote
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.
Imagine a world without the meaningful lessons from books like The Call of the Wild or The Diary of Anne Frank. Books like these have helped shape our culture and our nation, so how would it impact students if they didn’t have the choice to read them? Students all across the country should have the choice to read the books that they want to even if adults disagree. There are so many books out in the world that have greatly contributed to our society today, such as I Am Jazz, the opening up about being transgender. There are so many novels that have benefit our communities, but are restricted. Students have the right to choose what books they want to read.
Books should be banned. The printing press was a writing invention that first appeared in 1440 in the Holy Roman Empire. Book banning prevents children and young adults from inappropriate and value deteriorating material. Book banning averts children from reading obscene topics such as murder and racism.
Book bans have risen in prevalence in the past few years. With the pandemic in 2020, parents began to want more control over their child’s education. These bans have divided parents and students; one group supports the increased censure of literature, while the other petitions for freedom of literature. Book bans can prevent young children from seeing potentially harmful information, but they also allow some groups to push the envelope, banning books based on their beliefs rather than facts. Many of these books include LGBTQ+ topics, abuse, violence, and racism.
Book bans have risen in prevalence over the past few years. With the pandemic in 2020, parents began to want more control over their child’s education. These bans have divided parents and students; one group supports the increased censure of literature, while the other petitions for freedom of literature. Book bans can prevent young children from seeing potentially harmful information, but they also allow some groups to push the envelope, banning books based on their beliefs rather than facts. Many of these books include LGBTQ+ topics, abuse, violence, and racism.
Author Salman Rushdie says, “What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.” The banning and censorship of books has been around since the time of the Roman Empire, Nazis also burned books unsympathetic to Hitler’s propaganda, and now, today, the banning and censoring of books is happening all over the world. Opponents believe that allowing readers to have access to controversial books will lead them into deviant lifestyles. Some books are thought of as too offensive due to explicit language and alternative lifestyles encouraging fornication and drug & alcohol abuse,etc;(www.punchnels.com)