Parents: thoughts on banning books in schools?

Question

I'm doing a paper on the banning of books from classrooms and school libraries. As parents, do you think it is right to ban books? Why or why not?

Thank you!!!

Response to polair_bare:

I am arguing against banning books, not for it. I actually oppose all forms of censorship or any restriction on expression/access to information. I'm just looking for opinions of parents on both sides of the issue to use in my argument paper (due in less than 2 hours).

Answer 1

--- i apologize for my answer then. if you want an honest opinion from someone that is the audience being put under the spotlight right now, then as a 15 year old i have to say censorship does nothing but mask and obscure reality. and i know from personal experience with many of my freinds that that is a recipe for disaster. if they dont want to read it then that is fine! they have that right, but its not fair to deny a child that wants to learn the best means to do so ----


what the hell kindof stupid question is this???

while we are at it, lets ban teaching them how to read all together. pfft

granted, im young and generally shy from books unless something really catches my eye, but still i have to wonder what kind of wild hair got up your *** to even think this is a decent idea!??

Answer 2

I am not a parent, but I do have an elementary education degree...

This is a terrible idea! Children should be encouraged to read whenever they get the chance. It is hard enough to encourage children to read...and if books aren't available to them, they definitely won't even bother. Banning books would just spiral into an illiterate country. Reading is the most important subject in school...the most important skill we acquire. It effects every other thing we do.

Also, reading is an escape for a lot of children who may have problems as well. It could be a form a therapy.

I do, however, suggest banning books with material from schools that may not be appropriate of course. But even then, not from libraries. Libraries are public places and the information should be available from somewhere...depending on the information of course haha.

Answer 3

No, I don't think banning books is right. School libraries don't carry all books in print anyhow, so not having books in the library isn't such a big deal, but I don't think books should be banned from school. Some of the greatest parts of education come from controversy and learning to deal with opinions other than your own.

Answer 4

I do not feel it is right to ban books in a public school. I do think consideration should be given to the age level appropriateness of the content and theme, but if a book is a "classic" piece of literature and can withstand the scrutiny of time, we should not be banning it because it offends a few people. Reading controversial books can expand one's mind--isn't that the point of education?

Besides, if a parent objects to a book being taught in the classroom (like one of my high school classmates--her mom objected to "Of Mice and Men" because it had a few swear words--give me a freaking break that she didn't hear way worse in the hallways, even in 1986!), then they can request to have their child read an alternative book, one mommy and daddy would approve of.

Answer 5

I say no, education it's education what matters is how the material is given. There's worse things in TV and outside the classrooms even in students' lives. People complain for everything now a days in order to try to gain money or some kind of profit out of it.

Answer 6

Why would you want to ban books?You are meant to encourage children to read.The only books that should be banned at high schoolare those that contain a lot of bad language and sexual references.

Answer 7

No because every child learns through different ways. and some are good with photo memory. Also reading helps skills in writing also.

Answer 8

probably. i'd rather not have hustler magazine in the grade school classroom. in general i'm against banning books but judgement must be used.