Censorship in Schools is not Justifiable

950 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The controversy of censorship

Censorship in School is Not Justifiable Walt Whitman once said, “The dirtiest book of all is the expurgated book.” Between the years 2000 and 2009 a total of 3200 books were challenged in school libraries in an attempt to expurgate, or censor, the content in books provided to students. Today the trend of censorship continues as popular novels such as The Hunger Games, The Fault in Our Stars, and Captain Underpants are censored from schools across the nation (Challenges by Reason).Censorship in regards to literature refers to the examination and suppressing of a book because of objectionable material. The process of censorship in school libraries often begins with an outspoken parent, teacher, student, or administrator and ends in the banning or abridgement of a novel deemed inadmissible. Censorship is protecting many students from controversial, immoral, and potentially unsuitable content; however, this is not always the case. Students, parents, teachers, and administrators with different backgrounds, beliefs, and morals are not creating a library pleasing to everyone because of the variety of opinion. Censorship in school is not justifiable, because it restricts discussion and knowledge of new, controversial, and necessary ideas, allows a handful of people to make decisions for a larger group based on opinion, and undermines democratic ideals. The discussion and knowledge of new, controversial, and necessary subjects is restricted among students due to censorship. Student access to books on topics such as self-harm, sexual orientation, depression, religion, etc. are limited because of censorship. These topics may not be appropriate for all individuals, but these books have the power to save lives, change lives, and awaken stud... ... middle of paper ... ...s restricting author’s freedom of expression. By practicing tolerance and self-censorship we can help lower the amount of censored books in the upcoming decade. Works Cited "Banned Books." Fact Monster: Online Almanac, Dictionary, Encyclopedia, and Homework Help. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. "Challenges by Reason, Initiator & Institution for 1990-99 and 2000-09." American Library Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. Coatney, Sharon. "Banned Books: A School Librarian's Perspective." Time. Time Inc., 22 Sept. 2000. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. Driscoll, SallyDiLascio, Tracey M. "Point: Censorship Undermines Democracy." Points Of View: Censorship & Democracy (2013): 2. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. Magoon, Kekla. Media Censorship. Edina, MN: ABDO Pub., 2010. Print. Usman, Q. n. page. .

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Censorship A Personal View By Judy Bulme

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    She starts her article by describing her first contact with censorship and continues to talk about her experiences as an author with writing her own books being barred. She takes account of her personal views on how to handle topics people feel should be forbidden from children. She also adds that books should open up conversation between parents and their children. Blume states that we should not let fear be a deciding factor on what is right or wrong but rather be informed and educated about the things we fear. She also said , if applied, censorship is a personal choice and government should not decide what is suitable and what is not suitable for everyone else’s children.

    Read More

  • Trancendentalism in The Call of the Wild, by Jack London and Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

    899 Words  | 2 Pages

    Baldassarro, R. W. "Banned Books Awareness: The Call of the Wild." Banned Books Awareness. Deep Forest Productions, 24 July 2011. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.

    Read More

  • Technology and Censorship in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451

    1800 Words  | 4 Pages

    Lancto, Craig. “Banned Books” World & 1, Vol 8 (Sep 2003): 258. Literature Online Reference Edition. Web. 7. Feb. 2011.

    Read More

  • Censorship of the 1950's and its Impacts in America

    2211 Words  | 5 Pages

    Ockerbloom, John Mark, ed. “Banned Books Online.” Banned Books Online. The Online Books Page, 1 Jan. 2009. Web. 13 Nov. 2009. .

    Read More

  • The Tyranny of Banned Books

    1070 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Banning of Books in American Schools

    1054 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Banning Books

    4607 Words  | 10 Pages

    Lastly, there is censorship that involves someone who is part of an organized campaign, whether of a local or national group, and who goes in ready for a fight and wants to make a broader political point” (Miner 1998). Although there are many other ways that a piece of literature could get censored, most censored works are asked to be removed from classrooms and school libraries. There are four motivational factors that may lie behind a censor’s actions. Those factors include family values, religion, political views, and minority rights.... ... middle of paper ... ...2003.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay Of Banning Books

    692 Words  | 2 Pages

    Banned Books Week.” Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read American Library Association, 21st Sept. 2005. Web.02 March 2016

    Read More

  • Censorship is Not an Effective Way to Protect Children

    1912 Words  | 4 Pages

    Witherbee, Amy and Cushman, C. Ames. "Counterpoint: Sometimes Censorship is Necessary." 2011. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 21 March 2012.

    Read More

  • Censorship in Schools

    2166 Words  | 5 Pages

    According to “Freedom of Speech” by Gerald Leinwand, Abraham Lincoln once asked, “Must a government, of necessity, be too strong for the liberties of its people, or too weak to maintain its own existence (7)?” This question is particularly appropriate when considering what is perhaps the most sacred of all our Constitutionally guaranteed rights, freedom of expression. Lincoln knew well the potential dangers of expression, having steered the Union through the bitterly divisive Civil War, but he held the Constitution dear enough to protect its promises whenever possible (8).

    Read More

  • Censorship For Middle School Students

    1103 Words  | 3 Pages

    Censorship by definition is the suppression of speech or removal of communicative material which may be considered objectionable or repulsive. Censorship is nothing new and its effects are constantly felt throughout society. Many societies use censorship to protect the established moral and social order. Book censorship in western cultures can be traced to the earliest years of Christianity, when the church began to suppress opposing views as unorthodox. In ancient times, before the printing press and the mass production of literature, book burning was an effective form of censorship. This process guaranteed that no one would ever read them. Although book burning was very efficient it is now used as more of a gesture of protest to shock people rather than a real method of destroying a book. In modern times, censorship refers to the examination of media including books, periodicals, plays, motion pictures, television shows and radio programs for the purpose of altering or suppressing parts thought to be offensive. Today’s censorship occurs when certain people succeed in imposing their personal or moral values on others. Censorship deals mainly with the first amendment constitutional. “The law requires that if a book is to be removed, an inquiry must be made as to the motivation and intention of the party calling for its removal. If the party’s intention is to deny students access to ideas with which the party disagrees, it is a violation of the First Amendment” [First Amendment Center]. Though the First Amendment bars government authorities from prohibiting the free exercise, abridging the freedom of speech or practicing religious censorship in the United States, individuals have successfully pushed to remove books from public and ...

    Read More

  • Censorship in American Schools

    1143 Words  | 3 Pages

    Conclusion : Hopefully now you have gained a better understanding about the role that censorship plays in America’s schools. It is a guiding factor that influences the minds of the future, and must be treated accordingly. The purpose of this speech is only to raise awareness about this issue, so that we can change it for the better.

    Read More

  • Censorship In Schools Essay

    1440 Words  | 3 Pages

    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. Censoring school books in libraries can often lead to censorship of our basic freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment. In some cases, a minority ends up dictating the majority in censorship cases. To be told what is permissible reading material and what is not is a direct violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution.

    Read More

  • Banned Books And Why Are They Banned?

    786 Words  | 2 Pages

    (Goldberg, par. 3). Every year on the last week of September there is the National Banned Books Week. It is an exciting time where there are special readings of banned books. It is also the times where the newspaper prints off the threats from the American Library Association to have the freedom to read. Last year on Banned Books week the ALA’s official magazine, American Libraries, ran a story headlined, “Book banning alive and well in the U.S.” What do books from the Twilight series, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Hunger Games have in common? They all have faced removal from library bookshelves in the United States within the past year. It is understandable why the Twilight series have been banned, because of the romance and make believe characters. Some parents caution their children who might read them and get their heads glued to the possibility of having a romance like that in the future. The reason of To Kill a Mockingbird being banned is racism and violence. It is a simply written book that many Junior High students can read, but only in high school are they able to read it. The popular Hunger Games series was banned form the graphic violence and it gave some kids nightmares. ( Piesyk, Par. 1) Some parent believes that violent books are the cause of all the violence that is happening in the world at this moment. With the parents complaining about the books that are available to the students, their words are what bring t...

    Read More

  • Censorship in Schools

    3744 Words  | 8 Pages

    Staff, Wire Reports. (2002 October 3). Book banning spans the globe. The Houston Chronicle, pp.C14. Retrieved December 2, 2002 from Lexis-Nexis/Academic database.

    Read More

More about Censorship in Schools is not Justifiable

Open Document