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The M4L: The Issue Of Banning Books In Schools

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The rain falls in the background as I snuggle up with a book and a cup of coffee. I open my book and enter a world of magic. I read and read the book. Not understanding how this book is banned in schools, it is wonderful. Book banning, a type of censorship, is when authorities remove books from public libraries, bookstore shelves, and even online. A big debate happening right now is censorship in schools. Books are being removed from reading lists and teachers are not allowed to read the books they picked because they are deemed inappropriate. Typically, books are not banned because the majority agrees upon the explicit content, but because a few people find them inappropriate. Censorship of books in school is a problem that may limit students' …show more content…

These include books by activists like Martin Luther King Jr., books about the civil rights movement and even the “Diary of Anne Frank.” In which the latter has truly helped open the eyes of many as it is read by almost everyone who has a public education. The M4L has even influenced new censorship laws, even though their journey only began in 2021 they have accomplished so much by being loud by being there and persistent. They are known for “infiltrating local school boards, which can implement library and curriculum policies, and “flooding” district leaders with incessant requests to ban certain books.” So as a reading community, why can we not do the same, just the opposite (Glaad)? The Mothers of Liberty is only one of the many similar groups working to ban books in schools. Parents may be wondering how they are supposed to protect their children from these topics if the schools will not do it for them when the answer is a simple …show more content…

Not only does this demonstrate resistance, but it also allows additional insight into why the book may be banned. Even just reaching out to local librarians can create change. One or two people can quickly turn into 7,12,16,... Soon there was a whole new organization to help stop book banning, and it started simply with a concerned parent and librarian. It is all about taking action, having a voice, and using the First Amendment right to express new ideas. “Let readers be leaders” is the motto of Martha Hickinson, a school librarian who after hearing completely compelling and false statements about books at a school board meeting rallied and gathered around four hundred other people against the ban to speak out. There were speeches by adults and even students, and the fight dragged on where Hickinson received an immense amount of hate but in the end, the book was restored. This is a demonstration of how one person can change a lot. Overall, book banning is an ongoing issue happening right now. It is not only happening in schools, but at a national level. It hides topics of gender, race, and sexuality; it even hides books of our history in

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Books are an essential way to gain knowledge whether they are controversial or not. Thousands of books have been banned from public libraries and schools due to being deemed ‘inappropriate’ by parents, administrators, or religious leaders. Whether Americans should ban books in public libraries and schools is an often debated topic. This censorship of books is dangerous, as it restricts the American people's’ ability to access information, leaving Americans ignorant. Historically, banning books is not a new practice.

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“American citizens who care about the improvement of education are urged to join students, teachers, librarians, administrators, boards of education, and professional and scholarly organizations in support of the students’ right to read” (The Students Right to Read). Citizens should be allowed to stand up if they believe books should not be banned. It is important that writers should be able to have their books out to the public without getting banned. “Challengers often employ a definition that maintains that banning materials is the only true form of censorship,”(Knox 740). Censorship of books is common and a real problem.

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Who challenges these books? Lots of people challenge books “throughout history, more and different kinds of people and groups of all persuasions than you might first suppose, who, for all sorts of reasons, have attempted—and continue to attempt—to suppress anything that conflicts with or anyone who disagrees with their own beliefs” (““About Banned & Challenged Books””). Why does it matter if books are banned from schools? By banning books the school board is controlling how and/or what students think about a variety of subjects. As ruled in the Island Trees School District v. Pico Case, “’…students may not be regarded as closed-circuit recipients of only that which the State chooses to communicate’”

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If a teen is going through puberty, and trying to find books on the topic, but the liberty deemed it ‘inappropriate’, so the teen has no information on how to take care of themselves, and because they said it’s inappropriate, they might feel guilty and gross about themselves. But if the library did have those books about puberty, the teen would know how to handle it and know that it’s normal. Books shouldn't be banned because of their content. If it makes people mad, or disgusted, that's fine, but don’t take it away from people who need to learn from that book. It’s a childish way of dealing with something, and is limiting everyone’s freedom.

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Did you know that banned books have been challenged more than 10x more by parents then by the school’s board? That means that parents are trying to get rid of books for children even some of the classic novels. Kids should have the right to read what they want and the community should not be able to stop them from reading whatever they want or what is assigned. People should not be able to control a school, its curriculum or even what the kids read. Even when students choose their novels, parents can have input & monitor the readings to have discussions with their children.

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However, I believe books should not be censored in school libraries. Just because one parent doesn’t want something for their child doesn’t mean other kids should be prohibited from reading that book. If one parent may not like something they could

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