What next, will they ban reading all together for fear of damaging children's minds?

Question

How are we meant to bring children up with wonderful imaginations when everything that can inspire them is being banned? Even if some references in the book could be taken in a different way to how they are meant, surely it is better to let the children see this rather than shelter them until they reach the big bad world of grown ups? There is nobody there to shelter you then so I say let the children read all the amazing books that have been banned like 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and 'James and the Giant Peach'. Who agrees? If not, what are your views?

Answer 1

What jackass would ban "To Kill a Mockingbird"? Are there racist epithets in it? Of course. The book is about racial division and inequality of justice, after all.

Like the senior Dr. Jones said in "The Last Crusade", "You goose-stepping morons should spend more time READING books and less time BURNING them."

Geez, Louise.

Answer 2

I'm a liberal parent but at school, I abide by the rules and book lists.
My own kids read anything they want and both are voracious readers.
Along with banning, I hate teachers telling kids to only read to page 25 and wait for the class. I'm rebellious myself:

Once my daughter had some assignment where she had to purchase a book and bring it in for teacher approval on a Thursday so her teacher could write down the title etc and all the kids would be ready to start on Monday.

I told her if she finished it by Monday, I would buy her another book from the series which she loved, but couldn't bring to school. She ended up reading 3 more books in the time the teacher had them reading only one...

My brother got caught reading Lord of the Flies in 3rd grade, in the library and was banned from the library the rest of the year...darn, then we had to go to the public library where we found there were far more choices...so yes, I think Mockingbird and Peach should be allowed.

Answer 3

I can't see it. I read James when I was eight. to kill a mocking bird at 13 or 14 maybe I'm slow but I guess I couldn't read between the lines like all these young geniuses today but they can play one hell of a video game.is there something in the food,you know like all those new hormones where adding to our meats or something ...maybe a terrorist has tainted the water to effect a certain group of kids that are genetically prone to dullness.Iv meet kids that can't read a clock that's round with number's on it...I'm not saying all of them. but I feel that being exposed to maybe a little sex or violence in a book ant going to kill ya.as long as that not the whole story line... and even if it is at lest there reading something... and not setting there watching south park for mature folks. but I know kids 16 or 17 that have the mentality of a 8or 9 year old.maybe some more mature reading is in order to help these kids grow up and learn to think outside there dull little world.DON'T BAN BOOKS.let people read and form there own opinions of the story and the authors.if you find it offensive put the damm thing down.you'd change the t.v. wouldn't ya.I'd hope.

Answer 4

First of all Claire let me say i admire you standing for up for the all the children. I must confess however that there are children that are already brought up in this big bad world that weeeeeee all live in and yes i agree that parents should be allowed to make those decisions as to what the child reads or even watches on tv but some parents unlike you just don't care what their little ones sees or hears and they will let them do just whatever to get them what out of the way and the old saying goes out of sight and or out of mind. really applies with some of these parents, believe i have seen it thru the years in my life. That"s sad but still true. I can't understand it all either, but their are even family shows now with cursing in them and provanity ta boot .Maybe you should call or write your local congressman and tell them how you feel, one voice may change things and then again maybe not. There are things also that we as parents should do , if you allow your child to read those books make sure that they are told that it is alllllllllllll a fantasty book and the child can and does understand that otherwise they could grow thinking that some peach will attack them or even worse that a big fat mocking bird will come and eat their family JUST BECAUSE OF THE TITLE, THINK ABOUT IT. I have a grandson of whom is only two and you would think that watching a show with small children and a couple of dogs in it would BE fine BUT IT'S NOT CAUSE ALL OF THAT BAD CURSING IN IT. DO WE WANT OUR CHILDREN / GRANDCHILDREN talking bad or worse to our teachers, employees , or other elders when and as they get older. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT HUH ? !!

Answer 5

I agree with you fully. Children should be allowed to read these books. I mean, why ban a book anyhow? Now, it makes sense that you shouldn't have books with sexual undertones in a school library, but books like Harry Potter (apparently it is a book about the occult now), To Kill a Mockingbird (racist language?), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (racist language?), The Diary of Anne Frank (sexually explicit?), Little Red Riding Hood (wine in the basket for Gramma?), The Dictionary (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate - because it has 'offensive language'? ITS A DICTIONARY! of course it is going to have offensive language in it!) I mean what the hell? These are good books! I will still let my kids read them. I am reading Harry Potter to my 4 year old at night before she goes to bed. She likes the story! Its not like I am reading her a trashy romance novel or anything. Its HARRY POTTER for crying out loud! How are kids supposed to develop an imagination, or even their own opinion about things if they aren't allowed to read books? A LOT of the books that are banned are classics, and really good books to read, like To Kill A Mockingbird. I had to read that in the 9th grade. I guess they aren't going to be able to read that one anymore.

These poor kids. They will have nothing left to read if these people keep banning all the books. I mean they even banned GARFIELD because of offensive language for cying out loud! Its a freaking comic book!

Wow. Sorry to go off on a rant like that. I feel better now.


Here is a short list of the most recently banned books if anyone cares....now my question is why these books? I have read a LOT of these (not all, but most) I am making a point now to buy any "banned books" that I ome across. They are good books.

1. "Harry Potter" (Series) (J.K. Rowling)
2. "To Kill a Mockingbird" (Harper Lee)
3. "The Color Purple" (Alice Walker)
4. "The Outsiders" (S.E. Hinton)
5. "Lord of the Flies" (William Golding)
6. "Of Mice and Men" (John Steinbeck)
7. "Goosebumps" (Series) (R.L. Stine)
8. "How to Eat Fried Worms" (Thomas Rockwell)
9. "The Catcher in the Rye" (J.D. Salinger)
10. "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (Mark Twain)
11. "The Giver" (Lois Lowry)
12. "Brave New World" (Aldous Huxley)
13. "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (Mark Twain)
14. "Captain Underpants" (Dav Pilkey)
15. "The Anarchist Cookbook" (William Powell)
16. "Carrie" (Stephen King)
17. "Flowers for Algernon" (Daniel Keyes)
18. "The Dead Zone" (Stephen King)
19. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (Maya Angelou)
20. "Go Ask Alice" (anonymous)
21. "American Psycho" (Bret Easton Ellis)
22. "The Chocolate War" (Robert Cormier)
23. "James and the Giant Peach" (Roald Dahl)
24. "The Pigman" (Paul Zindel)
25. "A Wrinkle in Time" (Madeleine L'Engle)

Answer 6

I think the main thing to keep in mind is that parents have the ultimate say. If your school doesn't stock a book that you feel is vital for your child's development, get it for them on your own. Public libraries carry these books, they're just banned in school libraries at times.

I agree that many of these books are vital, but I can understand that others disagree. There's certainly books that probably aren't right for kids to read, but it should be left to the parents.

Answer 7

I have not heard of those books being banned. What's so bad about to kill a mockinbird? I've never read james and the giant peach, but wasnt' it made into a disney movie? how bad can it be?

Answer 8

Whatever the school won't let them read, they can read at home. I encourage and facilitate this by buying those books, reading them myself, and then making sure they read them. After that, we discuss what we did or did not like or find appropriate about the books. There is nothing to be gained by hiding from them, open discussion is much better.

Answer 9

I'm a Christian (now, before I am to bear the weight of everyone saying, "It's those Christians' fault!!!" or whatnot, hear me out), and here's my opinions.

I feel that ALL books, in the proper time and place, are good. However, in a situation where many can and would be offended, certain choices are better left in the public library or at home, than at a school library.

A lot of those books I have no problems with, at all, and cannot understand why they are banned (such as James and Giant Peach, How to Eat Fried Worms, [those two are a couple of my all--time favorite childhood books], the Chocolate War, and A Wrinkle in Time, for example), others I feel, although of a mature nature, should not be prevented, as they are representative of views during certain ages, and are good to know to avoid repeating the past (such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Flowers for Algernon, Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, Catcher in the Rye), a few others are of a near adult's maturity level nature, and really should not be read by kids, lest they get the wrong idea on how people should be treated (Carrie, Lord of the Flies), some are occultic and have no place in school for the very same reason that the Bible is not allowed in school (Goosebumps, Harry Potter - note : to the person who was appalled that Harry Potter was considered occultic... is it not considered a 'hidden art' to brew potions, cast incantations, and ride upon broomsticks? If it is not hidden, then why do only certain characters know how to do it, and won't share it with the rest of mankind? If it is not occult, then what, praytell, do you define occult as?)...

...and one, IMHO needs to be banned from the hands of anyone younger than 21 and from the hands of criminals of any age, if it the very same so-called 'book' I read as a teen (The Anarchist's Cookbook [which is a condensed, less-accurate, and more dangerous in its explanation of explosive material, version of The Jolly Roger's Cookbook]). A bunch of teens, the oldest was 17, the youngest was twelve, read it, and followed the instructions to build bombs. Those bombs were meant for my dad and step-mom, because they have a Star of David hanging from their window, and the kids believed them to be Jews (which they are not, but just as I do, they support Israel). During the night, two explosions rocked the neighborhood. The oldest kid (who was the antagonist of the group) walked away unscathed, but the two youngest were seriously injured, one of whom was relatively innocent and only went with the group because his brother did... the kid lost an eye, and either an arm or a leg in the explosion (I can't remember which it was now). The bombs were very unstable, and never survived the night, let alone make it two houses away to my parent's house. When this happened, there weren't that many anarchistic instructions available on the 'net that many years ago... and the widest known were the JRCB, and the ACB. Now, I'm all for spreading of information... but not when it endangers the lives of both the innocent and the guilty.That sort of info should only be available to those who are responsible not to act upon what they read, when dealing with dangerous subjects as such.

Look, I don't care what you or your kids read at home. That's your decision. But I don't want mine to be forced to read something I disapprove of, in school, simply because you approve of it. If that were so, then if my sons were forced to read "Lord of the Flies", I would insist that it would only be fair for your child to read "The Screwtape Letters". If my sons were forced to read "Harry Potter", I would insist yours read "Left Behind".

(Forgive the sarcasm, but... **oh noes, reading The Screwtape Letters might cause our child to realize how evil "evil" really is, and reading Left Behind might cause our child to view a fictional version of a Christian belief...** hey, if my sons have to read a book entitled after Ba'alzebub [the name of a demon, and is representative of Satan], then it's only fair that yours should read what the mindset of demons really are about. If my sons have to read a fictional version of the beliefs of Medieval witchcraft set in modern times, then yours should read a fictional version of the beliefs of Christian eschatology set in modern times as well. After all, if Christianity is just a myth as many atheists purport, then there is no harm in reading about it the same way you would a myth about Roman deities. What's good for the goose, is good for the gander.

And hey... if any kids are forced to read the Anarchist's Cookbook in school, they should be well aware that school is gonna be blown off its foundations at the end of the week, and kids will try to grow morning glory to make LSD, learning how to make napalm out of gas and styrofoam, blue-boxing, learning about solidox bombs, and asking for bananas in their lunches so they can smoke 'bananadyne').

And people wonder why society is so screwed up.

Answer 10

i think they should hand out " identity " each month at every school , that would open their eyes and imagination