BANNED BOOKS!!

Can anyone “ban” books from our library?

First, let’s understand the terms used: BANNED When something (a book) is prohibited by law or official decree. You cannot publish it, buy it or read it.

CENSORED When books are severely criticized by someone who is not a government official. Censorship can lead to suppression of a book (taking it off the shelves of a library; not allowing teachers to decide what books their students can read).

Censorship can happen in school libraries and in public libraries.

CHALLENGED: When someone objects to a book and demands an explanation of its appropriateness (For example, think of referees in a football game who are ‘challenged’ for the calls they make).

Sometimes, parents or other adults, don’t want children to be able to read certain books. Omg!

FOR EXAMPLE, All of these books – and more– have been “challenged” at libraries throughout the usa

If a parent or other adult objects to a specific book in the school library, they can issue a “challenge” to the school that basically says: “I challenge you to prove that this book is appropriate for middle school students to read!”

Then, it’s up to the librarian, the teachers, the principal and the School Board to decide if the book is appropriate for the students. Hopefully, they will decide to keep the book, because a librarian never wants to keep someone from reading a book they want to read.

Does this really happen in schools? Watch a video about 3 books that were challenged just last year. Banned Books News Video

Let’s look at some books that have caused adults great CONCERN Both of these books, by Shel Silverstein, have been objected to by parents throughout America. FOR REAL??

Challenged at an elementary school in Florida because the book promotes “disrespect, horror and violence.” Challenged in several Indiana school libraries because the book contains anti- parent material. Challenged in schools in Delaware because the book “contains violence, idealizes death, and makes light of manipulative behavior.”

RESTRICTED to students with parental permission, at public libraries in Florida because of the poem “Spelling Bee.” Challenged in a California school district because it “contains profanity, sexual situations, and themes that encourage disrespectful behavior.” Parental Permission?

A Title from your childhood: Challenged because of something in Red’s basket. Can you see it? Can you also see the silver award stamp on the cover?

Here are a couple of middle school books that have been challenged by adults who want them off the library shelves. Challenged because of: *profanity *it combines fantasy with reality *it shows children being disrespectful to adults.

Challenged because the plot includes euthanasia and suicide. (“euthanasia”:kindness killing) Some parents have criticized the book as an endorsement for killing.(Actuallly, the book shows you why euthanasia and suicide are bad)

How can these books be removed from library shelves? What about our American freedoms? Don’t we live in the ‘land of the free’ and the ‘home of the brave?”

Do you remember, from your history books about our Founding Fathers who wrote a certain document at the Continental Congress….called….

The Constitution!! Later, they wrote the Bill of Rights with 10 Amendments to the Constitution…

During “Banned Books Week,” we especially celebrate the 1 st Amendment. → → → →

The First Amendment gives us the freedom of SPEECH and freedom of the PRESS…. Which basically means that we are free to say, write and READ what we want!

But, let’s be open-minded. Aren’t there some subjects that you wouldn’t want your little sister or brother to read about?

And…aren’t there some subjects you’d rather not read about? Personally, I don’t want to read anything by Steven King

And, I’m not really crazy about books that talk about… Violence or things that really bother me like

It’s not a big deal. If I don’t like a book, I just… Put it back on the shelf!!

Just to get an idea of how many books have been challenged in the US… Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Alice Anastasia Again And Tango Makes Three Annie on my Mind Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

And Some More….. Beloved Blubber Blubber Bridge to Terabithia The Call of the Wild Captain Underpants The Color Purple Crazy Lady! Cujo

Detour for Emmy The Face on the Milk Carton Fallen Angels Family Secrets Forever The Giver Julie of the Wolves Goosebumps (the series) Gone with the Wind The Face on the Milk Carton Fallen Angels Family SecretsForever The Giver Julie of the Wolves MORE? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!!

And more… Heather has Two Mommies Harry Potter (the series) The Great Gilly Hopkins How to Eat Fried Worms I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings In the Night Kitchen James and the Giant Peach A Light in the Attic The Great Gilly Hopkins

And more? Ordinary People The Outsiders The Perks of Being a Wallflower The Pigman Scary Stories (series)Scary Stories A Separate Peace The Stupids (series)The Stupids Summer of My German Soldier

And even more, but that’s enough for now! (We have most of these in our library) Superfudge That was then, This Is Now Tiger Eyes To Kill a Mockingbird Where's Waldo? The Wish Giver The Witches A Wrinkle in Time

The Point is that everyone is not going to like every book. SO…

And remember that…

Some Serious Questions to Consider (1)How do you decide what to include/exclude from elementary school libraries? from middle school libraries? (2)What about materials that contain hate themes, such as booklets by the KKK? Should they be allowed to be printed and read? (3)What are the qualities of good literature? What do you look for when you want to read a good book? Are there any types of books you would not want to include in the media center?