censorship: banned books

You’ve got to fight…You’ve got to fight…

• For your right…..

• To…

• For your right…..

• To…

READ!READ!

What do the following books have in common?

What do the following books have in common?

• They’ve all been challenged or banned at some point!

• They’ve all been challenged or banned at some point!

Challenges and BanningChallenges and Banning

• What is a book challenge?• What is banning?• What are some reasons a book

may be challenged?• Who is most likely to challenge

books?

• What is a book challenge?• What is banning?• What are some reasons a book

may be challenged?• Who is most likely to challenge

books?

Are these good reasons?Are these good reasons?

• “Encourages children to break dishes so they won’t have to dry them.”

• “Encourages children to break dishes so they won’t have to dry them.”

• “If there is a possibility that something might be controversial, then why not eliminate it?”

• “If there is a possibility that something might be controversial, then why not eliminate it?”

• “It is a real downer.”• “It is a real downer.”

• “The basket carried by Little Red Riding Hood contained a bottle of wine, which condones the use of alcohol.”

• “The basket carried by Little Red Riding Hood contained a bottle of wine, which condones the use of alcohol.”

Books on trial- You be the Judge!

Books on trial- You be the Judge!

• How does a book go from being challenged to being banned?

• How does a book go from being challenged to being banned?

Materials Reconsideration

Committee

Materials Reconsideration

Committee• Read the book in its entirety.• Weigh in on the book.• Should it stay or should it go?

• Read the book in its entirety.• Weigh in on the book.• Should it stay or should it go?

Yes! There are criteria…Yes! There are criteria…

• Context is EVERYTHING.• But…

• Context is EVERYTHING.• But…

“Censorship Offends Me”

-author unknown

“Censorship Offends Me”

-author unknown

What is offensive? What is offensive to your neighbor?What is offensive? What is offensive to your neighbor?

Community standardsCommunity standards

• Who is the audience the book is intended for?

• Is it appropriate for the age?• Is the subject matter appropriate?• Is the book of interest to the

audience it is intended for?

• Who is the audience the book is intended for?

• Is it appropriate for the age?• Is the subject matter appropriate?• Is the book of interest to the

audience it is intended for?

ControversyControversy

• There is no controversy in a high school right?• Does the book have literary or

social value?

• There is no controversy in a high school right?• Does the book have literary or

social value?

From Places I Never Meant to Be- Original Stories by Censored Writers Edited by Judy

Blume

From Places I Never Meant to Be- Original Stories by Censored Writers Edited by Judy

Blume• “Those of us who oppose censorship believe that

reading about something is a safe way to explore and understand it, and that it is the best way to prepare young people to deal with the issues they will face, both in school and later in life. It’s true that some material is “offensive”- but to know how to respond to it, we need to understand it. The first step in that process is to read and talk about it with an informed and responsible adult, like a teacher or parent. For this reason, we think that school should be the place where students are able to read about and discuss controversial or difficult issues.”

• “Those of us who oppose censorship believe that reading about something is a safe way to explore and understand it, and that it is the best way to prepare young people to deal with the issues they will face, both in school and later in life. It’s true that some material is “offensive”- but to know how to respond to it, we need to understand it. The first step in that process is to read and talk about it with an informed and responsible adult, like a teacher or parent. For this reason, we think that school should be the place where students are able to read about and discuss controversial or difficult issues.”