Banned Books: Good or Bad? Banned Books Week has been during the last week of September, dating back to 1982 (Glencoe Public Library). There have been multiple banned or challenged books around the world. For example, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee has been banned by a public school in Mississippi because it makes people feel uncomfortable while reading. In addition, people celebrate Banned Books Week in libraries or special events. Some books are banned in schools and libraries because they contain uncomfortable topics or offensive language; however, some people believe banned books are worth reading because they incorporate life lessons that students can learn from. First, To Kill A Mockingbird has been banned numerous times in different …show more content…
Procon.org says, “Parents have the right to decide what material their children are exposed to and when” (Banned Books- Top 3 Pros and Cons). In schools, children do not have to read a book if their parents do not want them to because it contains things they do not want their children to hear about at that time of their lives. "Literary works containing explicit sex, oral sex, explicit & violent descriptions of rape, masturbation, vulgar and obscene language" were on the approved reading list for grades 7-12, according to Speak up for Standards, a group seeking age-appropriate reading materials for students in Dallas, Texas” (Banned Books - Top 3 Pros and Cons). Before parents approve a book, children are introduced to it during school. However, their parents might not want them to read it, therefore, parents should know what books their children are reading that year before the children get exposed to it. “Books in the young adult genre often contain adult themes that young people aren’t ready to experience” (Banned Books- Top 3 Pros and Cons). Some books in public libraries include inappropriate topics for children that are younger. Parents would like for their young kids not to learn about violence or drug use until they are older. “Keeping books with inappropriate content out of libraries protects kids, …show more content…
According to the article, “What Are You Doing for Banned Books Week”, “In case you didn’t know, this week, Sept. 27-Oct. 4, is Banned Books Week, and libraries around the country are celebrating — if that’s the right word — with exhibits, readings and other special events” (What Are You Doing for Banned Books Week?). Parents celebrate banned books week because their children aren’t reading about inappropriate topics anymore. They celebrate by visiting libraries in their town or going to exhibits about banned books. “George Orwell’s 1984” was challenged in Jackson County, Fla., because it was considered “pro-Communist” (What Are You Doing for Banned Books Week?). Several books have been banned because they are pro-communists. People don’t think that this topic should be allowed for their children to read in schools. But the champion among challenged or banned books is probably “Catcher in the Rye”: “obscene,” “blasphemous and undermines morality,” “centered around negative activity,” “anti-white,” “a filthy, filthy book” (What Are You Doing for Banned Books Week?). Catcher in the Rye has been banned multiple times just because of its’ profanity. It is considered a filthy book that consists of negative thoughts. “One of the most informative of these lists is “Banned and/or Challenged Books from the Radcliffe Publishing Course, Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century”(What Are You Doing for Banned Books Week?).
In the 21st century, many books are challenged and banned for their content, some of these include The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Animal Farm, and Fahrenheit 451. Many of the reasons given for banning are the same. The reasons include violence, language, symbols, and religion. This makes it very difficult for educational professionals; which books should be taught and which ones should be banned, when does protection become unnecessary censorship? Although Fahrenheit 451 shows some dark themes such as banning books, disregard for human life, and suicide, it should be included in the school curriculum because it shows the dystopian future that awaits the world if the events in the book become a reality.
Books can create portals to different life experiences and encourage reading. A few schools and libraries have challenged the educational value of some books, however, therefore leading them to eventually be prohibited in a particular place. Each reason may be different depending on the book and the location of the exclusions. Books are icons of literature and their value should outshine the occasionally offensive topic. Be that as it may, there are multiple reasons why books should be taught and included in a curriculum.
Ironically, Fahrenheit 451 is one of the most banned books in American schools. The book was seen as evil for ideas like opposing the suppression of freedom by parties that presumed they had all the answers. Books such as Fahrenheit 451, 1984, Brave New World, The Giver, and The Hunger Games have been banned in schools, and they all explore the themes of suppressing freedom, information, and intellectual thinking. Prohibiting these books will only lead less thought; it will lead to the ultimate demise of society. If we do not learn from them, we will become them.
A parent or the student should be the one who decided whether or not the book is appropriate. Also, when a child is sheltered from the world, a book with just a bit of adult material could help them understand what really happens. It could prepare them so when they do become older and get a job, the world doesn’t put them into complete shock. Taken from Common Reasons for Banning Books, “…it is important that the reader makes his/her judgments on the book.” To elaborate on this, another person shouldn’t tell a student what and what not to read.
Children just like us have a mind of their own and should be able to make their own decisions by themselves to either pick up the book or to leave it alone. Censorship does not exist in public places such as stores even though children enter stores everyday these kids have learned the decency of what they should or should not do they learned what they want and what they do not want what they like and what they do not like that should be a reason that children should be able to make censorship their choice.
Banned Books Essay Banned Books Week is an annual event starting on September 23 and ending on September 29 celebrating the freedom to read books freely no matter what topics are present throughout the book. The purpose of Banned Books Week is to bring the community together and express and seek ideas in books even if they are considered unorthodox. Throughout this celebratory week publishers, librarians, booksellers, journalists, teachers and more all celebrate the freedom to read and access information that they desire to explore. The outstanding novels by the names of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie are both banned books in many middle school and high
First, this text states, “Children should not be exposed to sex, violence, drug use, or other inappropriate topics” (Procon.org). To explain, parents are banning books from schools because they do not want their children to be exposed to these inappropriate topics. Moreover, banning these inappropriate topic books would be a great deal for parents and their children. Furthermore, the same text states that “Keeping books with an inappropriate content out of libraries protects kids, but does not stop people from
Children should not learn about such things until they are old enough. Kids can be influenced by the things that they are taught at a young age. “Keeping books with inappropriate content out of libraries protects kids, but does not stop people from reading those books or prevent authors from writing them.” Many people think because they are banned means you can not read them. People can still read these books just not at a young age, this also should not stop authors from writing books such as To Kill a Mockingbird.
Also, some say that you should not be exposing bad behavior or language to students but in reality they hear and see these things everyday, and by banning a book, that is not protecting them. Writers have the freedom to write whatever they want and that is a part of the First Amendment, so why banned their book? “The First Amendment allows individuals to speak, publish, read and view what they wish, worship (or not worship) as they wish, associate with
Intro 1: What if your young child is looking through a book at your public library and comes across a topic that was way too mature for their mind set. Would you be okay with it? A big controversial issue that has been going on in the past year is if books should be banned. Now, no one is trying to banish libraries across the globe but people have requested to ban books that are inappropriate. This matter has grown to be worse because everyone has an opinion.
Every child deserves a proper education. Banned books are depriving students of a well rounded, culturally aware, literary education because of the culture that is discarded, the history that is being withheld, and the education that young people could get through these banned books. The point of history is to learn from it and learn from others mistakes, but how can we do that if we are not allowed to learn it. As teachers shouldn’t you be teaching us how to make judgment calls like understanding that Mark Twain was a racist, but a man of his time and that doesn’t change him being an amazing writer. We cannot learn things such as that if we cannot even read most of Mark Twain’s books.
The books are normally banned for good intention or causes to protect the public, especially the young audience from controversial ideas. Reference to
[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
Banned Books?? This passage is why books shouldn’t be banned and why it's important for parents and/or the school board to not ban books. Prohibited books are unlawful and not helpful schools. Books are an entryway to various beneficial encounters and perusing supports sympathy and social-passionate advancement.
Also, some say that you should not be exposing bad behavior or language to students but in reality they hear and see these things everyday, and by banning a book, that is not protecting them. Writers have the freedom to write whatever they want and that is a part of the First Amendment, so why banned their book? “The First Amendment allows individuals to speak, publish, read and view what they wish, worship (or not worship) as they wish, associate with