Banning Books

4607 Words10 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: justification of censorship

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. The children are the real losers because they are the ones that are not able to read the classic works of literature which are the backbone of classroom discussions all across the United States. The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) defines censorship as: “The removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary, artistic, or educational materials… of images, ideas, and information…on the grounds that these are morally or otherwise objectionable in light of standards applied by the censor” (Miner 1998). In schools there are three types of censorship, one type is a “parent who doesn’t want their child to read a particular book. Another is a parent, teacher, administrator, or school board member who argues that no one in the class, or school should read the book in dispute. 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 others 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 are family values, religion, political views, and minority rights. On the basis of family values, the censor is usually threatened ... ... middle of paper ... ...Potter Evil?” New York Times on the Web. 22 October. 1999. 31 March. 2003 http://www.judyblume.com/article/harry_potter_oped.html Judy Blume Talks About Censorship. 2 February. 1999 http://www.judyblume.com/censors.html. Lehman, Carol. Personal Interview. 13 March. 2003. Miner, B. (1998). When reading good books can get schools in trouble. An Urban Educational Journal, 12, 1-10 Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little Brown and Company, 1991 16 February. 2003 www.education-world.com/a-admin/admin157.shtml 16 February. 2003 http://www.aclu.org/FreeSpeech/FreeSpeech.cfm?ID=10724&c=83 16 February. 2003 http://www.smartkids.com/rescenter/library/articles/banned-books.asp?redir=true 19 March. 2003 http://www.dictionary.com 19 March. 2003 http://www.publishing.about.com/library/weekly/aa10599.htm?once=true&

Show More
Related

  • Alexander Hamilton's The Federalist Paper No. 68

    636 Words  | 2 Pages

    During 1788, Alexander Hamilton was one of the three authors of the Federalist Papers in addition to being a Lawyer in the state of New York. The Federalist Papers are known for being an imperative source of understanding in regards to the original Constitution.

    Read More

  • Alexander Hamilton: Strong Central Government

    468 Words  | 1 Pages

    Finally, Alexander Hamilton’s views on government were better for what the United States would become. Hamilton’s views on government were better for what the United States would become because he was a Federalist and believed in a strong central government. Also because of the way he viewed national debt, and the way he viewed foreign affairs. These are all ways that prove Alexander Hamilton’s views on government were better for what the United States would

    Read More

  • Federalist Alexander Hamilton

    672 Words  | 2 Pages

    Federalists such as Hamilton supported ratification. But Anti-Federalists, who feared that the document gave too much power to the federal government, worked to convince the states to reject it. Hamilton believed that the ratification was necessary because giving more power to the central government was essential for the nation's survival. In The Federalist Papers Hamilton sets the stage for those that would follow, entitling that "The vigor of government is essential to the security of liberty." The essay...

    Read More

  • Antigone

    1762 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the struggle between Creon and Antigone, Sophocles' audience would have recognized a genuine conflict of duties and values. From the Greek point of view, both Creon's and Antigone's positions are flawed, because both oversimplify ethical life by recognizing only one kind of good or duty. By oversimplifying, each ignores the fact that a conflict exists at all, or that deliberation is necessary. Moreover, both Creon and Antigone display the dangerous flaw of pride in the way they justify and carry out their decisions. Antigone admits right from the beginning that she wants to carry out the burial because the action is glorious. Antigone has a savage spirit; she has spent most of her life burying her family members.

    Read More

  • Alexander Hamilton’s First Federalist Paper

    1086 Words  | 3 Pages

    Alexander Hamilton’s first Federalist Paper endorses ratification of the proposed constitution. His unifying point is that the use of reason—in the form of the people’s "reflection and choice"—will lead to the truth, whereas their use of passion will lead to ruin. Hamilton attempts to persuade his readers to make the correct decision by reminding them of the sheer importance of the matter. He suggests that "good men" will want to make the correct choice in light of their "true interests" (33), while the adversaries of the Constitution will be ruled by passions, deceit, and even weak minds. He frankly warns his readers against "any impressions other than those which may result from the evidence of truth" (35); he offers them a chance to join him on the right side of the issue, which he implies he has arrived at by knowledgeable deliberation. Finally, Hamilton courts his audience by implying that they will use reason to reach the truth. By contrast, the opponents of the Constitution rely on their emotions and follow a "much more certain road to the introduction of despotism" (35).

    Read More

  • Theme of Censorship in Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451

    1667 Words  | 4 Pages

    A censor is an official or government entity that removes or restricts books, plays, the news media, etc. in order to hold back information or ideas that go against moral, political, religious, military, or other grounds that are considered objectionable. According to the censors they are only trying to protect three basic institutions: "the family, the church, and the state (Sherrow 13)." A type of censorship is called "closet censorship." This censorship is done quietly, individuals would write formal complaints to the school officials or quietly ask a librarian to remove a book. These complaints are normally looked into because officials are afraid of lawsuits (Sherrow15). However when parents complain officials then restrict a book and this book then becomes banned.

    Read More

  • Censorship in Schools

    3744 Words  | 8 Pages

    Brinkley describes a few actions that can lead to the censoring of a book in a school or school system: An expression of concern is simply a question about the material with overtones of disapproval; an oral complaint is an oral challenge to the contents of a work; a written complaint is a formal written challenge to the school about the contents of a work; and a public attack is a public statement challenging the contents of a work that is made outside of the school, usually to the media to gain support for further action (1999). Brinkley also points out an important difference between selection and censorship: Selection is the act of carefully choosing works for an English course that will be age-appropriate, meaningful, and fulfill objectives, while censorship is the act of excluding works that some con...

    Read More

  • Amazing Structure of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge in Japan

    969 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... carry out, thousands of workers, and over 100 contracting companies to build. Throughout the entire process of building this bridge, only six people were injured during construction and there were no deaths and set yet another record: the world-class safety record. (www.tfhrg.gov) This bridge as a whole was a remarkably well planned out both safety-wise and with the preliminary blueprints of everything from the structure to the actual building. Although this bridge set world records and measured almost a quarter mile longer than the StoreBaelt, the East Bridge in Denmark, contractors are already starting to plan another bridge in Japan that is set to be nearly a mile and a half long. This shows that although there is a massive amount of planning and work put into every bridge, each one opens up new doors to places that would otherwise be nearly impossible to reach.

    Read More

  • The Debate of Censorship

    752 Words  | 2 Pages

    When regulating the content that someone sees or hears, it is the sole responsibility of the individual to block harmful or offensive content from themselves or their children. In an article by Dan Gutman, a children’s book author, he states that if a piece of literature is banned from a school library, it is not only blocke...

    Read More

  • Scholastic Censorship: Stifling Intellectual Growth

    2276 Words  | 5 Pages

    Simmons, John S., and Eliza T. Dresang. School Censorship in the 21st Century: a Guide for Teachers and School Library Media Specialists. Newark, DE: International Reading Association, 2001. Print.

    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

  • Competitive Federalism

    2725 Words  | 6 Pages

    Even before the Constitution was ratified, strong argument were made by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison in the Federalist Papers urging the inclusion of a federal form of government to replace the failed confederation. In Federalist Paper No. 9 Hamilton states, “This form of government is a convention by which several smaller states agree to become members of a large one, which they intend to form. It is s kind of assemblage of societies that constitutes a new one, capable of increasing, by means of new associations, until they arrive to such a degree of power as to be able to provide for the security of a united body” (Usinfo.state.gov). The people of the United States needed a central government that was capable of holding certain powers over the states.

    Read More

  • Essay On School Censorship

    1317 Words  | 3 Pages

    When it comes to school censorship, many people think about book banning. Indeed, book banning has always been a problem in schools and continues into modern times. As mentioned, book banning has been a...

    Read More

  • Cervantes' Motivation for Writing Don Quixote

    1869 Words  | 4 Pages

    When Cervantes began writing Don Quixote, the most direct target of his satirical intentions was the chivalric romance. He makes this aim clear in his own preface to the novel, stating that "..[his] sole aim in writing..is to invalidate the authority, and ridicule the absurdity of those books of chivalry, which have, as it were, fascinated the eyes and judgment of the world, and in particular of the vulgar.” Immediately after the beginning of the novel, he demonstrates some of the ridiculous and unbelievable writing of these books: as Alonso Quixano--the man who decides to become the knight Don Quixote, after going mad from reading too many of these romances--sits in his study, tirelessly poring over his belo...

    Read More

  • Censorship: Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

    1413 Words  | 3 Pages

    Censorship has been a factor in the lives of humans since long ago in the times of the ancients, however, its prominence increased during the Middle Ages when literature became more common. Take censorship of books, for example, which has been relevant since the time after the persecution of the church, when it banned books about and/or including superstitions or opposition towards them, such as the condemnation of Thalia by Arius, a novel which portrayed “a literal, rationalist approach to the New Testament texts” (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/589822/Thalia), when “The First Ecumenical Council of Nicæa (325) condemned, not only Arius personally, but also his book... …The Emperor Constantine commanded that the writings of Arius and his friends should be burned and that concealing them was a capital crime, punishable by death.” (Rick Russell Former editor of AB Bookman's Weekly.) We look back on this as monstrous and wretched to deny someone their opinions and hide away the history from the public simply because it was in the favor of any particular group or sect. However, when we use censorship as a way for parents and teachers of children to regulate the reading material that we allow them to associate with, it’s suddenly justified and correct. Those censoring the books obviously think so. They hold the belief that they are protecting their youth from violence, harsh language, and crude humor. Parents and teachers around the nation censor The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain for similar reasons, but they continue to overlook the bigger picture. This title teaches the history of our nation, important life lessons, and the responsibilities of maturity and of growing up.

    Read More

More about Banning Books

Open Document