Yuma, Children's Literature: Censorship, Banned Books, Challenged Materials

Schools and libraries are facing many threats when it comes to challenges related to what children should learn, what they should read, and how teachers need to present materials to each child. The fundamental decision of the education of a child is always contentious whenever someone outside the parental structure gets involved, regardless of the reason.  Throughout history, this debate continues, and as future educators, it will be up to you to determine your classroom management and your school's policies.

Censorship comes in many forms. 

It can be a voice silenced, social media or a newspaper or magazine shut down, or a movie, play, poem, book, dance, or music removed from the public sphere because someone did not like it and got others to agree with them.  It is a fine line between a choice not to like something and the action to remove it from the public. It is the suppression or prohibition of any informational matter to exclude or hide its contents from further distribution, typically for political gain, but not always.

Schools and Minors’ Rights

Education in a democratic society requires developing citizens who can adapt to changing times, make decisions about social issues, and effectively judge the performance of public officials. In fulfilling their responsibilities, public schools must not only provide knowledge of many subject areas and essential skills but must also educate students on core American values such as fairness, equality, justice, respect for others, and the right to dissent.

Current state of the USA (Learn more about Banned Books):

• ALA Frequently Challenged Books "The ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) receives reports from libraries, schools, and the media on attempts to ban books in communities across the country. We compile lists of challenged books in order to inform the public about censorship efforts that affect libraries and schools."

• Books Unbanned "In April 2022, Brooklyn Public Library joined those fighting for the rights of teens nationwide to read what they like, discover themselves, and form their own opinions."

• PEN America Book Bans PEN America pushes back against the banning of books and the intolerance, exclusion, and censorship that undergird it.

• Freedom to Read Foundation. The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is a non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the American Library Association. FTRF protects and defends the First Amendment to the Constitution and supports the right of libraries to collect - and individuals to access - information."

• Unite Against Book Bans 

The American Library Association monitors book challenges through its Office of Intellectual Freedom.  This office is charged with implementing the association's official policies related the intellectual freedom, which include all matters of censorship.  These policies are embodied in the Library Bill of Rights, the association's policy on free access to libraries and library resources.

Difference between a challenged & banned book" http://www.ala.org/bbooks/about

• A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials based upon the objections of a person or group.
• A ban is the 'actual' removal of those materials.

Common reasons provided for challenging or banning books or other resources, like movies

Each book that is banned or censored is typically done so for the content within its pages. There are a few common reasons that books have been banned or censored in schools, libraries, and bookstores. These include:

• Gender, Diversity, & Race: Books about people of different cultures, races, genders, or who haven't identified themselves yet.
• Encouragement of "Damaging" Lifestyles: Author of story or book content lifestyle choices are perceived to be outside of "the norm," which is seen as possibly dangerous or damaging. Subject matter may include drug use, sex without marriage, being raised by same sex parents, or exploring homosexuality.
• Blasphemous Dialogue: The author of the book uses words such as "God" or "Jesus" as profanity, along with other profanity or swear words, within the text that any reader might find offensive.
• Sexual Situations or Dialogue: Many books with content that includes sexual situations or dialogue are banned or censored.  These books include texts that cover reproductive rights, abortion, how to practice safe sex, self-help books, etc.
• Violence or Negativity: Resources with content that includes violence are often banned or censored. Some books have also been deemed too negative or depressing and have been banned or censored as well.
• Presence of Witchcraft: Books that include magic or witchcraft themes. A common example of these types of books is J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series.
•  Religious Affiliations (unpopular religions): Books have been banned or censored due to unpopular religious views or opinions in the content of the books. Many of these titles are related to satanic or witchcraft themes found in the book or films 
• Political Bias: Materials are challenged when books support or examine extreme political parties/philosophies such as fascism, communism, anarchism, etc. However, over the past five years, there has been an upsurge in the number of challenges to journalist commentary against one of the major political parties in the United States that is similar to its counterparts in the European Union and elsewhere in the world.
• Age Inappropriate: These books have been banned or censored due to their content and the age level at which they are aimed. In some cases, children's books are viewed as having "inappropriate" themes for the age level for which they are written.

Source: Based on "Common Reasons for Banning Books," Fort Lewis College, John F. Reed Library. Banned Books, Censorship & Free Speech. November 15, 2013. Web. March 19, 2014.