Do you think schools have the right to ban particular books?

Question

If you feel they do please explain why.

Answer 1

I don't know if "banning" is the right word for what school libraries should be allowed to do. On a limited budget, school libraries have to provide materials (books, magazines, audio, video, etc.) that both educate and/or entertain. This by necessity means making choices...some choices more difficult than others. Some novels are better written than others. Some contain more potentially offensive material than others. One shouldn't sacrifice quality material for the sake of having a variety of 'junk' reads--often fad or trend related.

Each library--school libraries included--have collection development policies. Often their are very formalized guidelines as to what books should be ordered...and what books get priority over other books. For example, I know many school libraries require that a book have at least two starred reviews in review journals before they can order a copy for their libraries.

School libraries will often be smaller than local public libraries...and they do often have different guidelines. School libraries do focus more on research and education. Both are important.

But in regards to "banning" books because of sex, drugs, violence, or 'offensive' language...I don't believe in censorship. In a high school library, there should be a YA fiction section. But the books should be ordered because they are well written, not because they have shock-value. I can understand in some ways limiting middle school access to titles that take the above to extreme. And I wholeheartedly believe that the above should not be in elementary school libraries.

Answer 2

well, actually some schools are given the right to ban books by the parents ( they pay the taxes that pay for the school). Though I really don't think its fair to the students that some learning experiences are taken away such as Huck Finn . If the parents think its racist they should take the time to sit down with their kids and explain what they think the kids should get from the book ( even read it themselves perhaps) They shouldn't immediatley dismiss a book because of racist slurrs, there could still be valuable content to the book. Doesn't anyone remember the old saying "don't judge a book by it's cover" ?

Answer 3

Yes. If the books contain pornographic or otherwise sexually explicit material whether it be in pictures or verbage it should be monitored for use. At the collegiate level it would be more accepatable.

However, if let's say a book on the Confederate States is banned because someone feels offended because the confederacy supported slavery back 140 years ago this is silly. History will always contain something which offend someone but that is in the past. Without the past we will not learn from the mistakes both we and others may have made.

Answer 4

Banning books is a difficult subject. If you have ever read a Jeffrey Archer novel then you could justifiably burn books with joy. JK Rowling and her snotty little public shool boy Potter could also benefit from a school bonfire. But since I am too old to care, read what you want. It is the only way to learn the mystery of The Elephant, The Oranges,The Grapes and The Barrel as asked on the Actors site

Answer 5

I think that schools should be able to ban books if they want b/c they're the ones getting the calls with the upset parents. However, the library shouldn't be able to ban books and kids should be allowed to read whatever they want. I can understand why some schools would want to ban "Huck Finn" because of the racist words but banning other books such as "The Giver" is completely stupid. Schools should have legit reasons for banning books, if they don't they shouldn't be allowed to ban.

Answer 6

No, but it is understandable that certain books are not appropriate for all age groups, reading levels, etc. Personally, when my two sons are old enough to have book reports to do, I will want them to explore some literature that has been, or is still, banned for whatever reason. They will read Catcher in the Rye, Huck Finn, and all the classics. I will not let some narrow minded, conservative right school board deny my children the right to read books that are controversial.

Answer 7

As a seventh grader my instructor had us study a e book called "The Chocolate Wars". It became an effective e book yet starting to be up in a Mormon community that wasn't very liberal, the e book became thrown out of the reading curriculum. It had some chapters on masturbation and some different undesirable issues that they did not like. I also understand that there are extremely some mum and dad at an elementary college decrease back east that are quite having stressing over a baby's e book on the school library about gay penguins adopting a toddler penguin. they pick the e book out of school. i'd like to call all of it free speech and be all liberal about it yet in element of undeniable reality that toddlers do no longer all have the psychological ability to appreciate what some books are portraying. mum and dad have the right to censor what their toddlers study. I quite do not pick my little female on the age of 12 reading about a teenage boy masturbating contained in the lads bathing room. (Chocolate Wars) i am going to understand why my mum and dad freaked. I also knew some thing became up even as the instructor made it a element to study that express financial disaster in college with the door closed. She became a unusual instructor. sex should be out of our elementary colleges and be prepared for contained in the most ideal way in Junior Highs.

Answer 8

I think schools have the right to limit access to certain books. My high school hd a section of the library that was limited to upper classmen or honors students. It had advanced texts in it mostly, but also some controversial works. I can understand the reasoning that as a freshman you may not be prepared for a book that would be completely suited to a senior.

Answer 9

Banning books is absolutely unneccessary. It's just a way for the school systems to keep the students from seeing any alternative views or anything different. No book should be banned for any reason.

Answer 10

No school should be allowed to ban books! How are kids suppose to get diversity in their reading material? Don't you think that by banning books it is sending the message not to read at all? That's why we have so many fat kids sitting on their sofas with diabetes.