Kyrstin LaRue Ms. Huttinger ELA 3/1/23 Stopping the Book Bans “Banning books give us silence when we need speech. It closes our ears when we need to listen. It makes us blind when we need sight.” In the words of Stephen Chbosky, author of Perks of Being A Wallflower. Banning books is bad because it stops children from learning a bunch of things that they need to know, whether it’s history, how to cope or how to show empathy and learn different perspectives. Books should not be banned, without books we will not learn about history, struggles people go through in everyday life including discrimination. “In America, we don't ban books, we don't ban free thought, we don't silence free speech. The Nazis did that,” Davis said on a website called …show more content…
Books can show kids the struggles of real people and can teach them empathy and sympathy for these people. When you take away these books children have a narrow view on life and won’t be able to look through other people’s perspectives. In the article, ‘The Negative Effects of Book Banning in the Classroom’, the author, Chiesa says, “When individuals restrict their children from reading certain books, they can't enforce those beliefs onto other children and families. Banning books has the potential to create gaps in knowledge for young learners.” Children will learn less if they are restricted from reading certain books and these restrictions can also affect children in the same classroom. Not reading books marked as offensive children won’t be able to show empathy for people struggling through tough situations. It stops children from being curious and creates a more ignorant society that will be taught to other generations. This is showing children that it is okay to stop something just because you don’t agree with being said. Chiesa also says, “Removing books has a negative impact because it is censorship. When you censor certain ideas and beliefs, you create a more xenophobic and ignorant society. This is teaching students that it is okay to stop an idea or viewpoint from being heard because they …show more content…
“The Negative Effects of Book Banning in the Classroom.” Maryville Pawprint - Maryville Pawprint, Maryville University's Student Newspaper, https://www. maryvillepawprint.com/the-negative-effects-of-book-banning-in-the-classroom/. Crawford, Kirstie. “'In America We Don't Ban Books... the Nazis Did That,' People Make Holocaust Book Accessible.” WATE 6 On Your Side, WATE 6 On Your Side, 29 Jan. 2022, https://www.wate.com/news/local-news/in-america-we-dont-ban-books-the -nazis-did-that-people-make-holocaust-book-accessible/. Homepage, https://arkjohnkeats.org/. Moench, Katie. “Why Should Children Read Dark Books?” BOOK RIOT, 11 Nov. 2021, https://bookriot.com/why-should-children-read-dark-books/. Network, The Learning. “What Students Are Saying about Banning Books from School Libraries.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 18 Feb. 2022, https://www. nytimes.com/2022/02/18/learning/students-book-bans.html. R, Rakshitha. “Should Books on Violence Be Banned for Kids?” Deccan Herald, DH News Service, 20 Sept. 2019, https://www.deccanherald.com/city/life-in-bengaluru/should- books-on-violence-be-banned-for-kids-762905.html. “Why Kids Love Scary Books!” Capstone,