Banning books creates an unstable curriculum and creates a narrow way of looking at and learning about the world. A recent journal article by maryvillepawprint.com states, “Limiting students access to books might solve on family’s problems about their child reading a certain book, but it removes the opportunity for another child” (Chiesa). Children are meant to learn and grow and learn. Removing these books, that provide new ideas and representations, creates gaps in knowledge. Every family has some type of belief system even if they say they do not. When parents ban books that go against their beliefs it removes representation of another belief. This removal of representation pushes children away from learning more about others and themselves …show more content…
However, by stripping away the public access to books that hold these identities, it becomes nearly impossible for students to find a relatable topics and characters in their assigned or allowed school reading. A recent article written by Sean Reichbach states, “For such a diverse country with so many beautiful identities, finding a relatable protagonist in assigned school readings is still very difficult” (Book Banning Must Be Stopped). Children are supposed to learn and grow through what their parents and teachers teach them. However, their growth into their personal identities can be stunted because of a lack of representation and people for them to look up …show more content…
The New York Times then states, “They argued that young people have the right to read unsanitized versions of history, that diverse books expose them to a variety of experiences and perspectives, that controversial literature helps them to think critically about the world, and that, in the age of the internet, book bans just aren’t that effective” (What Students Are Saying About Banning Books From School Libraries). Students should have the right to connect to the books they read. By removing books because they have a transgender character, or a charater that others do not agree with because it is not “typical,” it creates a feeling of displacement. One student named Meghan from Glenbard West High School explains, “If we don’t learn history, we can’t learn from it, and that is the most essential key to humanity…” and, “Our society depends on the idea of future generations learning and progressing, and with the banning of books all we are doing is going backwards, not forwards” (What Students Are Saying About Banning Books From School Libraries). By censoring historical events such as the Holocaust, future students are at a disadvantage when it comes to creating a stable future. By not knowing about the past, the horrible events that shaped this world could begin again because they simply do not know how it once destroyed entire
Book banning isn't really beneficial to anybody, not even those who believe they are "protecting" children from sensitive topics. There are topics in banned books, like racism, to spread awareness and to show it's wrong. Then there are other themes, like diverse religions and cultures, to spread inclusivity to show being different is normal. When children read about things in books, it shapes their worldview; especially, it makes them notice that most of these happen in the world around them. And it does build goodwill and better friendships because they'll be able to understand what others may go through, and those people will have characters to relate to.
When they ban books from school we are erasing history, and we aren't giving students an experience of all societies. Schools should include all genres of literature, books based in all societies, and with controversial topics. One big problem that most people don't
Should Parents be Able to Ban Books in Schools? Banning books is the most widespread form of censorship in the United States. While this might seem like an extreme statement, it is true, and childrens books are the primary target of this (Bayron). Banning books is censorship because most banned books deal with issues of race, sexuality, or identity.
Alaina Broomhead Mr. Whitman Pre-AP English 2 10 March 2023 The Fight to Ban Books Many books around the world have been displaced from classrooms and libraries for negative and inappropriate topics. The implementation of repugnant language and unsuitable subjects should not be taught or expected in learning environments.
By limiting a student’s opportunity by banning specific books or ideas can eventually hinder that goal. Censorship within education gives more control to a dominant demographic and can shape beliefs in order to obtain a political agenda (Lycke & Lucey, 2018). If schools want their students to become good citizens in society, they need to be exposed to uncomfortable topics. Literature can help explain and demonstrate difficult scenarios or themes that the main character has to go through. Students then can evaluate and learn from such scenarios, and if they have questions, they can ask their
Books are an essential way to gain knowledge whether they are controversial or not. Thousands of books have been banned from public libraries and schools due to being deemed ‘inappropriate’ by parents, administrators, or religious leaders. Whether Americans should ban books in public libraries and schools is an often debated topic. This censorship of books is dangerous, as it restricts the American people's’ ability to access information, leaving Americans ignorant. Historically, banning books is not a new practice.
Anderson further states that by banning books, you are essentially “laying the groundwork for increasing bullying, disrespect, violence and attacks.” By banning books it does not allow kids to understand others' experiences and the reason they may act in such a way, making them more prone to bullying. In a world where kids are not taught about the problems people have faced in the past they will not learn to empathize with one another leading to racism and a divided
When censoring your own child’s school life, it can also have a great impact on the lives of other students. Choosing to remove content from schools and libraries takes the material from all students and children who can learn and benefit from the stories, not only that one child. Within the article “How Banning Books Marginalizes Children”, Ringel discusses the way in which literature written for younger children is more often aimed to please prospective parents and administrators instead of the intended audience of young minds. Accordingly, emphasizing the point that when literature does bring forward diverse subjects, issues one may likely experience in real life, to intrigue and educate young readers, authority figures will deem this content inappropriate, taking away its accessibility.
At one point in time, over 7,220 books have been challenged to be banned. Though these books have been removed for the safety of children, not all books should be banned for many reasons. These include the fact that banning books is infringing on the First Amendment, keeping children from understanding the real world, and, even though there are many reasons for book banning, not banning books could help a student’s education and can even work against itself. Banning a book from a school or public library could go against a person’s First Amendment of the freedom of press.
1.) Books can be amongst some of the best teachers. Furthermore books teach us many things like new vocabulary and new ways of thinking, so we should embrace all books and not ban them. 2.) Additionally, most banned books go on to become classics.
There are countless reasons that everybody should know why books are being banned all over the world! One of the reasons is that parents do not want their children to be exposed to inappropriate topics. Moreover, some books discusses topics that people object to like dark arts and homosexuality. However, there are also reasons why books should not be banned. When children enjoy books, it improves their vocabulary, and it teaches them life lessons.
“American citizens who care about the improvement of education are urged to join students, teachers, librarians, administrators, boards of education, and professional and scholarly organizations in support of the students’ right to read” (The Students Right to Read). Citizens should be allowed to stand up if they believe books should not be banned. It is important that writers should be able to have their books out to the public without getting banned. “Challengers often employ a definition that maintains that banning materials is the only true form of censorship,”(Knox 740). Censorship of books is common and a real problem.
If kids are not exposed to this material than they might not truly understand big pieces of history. If books were banned we would have less options to read and our education wouldn 't be as strong. In conclusion, books should not be banned. If books were banned then our education world lesson and our knowledge would be much slimmer.
[21]” (ProCon.org). Banning books in school can create a problem for the teachers that are trying to assign something to the class. With the new addition to the first amendment schools will have the rights to any books. When books are banned the life lessons in the books are also
“American citizens who care about the improvement of education are urged to join students, teachers, librarians, administrators, boards of education, and professional and scholarly organizations in support of the students’ right to read” (The Students Right to Read). Citizens should be allowed to stand up if they believe books should not be banned. It is important that writers should be able to have their books out to the public without getting banned. “Challengers often employ a definition that maintains that banning materials is the only true form of censorship,”(Knox 740). Censorship of books is common and a real problem.