Book banning is the most widespread form of censorship in the united states. The school leaders and parents arranged the meeting to evaluate whether or not the 50 books were too explicit and sexually charged for young readers to pore without parental approval. Book censorship has existed in the united states since the arrival of the american colonists. Who benefits when sherman alexies the absolutely true diary of. With the explosion of communication technology, it has become allpervasive. Oct 07, 2009 the pros and cons of censorship, banned books haris durrani. The book offers insight into the nature of current censorship challenges to u. It might be because of racism such as the turner diaries or obviously mein kampf. Dec 23, 20 book bannings on the rise in us schools, says anti censorship group this article is more than 6 years old the kids right to read project investigated 49 book bannings or removals from school. Mar 10, 2014 censorship is altering or blocking certain material from media, internet, and books. Its an outlet for knowing what another feels about a certain topic no matter how controversial it may be. Conflicts of censorship the pros and cons the censorship battle has largely been fought in the public school systems of this country, but has also affected public libraries as well. A great example of this issue is the book called the outsiders.
Books may also be challenged at a local, community level. Robertson, 41, contends the list used as a reference for school boards, schools and teachers becomes a form of censorship of indigenous voices in a chapter of canadian history that should. Eric ed451559 school censorship in the 21st century. It recommends using a strong, unified, and proactive approach that includes all members of a school community to help ensure an accessible and safe teaching and learning environment. Unfortunately, this has created a fear of retribution amongst educators. The pros and cons of censorship in schools 895 words. If the partys intention is to deny students access to ideas with which the party disagrees, it is a violation of the first amendment. Its far too much to expect that government schools should take the next necessary step and develop a responsible framework examining how what students read might. Sometimes, the content of a book is inherently bad. Censorship of books is often initiated by the government, schools, religious organizations, and parents. Every friday, explore privacy, censorship, access, and first amendment news articles from all over the country right in your inbox. School administrators across the country have a choice to make this week.
School and university libraries, public libraries, classrooms, and businesses across the nation see attempts to ban books on a regular, if not frequent, basis. Reasons for banning books banned books libguides at. Most people think of censorship in terms of books and other forms of print media. There is a difference between selection and censorship. Our county has a group which reads the questionable book and determines whether its educational value exceeds the weight of the objections against it. Judging from preemptive censorship efforts in two districts, some of them are going to get it wrong. These words and depictions resulted in it getting censored or even banned by several schools. Should parents or other adults be able to ban books from schools and. Reading a challenged book is a learning experience and can help your kids. Each book that is banned or censored is done so for the content within the pages. Censorship can reduce the impact of hate speech in society.
A doubleedged sword the pros and cons of censorship. The pros and cons of censorship on society 15 words cram. Perhaps a curse, the dictionary definition of censorship would be the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. The coeur dalene school district complies with all applicable laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age 40 or older, genetic information, veteran status or disability in any educational programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance or in employment practices. The censor of pornographic material prevents the corruption of children. After all, reading books can spark conversation among people.
Alberta government censored indigenous book, undermining. Censorship demands require educators to balance first amendment obligations and principles against other concerns such as maintaining the integrity of the educational program, meeting state education requirements, respecting the judgments of professional staff, and addressing deeply held beliefs in students and members of the community. Advocates say that censorship regulation, especially in the internet, can keep the people, particularly the children, from exposure to pornographic materials and racial discrimination. Kuhlmeier defined the level of first amendment protection public high school students working on schoolsponsored publications are entitled to. Pros and cons of censorship in schools vision launch media. Pros and cons of censorship in schools 801 words bartleby. When we hear the word censorship, we often imagine a banned book i. Since the 1800s, attitudes about which books are appropriate for kids.
Joan bertin, executive director of the national coalition against censorship, said she encounters an attempt at book banning or censorship every week. About andor encouraging racism towards one or more group of people. The pros and cons of censorship must be carefully considered to be fair to all parties concerned. They just choose not to order the books in the first place. As a result, books can be removed from schools or libraries, although these bans do not extend outside of that area. Ap language and composition may 27th, 2014 to ban or not to ban censorship, the stifling of words, images, and ideas that are considered offensive, occurs whenever a person or group of people is able to successfully impose their views and morals onto others. This is applicable to various programs in plays, on television, print magazines, printed books, video games, movies and different things online. Brief history bookbanning in school libraries is only the latest battleground in a centuriesold war over the censorship of ideas.
These parents go beyond wanting to restrict access to certain books for their own children. Censorship is the control of information and ideas in a society. It is banned in many middle schools, but this narrative is also one of the mostcited books that students say turned them onto reading. With the emergence of different communication technologies, this has been allpervasive. Censorship is the regulation of free speech and other forms of entrenched authority. As rose ann pearce from the morning news reports, a local north carolina high school, fayetteville, held a meeting to discuss and debate 50 required texts currently being taught and read in classrooms. Some parents do their very best to protect their kids from harmful content on the internet and television at home.
The people doing the censoring get full control over what the rest of us read, enabling them to protect us from dangerous, disgusting or other dubious or forbidden content. While reading adventures of huckleberry finn in school, teachers often spend full class periods discussing a very important issue. Or is book banning blanket censorship of materials that may help readers. Parents, school board members, individuals, groups yet whats considered offensive may. Many are already familiar with the american library associations banned books week, which celebrates the freedom to read and draws attention to efforts to ban books across the country, from traditionally controversial works like lady chatterleys lover by. Pros and cons of censorship in school libraries 949 words 4 pages. An anti censorship group in america has reported a flurry of attempted book bannings in the last quarter of the year and has said there are increasing numbers of books being taken off school. Jan 03, 1984 censorship, many people believe, is something that happens in faraway, undemocratic countries. It happens whenever there are personal, moral, or political values from one group that get placed onto another in some way. Pros and cons of controversial books a good overview of the subject. Unfortunately, many schools that have adequate policies for dealing with book challenges fail to follow their own procedures. In school libraries, the idea of censorship has always been considered. Schools, school libraries, and public libraries are the institutions that. Both democratic and nondemocratic countries use it.
Schools and school boards should be prepared to face challenges from parents and others. Why your kid should read banned books the washington post. Censorship controls the information that is brought to society. Rather, it is prudent to assume that most of those who have. Books are often challenged for the language they contain, even though profanity is often used in literature to convey social or historical context, local dialect or simply to better depict reactions to reallife situations. Censorship in schools and the effects on our children. Instances of censorship can be seen all the way back to the greek philosopher, socrates, in 399 b.
Parents have the right to decide what material their children are exposed to and when. Sep 27, 2017 sex, politics and the banned books of 2016. Oct 15, 2015 many educators have suffered backlash as a result of their choice to expose their students to certain books. It prevents the nurturing of ideas and opinions in students. Although censorship is still practised in some countries today, almost anyone would agree that censorship is never the right answer.
The association is more interested in how people think about specific books and censorship than in publishing who called for a ban and where. Submit a letter to the editor or an opinion piece to the local newspaper of the town or county in which your book is being challenged. It is, in the words of one expert observer, pervasive and widespread. The idea that all speech is equal is arguably false. Every time i chose a book for our shelves it is done according to our school district selection policy, which says books must be ageappropriate and related to our school district curriculum. Censorship involves groups or individuals succeeding in keeping information from the public and forcing personal beliefs and values on others. There are various sensitive things that need to be kept from the innocent minds and eyes of children such as pornography and intense racism. There are a few common reasons that books have been banned or censored in schools, libraries, and book stores. It should be instructive to consider how the problem of censorship has been dealt with in the ancient world, in premodern times, and in the modern world. Google search which is true, but is it necessarily a good thing. School librarians are, like all teachers, considered to be in loco parentis and are thus responsible for the safety of the children in their care. So i will list pros and then answer them with cons.
The book had some vulgar language and depictions of the bible being destroyed in it. Book bannings on the rise in us schools, says anticensorship. Learn how book censorship in schools is adding to the growing problem of censorship in america. Parents, school board members, individuals, groups yet whats considered. I am not, in any way, in favour of book censorship. The american library association tracks book challenges each year. Censorship represents a tyranny over the mind, said thomas jeffersonand is harmful wherever it occurs.
Teachers need to be creative in how they present lessons and how they can get through to students depending on their age and learning abilities. The age level for which a book is intended does not guarantee that someone wont try to censor it. These challenges primarily occurred due to people being offended by the book s content. School and university libraries, public libraries, classrooms, and businesses across the nation see attempts to ban books on a regular, if not. Though the emphasis seems to be on challenges to childrens and young adult ya books some years more than others, attempts are also continually mounted to restrict access to certain adult books, often books that are taught in high school. It is a highly divisive issue with its own advantages and disadvantages. Censorship is particularly harmful in the schools because it prevents student with inquiring minds from exploring the world, seeking truth and reason, stretching their intellectual capacities, and becoming critical thinkers. Book banning is the most widespread form of censorship in the united states, with childrens literature being the primary target. Those who choose to declare a censorship on books are appeasing the idea that we should not put ourselves in the position to read a book.
Stowes novel was banned in the south preceding the civil war for holding proabolitionist views and. John steinbecks of mice and men raises issues such as euthanasia, murder and justice. Censors typically identify as either a concerned parent, community members who react to a text without reading, or local or national organizations. Advocates for banning a book or certain books fear that children will be swayed by its contents, which they regard as potentially dangerous. The pros and cons of censorship in schools 895 words 4 pages. Opponents of censorship point out that, when students are prevented from reading certain books or having access to certain materials, they lose the chance to be exposed to learn about new things and ideas. Most challenges never result in a ban because students, families, teachers, and librarians take a stand against the censorship. It limits a teachers freedom and creativity in methods and materials.
When books do receive a ban, it is usually because there are racial themes involved, an alternative lifestyle portrayed, or violence and sex that makes people uncomfortable. The merriamwebsters collegiate dictionary defined it as the institution, system, or practice of censoring. Book bannings on the rise in us schools, says anti. Book banning, a form of censorship, occurs when private individuals, government officials, or organizations remove books from libraries, school reading lists, or bookstore shelves because they object to their content, ideas, or themes. The debate on internet censorship in public schools. In fact, it is happening more and more often in american public schools. The pros and cons of censorship 628 words 123 help me. Book censorship is the act of some authority taking measures to suppress ideas and information within a book. Those who choose to declare a censorship on books are appeasing the idea that we should not put ourselves in the position to read a book that may be seen as inappropriate. It limits children s exposure to violent, sexual, and other harmful topics. He believes that censorship controversies threaten our students freedom to learn, our relationship with our communities, our professional integrity and the quality of the education we provide. How banning books marginalizes children the atlantic.
Having books with adult topics available in libraries limits parents ability to choose when their children are mature enough to read specific material. Since the publication of the second edition of this landmark book in 1993, wired classrooms, legal challenges, and societal shifts have changed the landscape for the free exchange of ideas. Some books do not deserve to be banned, but there is a great many books that should not be on the shelves of school libraries at all, and even the con agrees. Although most countries use some form of censorship, there are pros and cons of the act of censoring. Reasons for banning books banned books libguides at butler. Those advocating a ban complain typically that the book in question contains graphic violence, expresses disrespect for parents and family, is sexually explicit. Attempts to control the content of curricula and of books in school libraries are increasing rapidly, bringing into focus the question of what rights students have to receive information and what rights a community has in determining what information is taught and available in its schools. It prevents children from being exposed to offensive things like pornography and intense racism.
The school librarian which should be a real librarian, not a teacher or parent volunteer needs to be actively selecting appropriate books for the school library. Pabbis parents against bad books in schools, is just one of a number of parent groups around the country challenging childrens and young adult books in classroom teaching, and in school and public libraries. Sex, politics and the banned books of 2016 the new york times. Book banning may be going over the line at times, but their intentions are good and fair. It takes the book away from someone who wants to read it. Care must be taken here not to assume that the modern democratic regime, of a selfgoverning people, is the only legitimate regime. Book censorship in the schools hardcover september 1, 1988 by donald j. The official definition of censorship, according to the online oxford dictionary, is the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. Doyle, books challenged or banned in 20152016, accessed sep. Pros and cons of censorship censorship is prevalent in the modern society. In selection the librarian chooses books that are appropriate developmentally for the students and supports the curriculum. It exists not to curtail the freedom of the people but to protect them.
The history of books being banned in america is thought to stem back to 1852 when harriet beecher stowes uncle toms cabin was published. When it becomes permissible to restrict the actions, words, and thoughts of one group of people, it can create opportunities to target other groups in society too. What are the pros and cons of censoring books in school. Incidents of school censorship and litigation are increasing, writes rick petosa of the university of south carolina. The pros and cons of book censorship 652 words 3 pages. The word itself sparks debate, especially when the context is the public school.