Censorship In School Essay

Censorship happens everywhere, every day. Censorship is “The restriction or removal of information, or the prevention of free expression” (Taylor 8). Most of people are just so used to music, movies, clothes, and video games being censored it has stopped being a bother. But, censorship is not just parents taking away a child’s violent video games or a minor being denied access into an R-rated movie. Censorship has slithered into schools, banning books, limiting clothing choices, and censoring publication of school newspapers. Though students are fighting back, the topic is highly controversial. Schools think they should be able to protect their students (Truly 3). But, in the case of Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, it was decided the students and teachers do not “shed their Constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate” (Emert). If students really do in fact share the same rights as everyone else, how is there censorship is schools? Schools call it “protecting the students,” but with the censorship of books, clothing, and publication, students are starting to call this “protection” a violation of rights.

In some cases, censorship can be avoided depending on how courts interpret the First Amendment. Books and music are censored to help to keep people from taking offense in things they hear or read (Taylor 7). Just like when parents take away that favorite M-rated video game or turn off that R-rated movie, usually adults mean the best when they censor. They just want to protect their children. But, censorship does not end at the home. Some learning resources may be censored because they go against a certain religion, belief, or view (Taylor 8). This happ...

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...ights as everyone else, We’ve always been responsible—this wouldn’t have been a big deal if it had been released as we had intended” (Emert). Superintendent Thomas Baily was more upset about the body art article. It featured students showing off their tattoos. One of these students, though, stayed anonymous when bearing a tattoo her parents were still not told of. Bailey was uncomfortable with the idea of helping to hide something from the student’s family (Emert). Baily also made a very good point by reminding everyone involved the fourteen-year-olds are not excluded from the papers audience and it may be inappropriate to introduce them to the ideas of needing birth control or hiding tattoos from their parents (Emert). When asked in a school board meeting, students and community members expressed discontent with the censorship of the schools newspaper (Emert).