Book Banning to Movie Banning...when does it stop?

As if banning books were not enough of a hindrance to education, the Winnacunnet Cooperative School Board has banned R-Rated movies from being shown in classrooms unless teachers can provide educational reasoning for showing it. The board voted unanimously and was a result of parental complaints that movies being shown to their children were inappropriate.
Movies such as Great Expectations, Saving Private Ryan, and Schindler's List are now banned in this school district. Teachers tried to resist by sending the board a petition of more than 70 signatures, but it did not help. Parents argue that there are no benefits to the movies. They feel it takes away from class time and shows inappropriate content, such as sexual activity.

Maybe parents ought to perceive school through their children's eyes. Everyday, students are learning about literature and grammar. Movies act as a balancing act for learning. Some students are auditory learners and some are visual. So when kids read Great Expectations, some students do not understand it. But when they see the movie, they can better comprehend the material within the text. Plus, movies add some excitement to the class...a break in the schedule sometimes allows students to de-stress and relax for a bit. Plus, many movies like Saving Private Ryan are well-made reproductions. Do parents believe that kids do not know what sex is or that they never saw someone get shot in a movie or on tv?

Banning books is demoralizing...banning movies is just stupid.

source: http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/hampton/11252005/news/74967.htm

Supreme Court Cases on Censorship

As I have stated numerous times before, censorship has been around for many decades. More importantly, reasons for censorship have not dramatically changed over time, showing that society, although more liberal today, still refuses to believe holistically in the First Amendment. The following are towo Supreme Court cases. I am using two very different time periods because I want to demonstrate how censorship has not changed all that much.


Case # 1: Evans v. Selma Union High School District of Fresno County, Cali. 1924

The California Supreme Court decided in favor of Selma Union High School to allow it to purchase 12 copies of the Bible in the King James version. There was some controvery over this and some people felt that allowing such a text in a high school library would be promoting the theory of dogma and would, in effect, corrupt the students. The Supreme Court, though, stated, "The mere act of purchasing a book does not carry with it any implication of adoption of the theory or dogma contained therein, or any approval of the book itself, except as a work of literature fit to be included in a reference library."


Case # 2: Counts v. Cedarville School District, Arkansas, 2003

A federal district court ruled against the Cedarville School District's attempt to restrict the reading of Harry Potter books. The school had been using a system by which parents needed to give written permission for their children to read the books. The school felt that the books condoned witchcraft and defying authority. However, the court decided that doing so directly infringed on the students' First Amendment rights and “[r]egardless of the personal distaste with which these individuals regard 'witchcraft,’ it is not properly within their power and authority as members of defendant’s school board to prevent the students at Cedarville from reading about it.” The court also said that requiring written parental consent was "stigmatizing" the Harry Potter books and those who choose to read them.


I was happy to see that both court cases resulted in support of anti-censorship. However, the negative implications from these two examples is that people continually find some of the most absurd reasons to censor books...defying authority? I think the parents could come up with something a little better than this to use...if they are going to try to censor a book, they should at least come prepared. If I were the judge and I read their reasons for trying to censor the Harry Potter books, I would laugh in their faces and rip the papers up...

Source: http://www.nsba.org/site/doc_cosa.asp?TRACKID=&VID=50&CID=487&DID=11872

Steps to take when faced with a book challenge

Many of us know what censorship is in its most basic form. But when it comes to understanding how to combat it, people are dumbfounded. It seems as though there is no way to battle the censorship advocates and people feel helpless. But there are things teachers can do to fight against book banning.

Adapted from "Books Under Fire"

The ALA, NCTE, and PFAW have compiled a list of things to do when faced with book censorship:

-- ask parents to contribute to developing school reading programs
-- provide recommended, rather than required, reading lists
-- be prepared to defend your choices by keeping files of supportive professional reviews
-- use collective bargaining contracts to negotiate freedom clauses
-- use a variety of texts to teach a concept or theme
-- meet with the complaining parent to try to resolve the conflict
-- request a written complaint that details the negative effect the book might have on students and ask parents to suggest replacement materials
-- provide a copy of the district's formal curriculum materials review policy
-- even when the complaint is being reviewed, keep the material available to other students

some of these ideas may sound risky, such as the last one. But these ideas should not be used to make teachers subservient to the review system. Rather, teachers should be able to combat censorship by hitting it straight in the face, while also going on with their teaching lives.

Source: "Books Under Fire", Kathie Durbin, 2005

Comstockery

On March 3rd, 1873, The U.S. government enacted the Comstock Law. It was meant to stop obscene literature from being sent through the mail as well as restrict birth control, birth control information, and other sexually explicit material.
The Comstock Law was named after its intiator, Anthony Comstock. George Bernard Shaw, an author that was censored because of the Comstock Law, coined the term "comstockery".

Be it enacted… That whoever, within the District of Columbia or any of the Territories of the United States…shall sell…or shall offer to sell, or to lend, or to give away, or in any manner to exhibit, or shall otherwise publish or offer to publish in any manner, or shall have in his possession, for any such purpose or purposes, an obscene book, pamphlet, paper, writing, advertisement, circular, print, picture, drawing or other representation, figure, or image on or of paper of other material, or any cast instrument, or other article of an immoral nature, or any drug or medicine, or any article whatever, for the prevention of conception, or for causing unlawful abortion, or shall advertise the same for sale, or shall write or print, or cause to be written or printed, any card, circular, book, pamphlet, advertisement, or notice of any kind, stating when, where, how, or of whom, or by what means, any of the articles in this section…can be purchased or obtained, or shall manufacture, draw, or print, or in any wise make any of such articles, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof in any court of the United States…he shall be imprisoned at hard labor in the penitentiary for not less than six months nor more than five years for each offense, or fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two thousand dollars, with costs of court.

Leading female advocate Margaret Sanger, with her devotion to spreading awareness about contraception and sexual information, created controversy within the United States. She created the Planned Parenthood Foundation we hear of today. Her efforts led to the uplifting of restrictions concerning birth control and sexual information in Comstock Law in 1938.

The Comstock Law is another example of how censorship is deeply rooted in American history. Although the Comstock Law is still technically a federal law, it is not typically followed because society has become more liberal than in the late 1930's. However, censorship advocates still turn to it when cornered by anti-censorship advocates and use it as a loop hole to justify book banning.

Comic book censorship

Censorship is not a new issue...it has been a prevalent problem in American society for decades. In 1955, the U.S. Senate investigated the so-called direct link between comic books and juvenile delinquency. It was stated that parents had gone to administration with concern as to how the content of comic books has had a "deleterious effect upon their children of certain of the media of mass communication". The government says that the public has a right to state their concerns for the welfare of their children and that "certian types of mass communication media are to be reckoned with as contributing to the country's alarming rise in juvenile delinquency". It rationalizes that although juvenile delinquency is not caused by one factor, comic books have a significant effect upon the entire problem. It also justifies that just as juvenile delinquency has been a rapidly evolving issue, so has the increase in print media, television and radio. The Senate says that children today are exposed to the sights and sounds of new entertainment that can be delterious to their upbringing and are very different to the way kids were raised decades before. They say comic books are a "powerful counterpoise working evil" and greatly impact a child during its developmental years.

The Senate uses the following criteria as reaons for why comic books are so harmful:

character, plot and setting
the use of supernatural powers to hurt others using real-life
situations
would show kids that they can use violence on others
language
words alone are more graphic than words and battle scenes are
depicted
using harsh words. Kids learn to use these harsh words to evoke
power over
others
sequence
the sequence of events is so quick that kids believe that there are
no long-term consequences to their actions. stories show the
climax of events
in the end so that kids believe that the best is yet to come.

I have to approach this issue in two perspectives. Firstly, the year is 1955 and the US was not as liberal at it is now, so the Senate and parents who complained to administrations were probably shocked at the new wave of literature and entertainment available to the masses. Secondly, I view this topic with a 2005 perspective. The reason I do so is because there is a direct correlation between the arguments in 1955 and 2005 concerning censorship. Are not the arguments posed by the 1955 Senate similar, if not exact, replications of the arguments today? They complain that the literature has gotten out of control and is corrupting youth...and in 2005 the same feelings are expressed.
This idea poses a great threat for me. Have we not changed as a society since 1955? Are we still stuck in a time when we thought comic books were harmful for children? What happened to parenting and showing kids the difference between recreation and reality?
Comic books are just another form of literature, just like the newspaper. Isn't the newspaper worse? Doesn't the newspaper tell about actual events that occured, such as rape, murder, war, death, suffering, etc?

Source: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8580/kefauver.html

Gay Authors banned??

In more recent news of 2005, Alabama lawmaker Gerald Allen is claiming that books containing homosexuality should be completely banned. He wants to enact a bill that would completely rid Alabama of homosexual books. He says it is not about censorship, but "protecting the hearts and souls and minds of our children." He says that homosexuality has no positive role in American society and all libraries ans school book shelves should be rid of these type of texts.
"It's not healthy for America, it doesn't fit what we stand for. And they will do whatever it takes to reach their goal", says Gerald Allen.
Such titles as The Color Purple and even some of Shakespeare's plays were under scrunity.
First amendment advocates say that it is a clear infringment on the constitional right.
In the end, when this bill went to vote, not enough state legislatures were present...the bill was immediately dropped.

Well thank goodness! Can you imagine silencing gay authors and characters? What is next? Females? African Americans? I cannot even fathom the domino effect that Allen was trying to set up here. I am very glad the bill was not enacted.
But on a serious note, this news shows that censorship is still roaring and it is not dying down by any means . Even the thought that it was possible for someone, in high political standing, would press such an issue is just abhorrable to me. I am digusted to think this man would try to silence a writer just because of sexual orientation.

Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/26/eveningnews/main691106.shtml

A perfect literary world: If only censorship did not exist

I am currently reading a book called Developing Critical Awareness at the Middle Level by Johnson and Freedman. In chapter two, the book discusses the appeal of social justice in YA lit. Students are said to embrace subjects such as oppression, abuse, alientation, popularity, and other issues relevant to their lives. The book says, "middle level students know of such oppression, can connect to such situations, and can add to one another's understanding by sharing their own stories" (24). But this cannot happen if books that have this content are censored, and these are exactly the books being banned. So, yes, in a wonderful world students would embrace the content and would be able to enjoy literature and critically analyze it. But censorship takes away the drive to do so. Students are stuck with books that do not address the common issues in their lives. The Crucible, The Scarlet Letter, The Old Man in the Sea...all great literary titles...but they have no relevance to students' lives! A Separate Peace, The Perks of Being A Wallflower, The Uglies...these are titles kids would get into! The subject matter relates to them. In addition to students being more engaged, "teachers are better able to negotiate a dialogue about issues of social justice and injustice with young adolescents" (24). Teachers can connect with their students and build healthy, trustful relationships. It does not have to be teacher = dictator and student = subservient slave. It should be that teacher = student. Teachers can learn from students as well as students learn from teachers.
Students need to be given the benefit of the doubt that they have lives worth talking about. Put a novel in front of them that they cannot relate to, ask them to take a test on it, and then wonder why they don't like to read in school and develop poor reading habits outside and inside of school...this is what we continually do!
Banned books are not banned because students do not want to read them. They are banned because adults are afraid that students will all have sex if they read a book with sex in it, all do drugs with a book including drugs...students are not this ignorant. it is not the books that push kids to take up poor choices. Maybe if students were shown that although the main character in Stargirl is ostracized and made fun of so much that she relocates schools, that the main themes are acceptance and conformity/nonconformity. Students are smart enough to make these decisions on their own.

Source: Developing Critical Awareness at the Middle Level. Johnson & Freedman, IRA. 2005.

Finally...a legislative breakthrough

The U.S. Patriot Act (section 215) has finally found its match. The Freedom to Read Act has been passed by the House of Representatives and exempts "libraries and bookstores from searches". This is a milestone for censorship because there was never such a push for violating privacy. The new Freedom to Read Act cuts the funding for these searches that, before, went without protest. The vote was 238 to 187 in favor of it, so hooray to those legislatures who see the negative repercussions of censorship. Although the battle is still a very long way from being completely solved, which it probably never will be, at least this is a step in the right direction.

http://www.ncac.org/cen_news/cn98latebreaking.htm

Who is a banned author?

I found a list of authors that have had their books/plays banned. It ranges from Shakespeare to Blume.

Amis, Kingsley
Angelou, Maya
Aristophanes
Auel, Jean
Baldwin, James B
alzac, Honore de
Bamford, James
Bannerman, Helen
Benchley, Peter
Bennett, D.M.
Bett, Doris
Beveridge, J
Blume, Judy B
occacio, Giovanni B
onner, Raymond
Bradbury, Ray
Bryant, John
Burgess, Anthony
Burroughs, Edgar
Rice Cabell,
James Branch
Carrol, Lewis
Calhoun, Mary
Chandler, David
Chomsky, Naom
Coleman, Benjamin
Cormier, Robert
Davis, Deborah
Debray, Regis
Defoe, Daniel
De Sade, Marquis
Dos Passos, John
Dreiser, Theodore
Duesberg, Peter
Ellison, Harlan E
rnst, Morris L.
Farrell, James T.
Faulkner, William
Favel, J.
Feuchtwanger, Lion
Fitzgerald, F. Scott
Flaubert, Gustav
For, Dario
Foucault, Michel
Frank, Anne
Franklin, Benjamin
Friedan, Betty
Fuentes, Carlos
Gautier, Theophile
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang
Golding, William
Green, Graham
Guest, Judith
Hawthorne, Nathaniel
Heller, Joseph
Helper, Hinton
Hemingway, Ernest
Holmes, Peter
Huxley, Aldous
Jackson, Gordon
Jones, James
Joyce, James
Kauffann, Stanley
Keyes, Daniel
Khair-Eddine, Mohammed
King, Stephen K
lein, Norma
Kundera, Milan
L'Engle, Madaleine
Lawrence, D.H.
Leary, Timothy
Lewis, Sinclair
Livingston, Myra Cohn
Louys, Pierre
Luise, Reuban L.
Lurie, Reuben
MacElroy, Wendy
Machiavelli, Niccolo
March, J.M.
Marchetti, Victor
Marks, John D.
Marks, Percy
Marquez, Gabriel Garcia
Mather, Increase
Maugham, Somerset
McGeehee, Ralph
Mencken, H.L.
Miles, Austin
Miller, Arthur
Miller, Henry
Milosz, Czeslaw
Moore, Carol
Moravia, Alberto
Morse, Ann Christensen
Murdock, Iris
Nin, Anais
O'Neill, Eugene
Orwell, George
Paine, Thomas
Parsons, Jonathan
Plath, Sylvia
Pound, Ezra
Protagoras
Pynchon, William
Rabelais, Francois
Reich, Wilhelm
Remarque, Erich Maria
Rice, Anne
Rouseau, Jean-Jacques
Rushdie, Salman
Salinger, J.D.
Sanger, Margaret
Sartre, Jean-Paul
Sewall, Joseph
Shakespeare, William
Shaw, George Bernard
Sinclair, Upton
Snepp, Frank W., III
Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr
Stein, Gertrude
Steinbeck, John
Stern, Howard
Stopes, Marie
Swift, Jonathan
Thompson, Linda
Tolkien, J.R.R.
Tolstoy, Lev
Twain, Mark
Velikovsky, Immanuel
Vidal, Gore
Voltaire
Von Mises, Ludwig
Vonnegut, Kurt
Walker, Alice
Whitman, Walt

This list consists of some of the most widely known authors and playwrights. Why is their work censored? Haven't we been reading them for decades, or even hundreds of years? Why were they never censored before? I think we all know that the writing did not become "bad" overnight. Instead, it is society's ignorant perspective that children need to be guarded against the thoughts and actions in these books. In my opinion, parents and other censors are not particularly worried about their children. That is only the cover up. The truth is that they are scared for themselves. They cannot think of living in a world where thought is constantly questioned and children are enlightened philosphers. How sad...are these censors jealous that kids want to read this material? And how can the future of our country succeed if the foundations written in books are censored? How will kids ever know how to run a country?So many questions, and so little answers. This is censorship

http://www.banned-books.com/bbauth.html

Censorship Attacks on Harry Potter

To many authors familiar with censorship, they knew the day would come when Harry Potter was censored from school book shelves. In its latest craze, the Rowling series has gotten much publicity about its corruptive subject matter. Parents are worried that witchcraft and wizradry are bad examples for their children and should be banned. Parents look beyond the fact that their children actually ENJOY these books and only dwell on their own personal feelings. They forget that they are not the ones reading the books or misconstruing the author's intentions. Years ago, people could read all about witchcraft and it was a wonderful literary movement. The Fantasy genre has gotten much publicity regarding censorship because it expands the mind and allows for imaginative thought. Parents, though, do not like this. They feel these books will turn children against their current morals (or the morals of their parents). Judy Blume satirizes this perfectly:

"At the rate we're going, I can imagine next year's headline: "'Goodnight Moon' Banned for Encouraging Children to Communicate With Furniture." And we all know where that can lead, don't we? "

http://www.ncac.org/cen_news/cn76harrypotter.html

Judy Blume Writes on Censorship

Judy Blume has just come out with a book titled Places I Never Meant to Be. It is a compilation of fictional literature written by authors who have been previously censored. After each author's work, she gives a personal explanation of censorship as well as how censorship has affected her. The introduction of the book is by Judy Blume and in it she writes about her long time battle with censors. She is one of the most censored authors right now, which is amazing to me because her work was always available when I was younger, yet it is not so easily found today.

Blume describes some of the people who attack books as parents who "need to feel in control of their children's lives" (5). She says that parents do not want their children reading books that force them to answer uncomfortable questions or that allow their children to read about views different from their parents. Blume also suggests that since schools had such a poor system for counteracting parental anger, superintendents simply appeased them and removed the books from school shelves. Blume dedicated her book to Leanne Katz, director of the NCAC (National Coalition Against Censorship). Katz committed herself to defending the First Amendment and worked with librarians, teachers, parents, and students.

" In this age of censorship I mourn the loss of books that will never be written, I mourn the voices that will be silenced--writers' voices, teachers' voices, students' voices--and all because of fear" (11).

Blume's book is an amazing read not just because of its goal to stop censorship, but also because so many people are joining in the crusade along with her and fighting for the right to be heard and express themselves without having to second-guess their intentions.Blume, Judy.

Places I Never Meant to Be. Simon & Schuster, New York. 1999.

Banned Books Week

This year, banned books week took place September 24th- October 1st. This week is dedicated to publicizing the ways in which schools have censored certain books because of their "inappropriate" and controversial subject material. Celebrating the freedom to read is a message that anti-censorship advocates want to get out to the public. The proclamation for Banned Books Week can be found on www.ala.org. It is as follows:

WHEREAS, the freedom to read is essential to our democracy, and reading is among our greatest freedoms; and

WHEREAS, privacy is essential to the exercise of that freedom, and the right to privacy is the right to open inquiry without having the subject of one's interest examined or scrutinized by others; and

WHEREAS, the freedom to read is protected by our Constitution; and

WHEREAS some individuals, groups, and public authorities work to remove or limit access to reading materials, to censor content in schools, to label "controversial" views, to distribute lists of "objectionable" books or authors, and to purge libraries of materials reflecting the diversity of society; and

WHEREAS, both governmental intimidation and the fear of censorship cause authors who seek to avoid controversy to practice self-censorship, thus limiting our access to new ideas; and

WHEREAS, every silencing of a heresy, every enforcement of an orthodoxy, diminishes the toughness and resilience of American society and leaves it less able to deal with controversy and difference; and

WHEREAS, Americans still favor free enterprise in ideas and expression, and can be trusted to exercise critical judgment, to recognize propaganda and misinformation, and to make their own decisions about what they read and believe, and to exercise the responsibilities that accompany this freedom; and

WHEREAS, intellectual freedom is essential to the preservation of a free society and a creative culture; and

WHEREAS, conformity limits the range and variety of inquiry and expression on which our democracy and our culture depend; and

WHEREAS, the American Library Association's Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year as a reminder to Americans not to take their precious freedom for granted; and

WHEREAS, Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them; now, therefore, be it.

Banned Books Week brings up questions to many readers. Many people who are unfamiliar with censorship, or who are victims of it, cannot understand its motives.

So, why are books censored?

The answer to this has to do with ethics. Most books are censored with the intentions to protect children from societal ills. However, doing so can be harmful in itself. It goes against our civil liberties as Americans and prohibits children, the future of all mankind, from becoming aware of the problems in society. Anti-censorship advocates believe that if kids were more aware of societal flaws, then they could be more properly prepared to face them in the future.

Who is "they"?

The people who censor in the first place?Throughout history, censoring books has always been an issue. Nowadays, there is more permission for common people, like you and me, to challenge school systems. The government still has tight control over what is read and not read in classrooms, but it is expanding to include parents, superintendents, and any other person who has a problem with book content. Anyone can argue that certain books should be banned, which in one respect gives opportunities to more people, but on the other hand it puts more pressure on teachers and school systems to conform to standards.

What is the difference between banning and challenging a book?

"A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others."(http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/challengedbanned/challengedbanned.htm#wbc)

The following list is for the top 10 banned books of 2004.

"The Chocolate War" for sexual content, offensive language, religious viewpoint, being unsuited to age group and violence

"Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers, for racism, offensive language and violence

"Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture" by Michael A. Bellesiles, for inaccuracy and political viewpoint

Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey, for offensive language and modeling bad behavior"

The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky, for homosexuality, sexual content and offensive language"

What My Mother Doesn't Know" by Sonya Sones, for sexual content and offensive language

"In the Night Kitchen" by Maurice Sendak, for nudity and offensive language

"King & King" by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland, for homosexuality

"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou, for racism, homosexuality, sexual content, offensive language and unsuited to age group

"Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck, for racism, offensive language and violence

Those of you who are future English teachers need to pay careful attention to book censorship in the news. It is vital that we, as a collection of educators, do what we can to stop books from being banned. How can we possibly teach to critically analyze novels if there is no controversy or plot depth to critique?Certainly the future of reading is in our hands...what are you going to do with it?

The Ultimate Paradox: Censor books to Protect Students

Okay...so you are sitting in English class and your teacher tells you that your class is going to study...da da da...Mother Goose and her Rhymes. What on earth is that all about? Well, you may not exactly be studying Mother Goose, but you mind as well call it that because you won't be studying any captivating, age approrpiate, racy material because these types of novels are BANNED. That is right...BANNED! You are NOT allowed to read certain books with content "inappropriate" for students to read in the classroom. In the past few decades, banning books has become an epidemic. Teachers everywhere, from California and Illinois to New York and Alabama have been told that certain titles are off limits to classrooom discussion. In some instances, books have been reprinted with "substitutions" for the so-called crude topics. Some higher education supervisors feel that certain subjects should not be discussed in school classrooms; sex, drugs, alcohol, rape, pregnancy, cursing, etc. Does this even make sense? Does that mean that kids do not know what these things are? Absolutely not. Kids are introduced to sex, drugs, and the like when they enter middle school. By censoring these topics, educators are telling kids to do it behind closed doors. Basically, don't do these things where someone can see you.

Marilyn Reynolds dedicates Chapter 4" Do You Ever Get In Trouble For Using Bad Words In Your Books?" to this banning topic. She tells that censored topics, mainly molestation, is necessary to address in school classrooms. It is a part of many student's life and by ignoring it, educators are, in repercussion, ignoring these students. She also says that if someone writes about molestation, then it must be presented realistically. Reynolds is author of Telling, a book that offers "clarity and insight into the pervasive problem of child molestation" (27). She claims that a student in her class, Estelle, took to the book in exactly the way she had wanted. Estelle was a victim of child molestation when she was younger and through reading the book, "she was able to speak fopr the first time of something that had happened to her several years before, and to begin the process of healing deep wounds" (28). What if Telling was never written, or censored and rewritten with less graphic content? Would Estelle have been able to finally cope with her past? Reynolds does not believe so.

Censoring and banning books also prevents students from traveling down a dangerous and lonely path toward self destruction. Many kids do not know the harm they do to their bodies and others when engaging in harmful activities. Reading books that demonstrate these real-life situations allows children to see the lives they could be coming into soon. A student wrote to Reynolds regarding this subject: "The book made me realize where my life was going, which was somewhere I didn't want to go" (29). Therefore, books can act as a parental guide for kids. They can help kids to realize there are other paths to choose, and if you choose path A, this is how your life will be.The question then comes down to who has the right to deny material for all children? How can one mandate be used universally across the boards to encompass all types of schools and children? After all, aren't we all individually different? Some students may feel uncomfortable reading a book about rape, but what about that student that WAS raped? Wouldn't she benefit from seeing that she is not alone? There is no clear answer. The government controls much of the censorship in schools, as well as local and county-wide superintendents. Even parents have a large effect on censorship. Many court battles have involved parents vs. schools in censoring books they do not want their children reading. Do these parents know what is on television, then? MTV has music videos with sex, drugs, alcohol, and cursing, so how is this any different? Isn't it even better for it to be in a controlled environment (the classroom) and carefully analyzed with the guidance of teachers?

Censoring brings a scary thought to my mind. If censoring keeps doing its business, then writers will stop writing. They will find something else to do because their real passion is to bring truth within a literary text. If writers are repeatedly censored or having their books banned, then the level of proficiency and critical interpretation will fall dramatically. There is already a large illiteracy rate among adults and even children. When students enter the higher grades, even middle school, their reading abilities are under par. They cannot critically judge a book except for if the plot is "good" or "bad". Students will detest books even more if there is no interesting and substantial content. Ask any student the following question and I can guarantee you the answer: 'Would you rather read a book about rape, pregnancy, and becoming a juvenile parent or a book about a fisherman who grapples with the difficulty in catching a large whale?' 'Would you rather read a book about a young boy who lives to tell his torturous life during the Holocaust or a book about White men expanding their control over the western frontier'? We all know what the answers will be. Students are what they are: HUMANS! They naturally enjoy reading about not only characters their age, but these such characters that lead interesting lives.The banning epidemic even has teachers trying to avoid controversy by not even introducing racy material. Their eyes may lead them to Night, by Elie Wiesel, but their hands reach for Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea. Although both authors are credible and great examples of literary figures, students want the juicy action: Night.What can we do? Well, for starters, we can pass the word on. That is the first step. Tell people about the dangerous ways our school systems are corrupting the minds of young readers and leading them into false literary lives. Then, act upon it. As a teacher, become an advocate...FIGHT! Publish works that challenge censorship, support writers whose books are censored. DO SOMETHING! Do not take a back seat because this is our future. If we do not do anything about it now, in years from now, young readers will be unreachable.

Bowdlerism

For those of you new to the issue of censorship, the term 'BOWDLERISM' is vital to your understanding of the causes and effects of this conflict.William Shakespeare's plays have often been taught in high school english classrooms, but often at the expense of Shakespeare himself. Teachers purge the text of any absurdities, especially crude language and sexuality. The mastermind behind this term is an English physician, Thomas Bowdler. He was an editor of a children's version of William Shakespeare, called Family Shakespeare, in which he "endeavoured to remove every thing that could give just offence to the religious and virtuous mind." Although Bowdler is infamous for extracting the 'offensive' content of novels and plays, the act of doing so actually started before him, in about 1780. It is amazing to see that censorship has roots to far imbedded in our cultural history. English teachers must then take an even longer leap in order to stray from bowdlerism and embrace books without removing their essence, the core, the meaty stuff. That is why certain books are so popular. If Romeo and Juliet had been about a casual dating relationship that ended in a fairytale manner, it would not be so captivating and noteworthy. Death, sexuality, love, and profanity is, well, a part of life. Literature is supposed to reflect life at its worst and its best. By bowdlerizing, teachers are changing the value systems that humans have been geared to understand and imitate for centuries.

Sources: http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/banned-books.html, http://www.fact-index.com/t/th/thomas_bowdler.html