Kyndal Watson Ms. Reichert English 206 May 22, 2024 Reader response theory Should schools have the ability to censor books that do not correlate with their own opinions? In 1973, Charles McCarthy, head of the school board at Drake High School in North Dakota, burned Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Slaughterhouse-Five. McCarthy was not the only one though, due to its use of language, depictions of sexual acts, lack of patriotism, and mentions of homosexuality, the novel has undergone at least eighteen banning attempts in public school systems and libraries in the United States. Having said this, it seems Vonnegut’s novel was also not the only book burned. In his letter he states “I am among those American Writers whose books have been destroyed in the now famous furnace of your school.” After reviewing Vonnegut’s letter to McCarthy, it is apparent that he feels as if children should …show more content…
It is important to let all ideas be heard, not just your own. As someone who has read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, this letter carries a strong message. In Fahrenheit 451, the citizens live in an oppressive society that attempts to eliminate all sources of complexity, contradiction, and confusion to ensure uncomplicated happiness for all its citizens. Fahrenheit 451 was published in 1953, but by the book burning that took place at Drake High School 20 years later in 1973, it shows that oppressive ideals are still around. Though Slaughterhouse Five is a bit of a rated-R book, at its core it is an anti-war novel, and just as Kurt states, it begs people to be kinder to each other and more responsible with their actions. “Words really don’t damage children much. They didn’t damage us when we were young. It was evil deeds and lying that hurt us.” It is understandable that schools may not want students to be exposed to explicit text, but at the same time, Kurt is