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Parent involvement in education introduction
Essays about book censorship
Parent involvement in education introduction
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One of our greatest freedoms as Americans is under attack, the freedom to read. The freedom to read and write what we want is essential to the sharing of ideas and how our country is operated. Books are censored today because some people want to avoid controversial views and moral corruption. If books are constantly removed in order to shield people from controversial views, then our very own freedom is stripped away. Americans must be trusted to make their own decisions about what they read and follow. For the most part, banning books inhibits the sharing of new ideas by limiting our freedom to read what we want. A person’s freedom to express him or herself without fear of retribution is the essence of free speech. Censorship occurs when …show more content…
He may be right that most challenges of books do not result in a ban, but book banning still exists and the threat of censorship is unsettling. Most books that are challenged are generally banned because they involve one of the following: racial themes, different lifestyles, profanity, sex, violence, witchcraft, or unpopular views. Just because someone opposes something in a book does not mean it should be banned. Is banning books going to protect children from the evil in the world? Children are exposed to things such as profanity and violence all the time through the Internet and social media and it is almost pointless trying to ban books just to protect a child’s innocence. Parents have full right to monitor what their children read, but they do not have the right to remove books from public libraries as they see fit. Reading is the best way to improve our intelligence, we should appreciate books for being unique and controversial, not ban …show more content…
These books that cause so much controversy actually teach important values. Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain and published in 1884 was and continues to be a very controversial piece of literature. It does not promote racism like some say. It is the story of a boy, abused by his father, having no mother and developing a relationship with an escaped slave. Twain uses this unlikely relationship between a man and a boy to attack the idea of racism showing that there is little difference in two people who are trying to escape their present circumstances even though they are different in color. Twain uses the local dialect and even the “n”-word, making the story more genuine to the reader. It was considered offensive and yet it is a beautiful picture showing the absurdity of racism that reaches readers today. Some parents react to books before taking the time to closely look at what they want banned. These great pieces of literature enlighten us on controversial topics and therefore should not be banned. The full knowledge of a topic involves understanding of both sides of the argument; if we choose to neglect an exceedingly unpopular topic, then we are deciding to live incompletely educated. Avoiding unpopular topics and parents keeping their children from reading about these ideas
The Constitution states: "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." Even though books may influence young minds with negative thinking, society shouldn’t ban books because it prohibits learning and it violates the First Amendment in the Constitution. Banning books takes away the author’s right, some books can be very educational, and it takes away the children’s choice of what they get to read.
To delve into a topic as serious as book censorship, one must first determine the purpose of reading, of literature in general. Blahblahblah (what Ms Buckingham said). Mark Twain’s novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, has sparked much controversy since its publication in 1884 due to countless racial slurs and stereotypes; in fact it is the most commonly banned book in American history (source). While many argue that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should be banned, the literary merit, namely the realistic setting and characterization, outweighs the vulgarity and crude language. Twain’s satirical social commentary provides a moral exploration of racism and a vignette-style plot of contrast between the shore and the land and between Huck Finn and his partner-in-crime, Tom Sawyer.
The decision to ban the novel Huckleberry Finn from classrooms and libraries has been an ongoing controversy. The presence of the 'n word' and the treatment towards Jim, and other blacks in general, has made many readers uncomfortable. Despite this fact, Huckleberry Finn has been and remains a classic read. I do not believe the novel should be banned or sanitized because it is a part of American history whether it is good or bad, also we have no right to change someone's writing simply because we do not like how it is written, Mark Twain's writing should not be penalized because of the ideals of today.
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
By forbidding the reading of certain books, the first amendment rights of every American citizen are violated. The first amendment of the U.S. Constitution clearly states that all citizens have freedom of speech as well as freedom of press (Book Banning 1). By banning a book and making it so that no one can read it, the government is keeping the author from expressing their thoughts and opinions through press. The freedom of choice is also violated due to the inability of reading that particular book as an option. Not only the first amendment rights are violated, but also the academic freedom and diversity of thought guaranteed and protected by the constitution (Teachers 1). History will show that Americans do not take the violation of their rights lightly, and are more than likely to protest. Sometimes, in more extreme cases, they will rebel.
The practice of the censorship of books in schools has been prevalent due to the explicit content of them. Parents have been complaining to schools about books that count as required reading because they disapprove with the points made in the book. If a book consists of offensive or sexually explicit material, then parents would challenge the schools about them in order to prevent their children from reading them. Censorship in general has been an intensely debated issue because it is considered an infringement to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution while others argue it is used to conceal inappropriate things (Aliprandini and Sprague). The banning of books in school curriculum has also been debated since parents see certain books as inappropriate while others argue that banning them hinders student learning. Against the censorship of books in schools, Fenice Boyd and Nancy Bailey, authors of Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, believe that banning books creates a barrier between students and intellectual development (Boyd and Bailey, 655). Banning books from schools and removing them from the curriculum prevents students from exploring different ideas and developing creativity and critical thinking skills.
Censorship is a concept with several different meanings. To each individual censorship has its own meaning. Is it a violation of our rights or is it a protection for our well being? Censorship in the generic sense refers to the suppression of information, ideas, or opinions. It occurs in all forms of communication from technological media to print media. Each society, culture, or individual's belief is violated by the codes of censorship that our society instills.
We live in an overprotective society, where people try to control other people’s lives from things that they find explicit. Many parents believe that by sheltering their kids from offensive things it will keep them safe. But, trying to live life as if there is always sunshine and no rain turns out to be a big disappointment. The banning of books has a negative effect on children and adults alike, as it can shelter children from real life situations, and revokes the rights of the people. Although people believe in banning books that contain vulgar language and profanity to help their children, it can actually hurt the child and can be considered unconstitutional.
Racism, obscenity, and the level of society make up a large portion of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain’s book is a well-known classic. However, he includes topics and dialogue that has caused tremendous conflict and controversy. In schools across the country, Huck Finn is already being taken off shelves due to its inappropriate nature. Many people believe that Huck Finn should be banned because of the insulting words and quotes displayed in the book.
When a book is banned, reasoning should be backed up with many facts and teachers should be able to agree or disagree. Teachers are the ones who have graduated from colleges and have earned this right. Though the opinions of parents matter, their opinion does not necessarily take into account all that the book has to give. Parents may not see the potential of the book as a whole. They may just see the racist language or cruel behavior in a book. What their opinions are mostly based on is the information that will keep everyone the most comfortable instead of the importance behind the basics for students to learn (Hills). Some books may include opposing ideas like this, but that does not mean that they do not have something to teach us. Many teachers take it on themselves to determine what is appropriate. They take on a certain level of self-imposed censorship to make sure that they are teaching appropriate material. Along with this, books being bought with school funds have to go through a process of approval (Zimmerman). This should eliminate any problem areas that parents may have. Besides just having the school board approving the books, many teachers have the same basic outline of what a book should include and be like. They ag...
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.
Many people have fought the long, hard battle to have our right to say and write whatever we want without fear of reprisal. One argument for censorship is that those who spout hate and bigotry should not have the right to say anything they want. You may not agree with their views or their politics, but they do have the right as American citizens to say what they want, even if a vast majority of the country disagrees. That is the beauty of our country. We set the standard for what all other countries want to be. They want free press. They want free speech. They want to be able to say what they are thinking without fear of being killed the next
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.
The subject of censorship is a very controversial one, especially the banning of books. Many people believe they must protect themselves and others from the "evils" of many classic books and works of art because they can be deemed "indecent" in one way or another. Many believe that this is absurd and censorship in its current form is a violation of our First Amendment right to free speech. Personally, I align myself with the latter, however I do feel there are occasions where censorship is justifiable.
According to the American Library Association’s 100 most frequently challenged books, authors like Mark Twain, John Steinbeck, Maya Angelou, Harper Lee, and Stephen King have books that have been challenged. Some of these authors have written amazing stories that are being challenged. There is a difference between banning and challenging. A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. Books usually are challenged or banned with the goal of protecting others, mostly children, from situations and circumstances beyond their understanding. The term banning is the removal of those materials from school curriculum or a library collection. Challenges do not simply involve a single person not liking a piece of literature.