Censorship Of Books: The Case Of The Disappearing Books

Censorship of books: Why are we shielding today’s youth, the future of America, from the real world? Oscar Wilde once said, “The books the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.” The censorship of certain books, essentially banning them, is a way of forcing beliefs onto society. Censorship of books should be discontinued because it imposes one-sided personal beliefs, it is a parent’s responsibility to control what their child reads, and shielding youth from reality does nothing to help them. What is censorship? To begin, it is defined as officially examining forms of media, including books, and omitting individual sections or the work as a whole. Book censorship is widely practiced in school libraries across

To censor, or “ban,” certain books is forcing other beliefs on to someone. In his article, “The Case of the Disappearing Books”, Tod Olson writes, “To Melanie Iodice, it’s the other way around. “They can have their own beliefs,” she says, “there’s nothing wrong with that. But they don’t have to impose them on everyone else.” (Olson, 9). The Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, gives us several rights and freedoms. Among these is the freedom of speech, religion, press, etcetera. When a book is brought before a committee for review, it often is due to a concerned parent who feels the book has “inappropriate content.” Since we have a freedom of religion, speech, and press, does that not also give us the right to read what we would like? One parent may feel that the topic of drugs or alcohol is too mature for their child, however, that is a key aspect of the world around us. One should not be allowed to force their beliefs across an entire school district, or state, simply because they do not agree with the content. Each individual has the same freedoms as their neighbor, therefore, each should be able to express what they believe freely. One parent may feel that a certain topic goes against their religious beliefs, and that book should be banned because of it. The next parent, however, would understand that though the book may have opposing morals, it is a part of this world. It is

Whether it is racism, sexually explicit content, foul language, or the use of alcohol and drugs. All of these topics are aspects of the world we live in. It is important for young adults to be exposed to all of these elements. Keeping students shielded, whether they are in Kindergarten or college, does nothing to help them once they reach the “real world.” Sara Kelly Johns, 2007-2008 president of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) once said, “We do not need to protect our students from the world, we need to protect their right to read — and to learn.” (Johns, 4). This quote exemplifies the fact that students should be reading literature that educates them, including those which educate them on the harsh realities of the environment they are a part of. One example of a book that is commonly banned in schools all across America is Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. When it is challenged, or up for censorship, parents are usually concerned with its harsh content. It has multiple instances of racism, foul language, and even confronts rape. In chapter seventeen of this book, Harper Lee writes, “I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!” (Lee, 231). This quote is from a white man referencing a black male clearly shows the type of racism that is faced within this work of art. It is important for youth