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Argumentative essay on book banning
Book banning
Essay on book banning
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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.
To ban a book, the person wanting to restrict or remove the book will present their issue to whomever oversees the English department at the school. The process of suggesting a ban on a book is called a challenge, which can be made
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The themes in the books that people see as inappropriate or vulgar draw the attention of the students and they will look past the vulgar and inappropriate language and prove those who think they are not mature enough to handle these pieces of literature. Students who are required to study and read
American literature tend to be in their junior or senior year in high school and are more than capable of discussing the usage of vulgar language, sexual content, and the morally challenging themes presented in American Literature.
The American Library Association advocates to improve the careers of those who have dedicated their lives and careers to improving opportunities involving the library. Members of the ALA connect, meet, and network with professionals from all areas of the library, engage in the latest trends and issues. Other organizations have come together with ALA, these organizations are, Assn. of College & Research Libraries, United for Libraries, and public library association. Together these committees have made sure that issues such as banning books are addressed professionally. The form of advocacy the ALA practices regarding banned books
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The Office for
Intellectual Freedom creates and edit policies, strategize plans for working with communities and families, and provide workshops and programs about the First Amendment, privacy laws, internet filtering, and intellectual freedom.
Banned books is an issue that librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers face often. Banning books is seen as an offense of the first amendment or censorship.
Books that were challenged or banned are books that are considered classics or even novels. The titles that were once asked to be banned in a school in New York ended up dealing with a legal case known as Island Trees School District v. Pico where the Supreme Court sided with the students because banning books went against the first amendment. Two perspectives are presented, those who agree with challenging and banning books and those who oppose it.
Organizations have devoted their time to making sure that students are able to exercise their intellectual freedom.
Works Cited
Anonymous. “Banned & Challenged Books.” Advocacy, Legislation & Issues, 13 Apr.
2018, www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks.
“Banned Books That Shaped America.” Banned Books Week, 12 Apr.
The respondents, including Steven Pico, Jacqueline Gold, Glenn Yarris, Russell Rieger (students at Island Trees High School), and Paul Sochinski (student at Island Trees Memorial), argued that banning the books from school libraries violated their first amendment rights. Therefore, the respondents took the case to court (I...
Have you ever read a book and wondered “How is this book allowed in public libraries?” Most students do not pay attention to content; however, many parents disagree with the content their children are reading, whether the book is being taught in class or the child picked it up in the school library. Surprisingly, some school librarians and teachers disagree with certain books permitted in schools. The book Forever by Judy Blume is an example of a challenged and controversial book. Judy Blume is a children’s book author, which most people would not think that her books have been challenged.
There are multiple reasons why a book can be banned or challenged. Book banning causes the removal of materials in schools and libraries due to “inappropriate” content. The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold, was banned due to sexual content and language.
Aliprandini, Michael Sprague, Carolyn. "Banning Books: An Overview." Points Of View: Banning Books (2013): 1. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.
People ban or challenge books because they don't want other to read them because of their content, even thought we see most of it in our everyday life. To stop book banning and to keep books on the shelves; if a book has inappropriate content and someone wants to buy it or get it from the library or store they have to get the parents consent. This will also keep parents informed on what their child is reading.
Foerstel, Herbert N. Banned in the U.S.A.: a Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1994. Print.
There is a difference between banned books and challenged books. According to the American Library Association (ALA), “A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group (About banned, para. 2). A banned book is when a book or other reading material is removed from certain locations and not available. For example, one of the most challenged books in the 21st century is The Giver by Lois Lowry (100 Most). The novel, The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Sheman Alexie was banned in high school in Oregon because a parent complained that the book was offensive (Doyle, 3).
Trelease, Jim. "Book Banning Violates Children and Young Adult Freedoms." Book Banning. Ed. Ronnie D. Lankford. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. At Issue. Rpt. from "Censorship and Children's Books." Trelease-on-Reading.com. 2006.Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
“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.
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...
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 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... ...
Due to books being challenged, many organizations came together, like the American Library Association (ALA) to form Banned Books Week. Banned Books Week is an annual event
Banning books from students shouldn’t be allowed in schools considering that it takes away their chance to read and explore something new. Schools shouldn’t be banning books under any reason. School administers feel the need to ban books when parents report books that their child has read. When parents are calling or reporting that their child is reading an inappropriate book and that it should be banned, they are taking other children's choices away from them (Bancroft 1). Parents have the right to tell their children what to read and what not to read, but deciding what other children should read is not their choice.
If the books challenge is successful, the book will be banned. The official act of banning a book is its removal from a library or course material (“Banned & Challenged Books”). Board of Education, Island Trees School District v. Pico created the requirement that school libraries must bring books up to a board before a