Is Banning Books Constitutional?

Once upon a time, in a world not far from here, there are students who are forced to miss their annual train ride to Hogwarts, lock the wardrobe to the magical land of Narnia, and walk through the English countryside themselves instead of upon the back of Black Beauty. Why are these students deprived of those occurrences? They live in America, the land of the free- except when it comes to the books they can read. In fact, many schools across America exercise the practice of banning books. Since 1982, libraries, parents, and schools have attempted to ban 11,300 novels, according to the American Library Association. The essentially innoxious books are challenged for an assortment of reasons, including use of malapropos language, graphic or explicit

There has recently been a renewed interest and passion in the issue of censorship. In the realm of the censorship of books in schools alone, several hundred cases have surfaced each year for nearly the past decade. Controversies over which books to include in the high school English curriculum present a clash of values between teachers, school systems, and parents over what is appropriate for and meaningful to students. It is important to strike a balance between English that is meaningful to students by relating to their lives and representing diversity and satisfying worries about the appropriateness of what is read. This burden often falls on teachers. The purpose of this research paper is to discuss

There is a book out there that talks about a topic that you do not agree with. While you may find the book offensive, others may find it inspiring or a reflection of their life. These varying points of view are what often lead to people calling for a ban of a certain book in a school or public library. This brings to light a topic that impacts all of us in one way or another, censorship in the form of book bans. This leads to a topic that can be the center of debate for many, whether or not we should allow the censorship of books, or other forms of media, in our libraries. And by censoring books, we are referring to taking them off of the shelves. Of course, many people have strong opinions on this. Coincidentally, I also have an opinion. My opinion is that we should not censor books, while making you understand why the idea of censorship in our school and public libraries goes against the fundamental values and freedoms that we hold dearly as citizens of the United States.

It is reasonable for a book to be banned if it is just not suitable for children as in its mature content. But if a book is being banned because of a parent who does not like the book or thinks it is a touchy subject, then it is just not reasonable and there should not even be a discussion about banning it. “Parents who don't like specific books can have their kids "opt out" of an assignment without infringing on the rights of others.” (www.procon.org/headline.php?headlineID=005365). There is no reason for a parent to try to have a book banned because they do not like the content in the book.’’ Also, the parent can choose to have their child not read the book without having it banned from the whole school. Parents should censor their own child and not the entire

From the very beginnings of literature, the act of banning books has long been a heated controversy. While almost everyone can say that there are definitely books that they do not want their children reading, the line between what is acceptable and what is not is much harder to define, especially in today’s world. In “How Banning Books Marginalizes Children” (2016), Paul Ringel argues that the current policy of banning books has had a negative impact on children because it has conveyed a message that rebuffs diversity and has contradicted the fact that the power to ban books should be used to “curate children’s choices with the goals of inspiring rather than obscuring new ideas.”

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank was banned in Wise County, Virginia because of “objections to sexually offensive passages” (American Library Assiciation). The natural changes that women go through in life were belligerent to these people, even though it was only the honest opinion of a young girl. In cities in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Virginia and Texas banned Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain because it was considered “dangerous with its objectionable language and ‘racist’ terms and content” (American Library Association). That all happened at one point or another and to move on we must learn to accept the racism of the past not hide it from children. The same with another classic banned from cities in New York, Illinois, Missouri, and in Warren Township Schools, Indiana, this book is one of my favorite books in the world, and to think that it could be banned because of because of “profanity and [the] undermining of race relations” is depressing (American Library Association). This book is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Without these books much of the children would be ignorant of the past, only learning what history sees

Are school boards or administrators imposing their views of morality, politics, or religious beliefs? Who has the power to violate our freedom to read? We, as citizens of the United States, are guaranteed to the freedom to read in the U.S. Constitution. Are they attempting to take these rights away by banning books? There are activists, both private and public, that are trying to curtail our selection of books through demonstration, letters, and books of their own. If books such as One Hundred Questions and Answers About Aids by Michael Thomas Ford or The Bible are banned from stores across the country, how are we supposed to educate ourselves on real life issues like aids and religion outside classes? We need resources to find out facts we want to know and maybe are embarrassed to ask. Reading in Education, we've been taught that since day one in schools. It is not fair, or is it, to take away books which some people may find educational to their circumstances, if The Bible is abandoned,

The practice of the censorship of books in schools has been prevalent due to the explicit content of them. Parents have been complaining to schools about books that count as required reading because they disapprove with the points made in the book. If a book consists of offensive or sexually explicit material, then parents would challenge the schools about them in order to prevent their children from reading them. Censorship in general has been an intensely debated issue because it is considered an infringement to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution while others argue it is used to conceal inappropriate things (Aliprandini and Sprague). The banning of books in school curriculum has also been debated since parents see

For the reasons of violence, religious viewpoints, offensive language, and sexuality some of the world’s best written novels and short stories are being banned from schools everywhere. As I look at the world around me, I see the things that books, such as The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, and even The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, are banned for. I hear racial slurs, vulgar language, see violent video games, and even people being very sexual in public, and yet people are still banning books that are like the real world because they do not want the children of this nations to read about the things they see in their day-to-day lives. I find that preposterous. Oscar Wilde once said “The books that the world calls immoral are books

Often times when reading about a controversial topic we believe that removing the topic from schools helps create a better environment for students. The freedom to read or speak shouldn’t allow censorship or banning of books for subject surrounding the matter of vulgar language usage, violent situations or often controversial topics to be taught at schools. The removal of banned books is to help protect children and young adults from knowing about the world and the hardship that follow along with it. With banning books we decide what is seen as a good choice in books that we allow students to read for the safety of people's beliefs.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Beloved, Gone with the Wind, The Grapes of Wrath, The Jungles, all of these books are vital to our lives. They shaped the good part of American that made people here now. These great novels both teach important values and educate children about world affairs and classic themes. Sadly, these great novels were soon banned from local libraries, schools and others. Most classical books and stories have been banned because of profanity, sexual ideas, racial, religious, and witchcraft. Many may think that this is inappropriate, lots of English classes have read these books that has been assigned. First, I believe that education should be allowed to everyone who can get their hands on it. Everyone should have the opportunity to read English literature. Micah Issitt lists “three basic rights cover under the freedom of press: the right to publish, the right to confidentiality of sources, and the right of citizens to access the products of the press.” Furthermore, the

Renowned author Oscar Wilde once said, “the books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame” (Oscar). Wilde’s remark opposes the numerous efforts of many current governments to censor threatening texts. A multitude of books are banned because they showcase offensive themes; however, this depicts America’s appreciation of literature, or rather lack thereof. Books should not be banned because they reveal ideals and conflicts that many people can relate to. A literary classic, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, for example, should not be banned for its depiction of the moral internal struggle that age groups reading this novel endure.

Censorship is a threat to our intellectual freedom. However, many support the idea that books should be banned from schools. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech and press. The freedom of speech includes the freedom to have unrestricted access to information. Yet throughout history, the movement against banning books usually falls into three categories: political, moral, and religious.

Although some may consider these books controversial or inappropriate, many English classes have required us to read these books. Like the teachers that assigned us these books, I believe that even controversial books can ultimately boost, not deter, our educational wealth. I oppose book banning for three main reasons. First, I believe that education should be open to everyone. Everyone should have an opportunity to read any literature of their choosing and form his or her own opinions based on the reading. Micah Issitt lists "three basic rights covered under the freedom of the press: the right to publish, the right to confidentiality of sources, and the right of citizens to access the products of the press." My second reason specifically addresses the last right stating that citizens should have access to the press. The government should not restrict books from being published or interfere into personal affairs as this is an infringement of the First Amendment. Finally, I believe that parents should monitor what their own children read, but not have the authority to ban other children from reading these novels. For these reasons, I conclude that the government should play no role in the issue what citizens do and do not read, and that book restriction should remain a solely private matter.

Banning books is also a attack on the First Amendment. Books are the best teachers. They teach you lessons about history, culture, myth, religion, and life. Books can teach you how to do things, solve problems, life skills and deepen your own faith, like how the Bible (also a banned book) can teach you about Christianity. Books open doors to different cultures and people. Books can teach new ways of thinking, compassion, social skills. Good old-fashion reading is the best way to improve individual