Is Banning Books Constitutional - 1208 Words

Is banning books constitutional? The Catcher in the Rye. The Scarlet Letter. Huckleberry Finn. Harry Potter. The Diary of Anne Frank. Animal Farm. To Kill a Mockingbird. The Da Vinci Code. The Grapes of Wrath. These literary classics have been vital to the education of many, especially children and adolescents (Banned Books). These great novels both teach important values and educate children about world affairs and classic themes. Unfortunately, each of these novels has been banned at one point in time. In a country where freedom is so adamantly advocated, it is a wonder that an issue like censorship would even come up, that such a controversy would sink its claws into the minds of states’ boards of education across the nation.†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Protecting one of our most fundamental rights- the freedom to read- means respecting each other’s differences and the right of all people to choose for themselves, what they and their families read.† So, how is it that boards of educa tion are the ones making decisions on books? Which ones should be censored? What right do they have to do so? The boards are not the ones who should be held accountable for what books children and adolescents absorb; this is primarily the responsibility of parents. Many conservative groups make the argument that the books that have been banned have material that is inappropriate, immoral or contradicting the beliefs they have ingrained in their children and/or their society. Book-banning cases usually concern the protection of children and their innocence, but all that is happening is sheltering parents trying to avoid an awkward confrontation with their child about uncomfortable matters. It is not only selfish, but also harmful to the overall education of their children. The touchy subjects of banned books contain issues that are part of everyday life, and for a group to attempt to censor this subject from younger society is almost absurd; these issues are not monstrous and the censorship of them not only shows prejudice but lack of respect. Others would say that it is the government’s duty to regulate these books. It is the exactShow MoreRelatedBanning Books : A Severe Prescription Mix Up1208 Words   |  5 PagesChris Wong Ms. Sommer Advanced English 9 08 September 2014 Banning Books: A Severe Prescription Mix-Up A thought that could make many Americans sick is the thought of losing the basic human rights outlined in the Bill of Rights. Others, however claim to feel queasy with the thought of Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and its contents. One parent, Jennifer Andersen, who objects to the book says, â€Å"I began reading, and I started to cross out sections that I didn’t wantRead MoreBoard of Education v. Pico600 Words   |  3 Pages(Island Trees†¦). This case presents the issue of banning â€Å"vulgar and immoral† books from school libraries (Board of Education, Island). The Board of Education of the Island Trees Union Free School District No. 26, including Richard Ahrens (President of the Board of Education), Frank Martin (Vice President), Christina Fasulo, Patrick Hughes, Richard Melchers, Richard Michaels, and Louis Nessim (Board Members), presented the issue of banning books from the Island Trees High School and the IslandRead MoreBan Banning A Great Deal969 Words   |  4 Pages Book banning is something that should be done away with in schools. It hurts everyone, and the only time it is appropriate is if the book is deemed to be truly inappropriate for children by students, teachers, parents, and everyone else that deals with children for reasons related to obscenity and an imminent clear and present danger. In the outside world, public libraries and such cannot ban books. First amendment affects book banning a great deal. The US first amendment makes it very hard toRead MoreDoes Obama Really Want to Take Our Guns?1100 Words   |  5 PagesDoes Obama Really Want to Take Our Guns? Our country has always believed in a citizens right to own a gun. It is a principle that is so important to our country, that it is listed as the second of twenty-seven constitutional amendments. Gun control is a subject of great controversy that carries many true and false claims. Many people believe our second amendment rights are being attacked, and that the government wants to take our guns away. It is my belief that Obama does not want to take ourRead MoreAn Analysis of Constitution Cafe: Jeffersons Brew for a True Revolution1123 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Constitutional Cafe The focus of this paper vis-ÃÆ'  -vis the book Constitutional CafÃÆ' © by Christopher Phillips will be tenth chapter, which is titled Rights and Responsibilities. This chapter of the book focuses what are defined and codified as rights, what implications both rights and responsibilities hold when speaking of the Constitution and how the Constitutional framework surrounding these two topics has evolved since the Revolution. The two terms sound easy enough to define and assess butRead More Censorship Should NOT be Placed on Books Essay1072 Words   |  5 PagesCensorship Should NOT be Placed on Books   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Censorship... a system under which official censors must give permission before communications of a specified type can lawfully be made (Wilgoren, 1). Recently censorship has become a major problem in our society. Censorship should not be banned on books. People should not be told they cannot read a book. Unfortunately history has shown that words can be used for ill as well as for good, to destroy lives as well as to enhance them? (SteffensRead MoreThe Case Of Samuel Roth921 Words   |  4 PagesCourt Justice Brennan delivered the opinion of the Court. Roth ran a business in New York by selling books, photos, and magazines. Roth was charged with 4 counts for sending inappropriate circulars and an inappropriate book. The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld Roth’s appeal. Alberts was prosecuted for the sale of lewd books, and for writing inappropriate advertisements within the books. Albert’s conviction was upheld by a lower court. The Court must decide if indecent material is protectedRead MoreJudicial Tyranny The New Kings Of America977 Words   |  4 PagesThe book â€Å"Judicial Tyranny The New Kings of America?† is a compilation of articles and speeches. It is compiled by Mark Sutherland and includes writings from famed Christian personality James C. Dobson Chief Justice Roy Moore, Ambassador Alan Keyes, U.s Attorney General Ed Meese, among others. The book is a call to political action. It is aimed at Christian readers and the writers all argue that Christian politics equals constitutional purism. It is specifically meant to invoke constitutional responsesRead MoreCensorship And Its Effect On Society Essay1343 Words   |  6 Pagesis limiting students of their overall learning. Society is banning â€Å"questionable† content because it may offend a student s morals or beliefs, but in the real world it is something that students need to learn and understand. As time goes on censorship is damaging the younger generations by banning information that is important for them to know. Moreover, Ever since the 1990s censorship in schools has increased in the number of banned books. â€Å"In the 1994-95 school year, 458 challenges of public schoolRead MoreThe Importance Of Censorship In Schools1085 Words   |  5 PagesCensorship is a threat to our intellectual freedom. However, many support the idea that books should be banned from schools. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech and press. The freedom of speech includes the freedom to have unrestricted access to information. Yet throughout history, the movement against banning books usually falls into three categories: political, moral, and religious. With these disputes in mind, we will discuss the reasons we need