Book banning is a severely demanding issue in the US. In 2022, 2541 different titles were attempted to be banned; there has been a 60% increase in book banning since 2023. Book banning would, for one, affect people who want to read the books that are being banned, but does the thought that book banning can affect children's mental health and knowledge ever seem relevant and applicable? Books being banned can affect children all over the world and compromise the jobs of librarians and media specialists. Book banning has been an ongoing issue since 1637, but only recently has there been a bigger fight towards the end of this problem. The first book ever banned was a novel published by Thomas Morton, that was deemed as too harsh to the puritan …show more content…
Birc is an Africana and African studies librarian at the University of Connecticut, she believes that book banning is wrong and over-normalized, she wrote a credible article to show her point of view in the process of stopping book banning. Her article demonstrates the way book banning is overlooked in America. “When we have conversations about book banning, we focus our attention on the tangible object- the books. We have displays of objects which have been challenged or banned. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a banned book display or program about the people intended to be harmed by the restriction of access to literature. And get that is really what book banning is intended to do- to disrupt the transference of knowledge,ideas and info between the people” (Birc). Book banning restricts people from learning their true potential, not having access to certain topics is not beneficial to the human brain. There isn’t enough awareness for book banning because it seems like such a mundane issue that should be irrelevant to society, but it really does impact everyone, and especially the youth of …show more content…
If the youth of today aren't given the correct resources that you could find in “controversial” books, to help their brain develop and flourish, who knows where the United States can end up as a whole? In order for adolescents to be able to grow and mature, they must not be sheltered and be able to try new things in life. They must be exposed to how the world really works and what goes into it, like all the racial, sexuality, and political topics. Not everything is perfect, but that doesn't mean it should be shelved and hidden. Why should the negativity of a novel and its “inappropriate features” be seen and misunderstood, when it could have so many benefits? Arlene Lavarde is a New York librarian who wrote an article about the determination of librarians in the US. “Their unwavering dedication and passion as well as their commitment to the access of diverse literature and information make me proud to be counted among them” (Lavarde (Librarian)). If Librarians and Media Specialists are actively working and collaborating to change this issue, it can be done, when one person stands up and tries to solve a problem, it can inspire others. If even just one person is inspired and joins in on the fight for book banning being stopped, then the problem will get a little less dense. Just one person being inspired by this movement can create a chain, and then the cycle can continue. At
What is a banned book? A banned book is a book that has been removed from the shelves; it could be from a library, classroom, or even the bookstore because of its content. A book could be banned for many reasons, but it could be banned because it contains sex, violence, inappropriate language, religious viewpoints, witch craft, and many more things because other people deem it inappropriate. When someone bans a book they ban it for everyone else too.
Ever since pen was first put to paper there has been some form of censorship surrounding it. The most current form of censorship is to ban the books which are viewed as inappropriate. Such an act not only violates the rights of American citizens, but it also violates the rights of the students to learn. Even if the government could manage to ban all of the books that it feels are inappropriate, the thirst to read such books would only grow. Too often is it forgotten that before the banning of books was an “at home issue,” (Book Banning 1) the federal government tried to cut the flow of inappropriate information off at the source
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.
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.
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
Imagine you have a child. This child loves to read books on their own. They read so much you finally tell them to get their books from the library. Then, one day, your child asks you what does this word mean, you are horrified to see that the child is pointing to a curse word. From that point on the child gets in trouble with teachers and other adults for saying that word. This is why book banning is necessary to keep children from finding themselves in that situation and others. Book banning is required because a child may be taught bad habits, lose the magical innocence of childhood, and because children may not be mature enough to decide what materials to read.
...s of new media have been proclaiming the death of books, and the marketplace seems to back them up” (Zeller 2011). Zeller is telling use that media like movies and game system have taken over and that the contents that it contains is the same as what books have. Still books are continued to be ban and unlike movies and videogames there is much a fight about the adult content in them. There is a special called Banned Book Week, which is a week where some of banned books are allow to be read and view. It is the freedom of reading anything. People should have it for the rest of life. Banning books is a type of censorship which violates our First Amendment. We the people are about rights and freedom. People have the freedom to read and books should have the freedom of press. It up to people on whether the banning of books should continue. Let the books be free and live!
It is challenging to choose what types of books are appropriate for children to read. Now in days the choice is even more challenging then it was a couple of centuries ago. There are books that feature violence, sexual content, offensive language or all. These subjects question concern parents because it can teach young children about several subjects that are usually avoided. Times have changed and so have books and what they contain, which makes banned books an important subject. Books can be a great source to learn from whether it history or just a folk tale, but parents and teachers must take into consideration the ages of the audience. Maturity is not achieved until a later time and some children may have difficulty reaching that point.
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.
Coatney, Sharon. "Banned Books: A School Librarian's Perspective." Time. Time Inc., 22 Sept. 2000. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
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.
Book banning has been a debatable issue in the United States, with debates swirling around the reasons behind it and the consequences it brings. Ella Feldman's article, "Over 1,600 Books Were Banned During the Past School Year," sheds light on the alarming frequency of such incidents. Book banning is rooted in moral and religious objections. Certain groups or individuals may find certain content morally objectionable or conflicting with their religious beliefs. Books that address topics such as sexuality, religion, or violence are often targeted for censorship due to these concerns.
Throughout society, many people fight over whether or not books should be banned. Books have been debated in different school districts for a very long time due to the topics involved in some of the books written. Some people believe that many books are classics and should be kept since they are a part of our history. They believe books can help guide people on how to act and teach a student many things. On the other hand, other people believe that books should be banned due to the many topics that aren’t suitable for children and students to learn about.
In the year 2022, over 2,500 books were banned in total. Books continue to get banned every year, which can negatively impact students in many ways. While some books can expose students to sensitive topics, books should not be banned in schools because they limit students' perspectives and decrease students’ engagement in reading. Books, especially banned books, can broaden students' minds and if they are banned then their perspectives will be limited. A teacher in Georgia read a book for her class and was "fired for reading a best-selling children’s book to her class, My Shadow is Purple" (McArdle and Wilkerson's).
Matthew who was also named Levi was a tax collector. It is uncertain if Jesus gave him the name Matthew or if he changed it himself. His name Mathew is the shortened version of Mattathias meaning, “the gift of God”. He was a 1st-century Galilean. He supposed to be born in Galilee, which was not part of Judea or the Roman Judaea province. He was the son of Alpheus. His occupation before encountering a life changing moment with the Lord was being a tax collector. He collected the taxes of the Hebrew people for Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. His tax office was located in Capernaum. As a tax collector it is assumed that Matthew was literate in Aramaic and Greek language.