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Responding To Banned Childrens Books
By Richard Jones
There are a number of reasons that a book might make the banned book list. A book gets placed on this list if people are actively seeking to censor a book from a school or library. In many cases they have succeeded in their efforts, only to find out later that book is reinstated. The main targets of censorship are books containing: sexually explicit material, offensive language, violence, homosexuality, anti-family concepts, and religious viewpoints. I would add that if a book is racially or ethnically offensive to a group of people it would probably be added to the list depending on the extent of racism that it presents. All of these are reasons why a book might be challenged. There are often times when parents object to something their children have been exposed to. As a child I experienced two occasions when my mother protested the reading material I’d obtained from school. The first experience I had with censorship I remember vaguely from Kindergarten. I checked out a book during library class time and took it home for my mother to read. I was unaware that it was a twisted Halloween children’s books. The part that I remember the most talked about witches cutting off babies toes and adding them to their potion. After a few pages my mother stopped reading and set the book on a high shelf. I overheard her talking to a friend several days later. She was upset because the school library wouldn’t remove the book from their shelves. She lobbied to have it removed, but failed. The second occasion also happened in grade school. Our teacher was reading the book Witches to us during class. I didn’t mention it to my mother until after the book was finished and the teacher had allowed us to watch the movie version in class. After telling my mother about the movie, she went up to speak with the principal and teacher. I’m unaware of whatever came out of the situation. There are differing opinions among parents about what their children should be exposed to in school. The parent of any child has a right to censor what their child reads, however fantasy books are not necessarily harmful. Fantasy literature can play an important role in the reading development of students, although some critics of fantasy children’s books have questioned validity of their importance. “Some educators and parents question the value of fantasy for today’s child. They argue that children want contemporary stories that are relevant and speak to the problems of daily living—“now” books about the real world, not fantasies about unreal worlds.” (Huck 286) While children do need books that about the real world and real problems, fantasy books can provide them with a unique outlet and a great sense of literary enjoyment. Children can learn valuable lessons from fantasy books as much they could from other forms of fictional literature. “The great fantasies frequently reveal new insights” into the world of reality. (Huck 286) These new realities help to expand the reader’s imagination and help them to see their current world in new and valuable ways. Sometimes the exposure to foreign ideas and worldviews can bring teachers and parents into conflict. As a teacher I would take necessary actions to alleviate parental concerns about fantasy and science fiction in the classroom. I would make every effort to include these types of books, both in the classroom library and at story time. The parents should be comfortable with the books that I choose. I want to find a happy medium where we can both be satisfied. I’ll first make sure that I screen all the books for objectionable material, and then weigh my options. In certain cases a note may need to be sent home explaining the book. For the most part I’ll try and stay away from the banned books, at least for grade school children.
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For a parent, it is frightening to let other people decide what her children are exposed to. I am not a fan of homeschooling, but no wonder more and more people are going for it.
 | | nick Dec 22, 2009 14:46 | |
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