Bookshelf to Banned Censorship has been an issue in society for a very long time now. Censorship and book banning has been around since people started writing on paper, and is still a problem today. It is mainly relevant in society at schools. Schools ban books because they think the material being read is not appropriate for the students. Even though schools are trying to protect children from reading inappropriate content, they should not ban books because it is un- American and books can help people through hard times. Some schools think that is a good idea to censor and ban books. People who support this idea want to protect children from inappropriate and difficult topics. Studies show that if children are exposed to violence and sexual content at a young age they are more likely to exhibit these behaviors in the future. Schools do not want parents to blame them for their kids inappropriate actions. Although this is a strong claim, there is an even stronger claim that supports the idea of not banning and censoring books. …show more content…
A journal article says, "Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could easily defeat us" (Book Banning). Nazi Germany, North Korea, and the Soviet Union are some examples of places that have burned books because of their need to be in control. They were all extremely strict and cruel. The citizens of these countries did not like how much control the government had and wished they were more like the U.S. As Americans, one of our many rights is freedom of speech. Freedom of speech does not just include speaking, but also the freedom to express our thoughts through writing. When schools start to ban books, they are going against one of America’s original ideals; to have the freedom to think for ourselves and voice our own
... Controls Ideology." Libricide: The Regime-Sponsored Destruction of Books and Libraries in the Twentieth Century. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 2003. 236-238. Rpt. in Book Banning. Ed. Ronnie D. Lankford. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.
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...
People should be allowed to read whatever they want to read, even if it is a touchy subject to someone else. Although some people mainly believe in the banning of books due to explicit content, it actually causes a negative effect on people and children. Not only does it take away the people’s first amendment rights, but it also shelters children from real life situations that might affect their future. Banning books is unconstitutional and shelters children.
Books have been challenged and banned for years. Censorship is the one factor that negates our true freedom of speech and expression that is part of our constitutional rights. The first amendment states that congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The first amendment has never been followed correctly due to censorship, challenging, and the banning of books. People challenge books because they think they are protecting the youth an...
Banning books also makes it harder for kids because some kids might like certain books, If you take the books they like away from them then they will no longer wanna read.
This article addresses some of the reasons that censors attempt to remove books from the curriculum: Many censors feel that works are not age appropriate for students.
“Some parents oppose having their children exposed to fiction that doesn’t have a happy ending, teach a moral lesson, or provide noble role models. If these and other individual preferences were legitimate criteria for censoring materials, school curricula would narrow to only the least controversial—and probably least relevant—material. It would hardly address students' real concerns, satisfy their curiosity or prepare them for life.” (Censorship in Schools). Banning books or censoring material eliminates the true components that create each literary work. Not all books have happy endings or provide godly figures, but that is the beauty of storytelling. Without the vast set of elements that make up a novel, it would be harder to address real situations or help prepare individuals for life ahead. When society bans books it denies the appreciation of great literary works that hold powerful meaning which helps shape the lives of
Although banning books is a good thing to do, because you don’t want to expose bad things to kids, they also don’t have to learn or fear bad issues at a younger age. However kids will either way get exposed to bad issues, they can learn from a reliable source instead of made-up information, and according to Source 2, we need to educate kids because banning books takes that ability away from them. I still believe that banning books isn’t a good idea because the government should not tell us which book to read. Either are parents or ourselves should make the
As the American Library Association notes, books are usually banned "with the best intentions—to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information" (Brunner). People, normally adults, collaborate on a reason a book should be challenged, and then banned. They tally each example of a wide range of controversies that a book has and come to a single conclusion. Their decision to ban a book is usually for the safety of younger readers. What may seem appropriate for a high schooler may not gain the same reaction for an elementary school third-grader. Because all viewpoints are different, parents want to keep their children safe from all inappropriately discussed
One of the most common reasons books are banned is because of racial topics covered in books. Debating the controversial issue happens often among scholars and concerned parents who are either fighting for the right to read the books or the right to ban the books. Throughout the history of the United States racial equality commonly presents itself as an issue. Censorship against the oppressed is a way racism and oppression are perpetuated. Burying the issue in a pile of censored books is not a way to solve the problem of inequality in the United States.
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.
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.
Banning books isn’t uncommon. Books can be banned for many reasons such as violence, sexual content, or just plain “garbage”. It’s understandable that some things should be censored when it comes to children since everything they take in is absorbed. Where the line is drawn is banning books to the public. In some cases, books have been banned from public libraries.
The American Library Association says,“Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us.” f you ban books, you’re taking away the First Amendment from readers and writers, you’re taking their freedom of opinion and
Other parents disagree and attempt to ban books from class lists. One article says, “Because we no longer live in a world where it would be unthinkable for an authority figure to give a child a book in which depictions of sex, violence, drug use, and profanity and the like are major elements…” (Article 2). Society has changed and most parents want their children to face reality.