Books are so amazing and can teach so many things and to think that people want to ban them is crazy. Here is a more in-depth review of the situation.
Banning books has been exercised all around the world since the beginning of them. From newly written to old classics books are banned for violence, profanity, sexual content and drugs. But books offer a wide variety of insight and ideas to the reader. We need to stop banning books for the sake of our children.
According to the American Library Association in the past 10 years approximately 5,100 books have been challenged or banned. The top 3 reasons are sexual content, offensive language, and drug use. Having, at 12, read To Kill a Mockingbird, I learned about the social and racial interactions during the 1930’s. This type of information is presented in an entertaining way, making it easier to understand and appreciate, instead of reading it from a bland textbook. If you disagree with something don’t take it away from everybody. Children have the right to read what they chose. The First Amendment grants the freedom of press, which Justice William Brennan reasoned, “the First Amendment right to express ideas must be supported by an implied right to receive information and ideas.”
When people ban books, they take away children’s opportunity to learn about society, history, and ideas. Books are among our greatest teachers. They express new ways of thinking and help readers expand their knowledge bank. For example, I read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian; a book banned consecutively for 8 years. I learned how the main character had to leave his family to get a better education because a good education wasn’t offered on the reservation. This is information that I was not aware of.
I hope you enjoyed this topic and also hope it encouraged you to get out there and read some books. 😉
