Subjects:
banning of books in school libraries. Banning books that educate
students is wrong and selfish. Censorship of books in school libraries
is neither uncommon nor an issue of the past. Books with artistic and
cultural worth are still challenged constantly by those who want to
control what others read. The roots of bigotry and illiteracy that
fuel efforts to censor books and free expression are unacceptable and
unconditional. Censoring school books in libraries can often lead to
censorship of our basic freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment. In
some cases, a minority ends up dictating the majority in censorship
cases. To be told what is permissible reading material and what is not
is a direct violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution.
The First Amendment of the Constitution is the most important and
debatable of them all. The First Amendment states; “Congress shall
make no law respecting an establishment of religion, of prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the
press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the Government for a redress
. . .
targeted by censors for supporting New Ageism, and Mark Twain’s
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for promoting racism. The result, however; is always and
ever the denial of another's right to read.
Books like The Chocolate War, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and Of
Mice and Men have been placed on the controversial bookshelf of many
school libraries. A better approach is to understand that this
book may help them examine other beliefs, attitudes, values, and
traditions and to accept, tolerate, or even reject these ideas without
prejudices against people who hold particular views. Also Harry Potter
for encouraging witchcraft, sorcery, and Satanism. There is no rational excuse for a school library to ban a
book at the request of a "concerned” parent. The
danger is mind control especially when that control is exercised by a
few over the majority" (qtd. The Chocolate War and I Know Why the Caged Bird
Sings were challenged for reasons of being "sexually explicit" Of Mice
and Men, challenged for using "offensive" language. One man in South Carolina has gone so
far as to demand that the Bible be placed on an adult's only shelf of
the library because parts are too graphic for young children (Hunt 89). Libraries should challenge
censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide
students with knowledge and enlightenment. The "tyrant"
simply chooses to pull that book from the shelves of knowledge, and the
students right of the First Amendment is violated (Appendix A). A wide
range on all points of view should be available to the public.
Essay's Topics
All research is for reference purposes only.