North East Digital Village
Banned Books Week
September 26-October 3, 2009
Here at the North East Digital Village we abhor censorship. Banning books is a very old practice by those who would keep information away from others - often stating that it is for their own protection. While we do agree that children and teens benefit from being guided by their parents and teachers away from books or other media that is beyond their years - and that, in its purest sense - this too amounts to censorship. But, when it comes to children - their safety is "top dog" - and reasonable censorship of materials that present overly violent or sexually explicit content may be warranted - if no other resolution is found (such as reading the book or passages with the child and discussing the parts found offensive).
Certainly, the dilemma faced by all parents, caretakers, teachers, librarians and others involved with caring for children is to be educated on child developmental stages and to apply this knowledge to particular children and situations. With this knowledge, combined with our awareness of our child's emotional health, comprehension level and comfort with coming to us if he or she have questions or are disturbed by their reading materials, we make our best decisions.
Celebrating the Freedom to Read!
"Banned Books Week is the only national celebration of the freedom to read. It was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. More than a thousand books have been challenged since 1982. The challenges have occurred in every state and in hundreds of communities. People challenge books that they say are too sexual or too violent. They object to profanity and slang, and protest against offensive portrayals of racial or religious groups - or positive portrayals of homosexuals. Their targets range from books that explore the latest problems to classic and beloved works of American literature." bannedbooksweek.org
According to the American Library Association, out of 513 challenges reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom in 2008. The 10 most challenged titles were:
1. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and unsuited to age group.
2. His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman. Reasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, and violence.
3. TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle. Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group.
4. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz. Reasons: occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, and violence.
5. Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya. Reasons: occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, and violence.
6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky. Reasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, suicide, and unsuited to age group.
7. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar. Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group.
8. Uncle Bobby's Wedding, by Sarah S. Brannen. Reasons: homosexuality and unsuited to age group.
9. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini. Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group.
10. Flashcards of My Life, by Charise Mericle Harper. Reasons: sexually explicit and unsuited to age group.
More Info About Banned Books & Censorship
Here are links to sites with further information about banned books or sites opposing censorship.
Controversial & Banned Books: Links to books and authors of banned books and other sites oppposing censorship.
Banned Books Online: "Special exhibit of books that have been the objects of censorship or censorship attempts. The books featured here range from Ulysses to Little Red Riding Hood." upenn.edu
Electronic Frontier Foundation: "From the Internet to the iPod, technologies are transforming our society and empowering us as speakers, citizens, creators, and consumers. When our freedoms in the networked world come under attack, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is the first line of defense." eff.org
Truth Seeker Journal: Truth Seeker Journal began as a tabloid newspaper on September 1, 1873. The founders, D.M. Bennett and his wife Mary, stated their purpose: "Devoted to: science, morals, free thought, free discussions, liberalism, sexual equality, labor reform, progression, free education and whatever tends to elevate and emancipate the human race." truthseekerjournal.com
First Amendment to the Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Also see Government Oversight.
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