How do you generally feel about schools banning books for students to read?

Question

CrazyGirl2 · Accepted Answer

Book banning is a terrible thing, and the first sign that totalitarianism is setting in. But I do acknowledge that some books are not appropriate for elementary school aged kids, Just like some are inappropriate for middle school aged kids! Some parents may even find some books, like cheap romance novels (which are basically just pornography in written form) inappropriate for high school students, under 18. My mom didn’t, and she even bought them for me, and although my mother allowed me to read them beginning in middle school, I still couldn’t take them TOO school, as it was against the rules to possess any porn on campus, even written! But it would be intellectually dishonest to just ignore the parents who do not want their 14, 15, 16 or 17yo daughters reading about how chad “thrust his steely manhood deep into the wet, hot, and willing velvet folds of Veronica’s newly turned 16 year old love nest!” (She often got me the “age appropriate” romance novels for teens! I dont know who decides what makes them more “age appropriate” coz they were filthy! There was sucking and fucking on every page… oh wait! There are lots of hand jobs in the teen versions, that I rarely see in the regular ones), I bet THAT’s the difference.
However… Just because you or I may not agree with them, if their community standards are such that a majority of parents do NOT want a certain book available for children in the school library… who are WE to say their beliefs are “wrong”? They merely differ from yours or mine. Would you be okay with your local CA middle school, being required to follow rules made in rural Alabama? Of course not, thats why governance of the schools is always local. Whenever this kind of thing happens, I always hear the phrase “book banning” but the books are not banned, they are still available in the public library, they can be bought at book stores, and most importantly most titles have same or next day delivery on Amazon! So any parents who disagree with the school’s policy, are absolutely free to just buy their child that book, or check it out of the local library and allow them to read it at home, and I would encourage any parent to do that if they disagree with the school on what books their child may or may not read!

Gr8 question, Laura 😘

Whatthefluff · Accepted Answer

I think it's generally stupid.

If they do not have something in their collection because it is a book catered to a higher grade level, so be it. That's about the only excusable reason to purposely not curate a certain piece of media in a school library.

Qdbrown · Accepted Answer

Everyone is for having all books for public schools, until they really have to think about what they want their children having access to. Sounds good, but...

And here is the but. The Bible is being pulled by some districts. Other books like the Blueist Eyes are coming off because they hit too close to CRT, and some of the violence in these books, although real for some races is real, but many parents are against extreme violence that include murder and rape. This really sets the stage for these books to be more set for a college course.

Everyone has to remember that in most districts, the parents pay taxes to keep the schools running with some money coming from State and Federal monies. For that reason alone, if parents are paying, they should have some control over the available books at the public school library.

In districts that balk at any book bans for just public schools see many students to be homeschooled, placed in charter and private schools. There is a huge trust issue between parents and government right now, and some say who cares? Well people are dividing up. We are through our own personal agendas alienating the other half of the country. It's not going to lead to good things.

As with Public School Book bans, the ban is what is available on school library shelves. It does not include the public library and of course what can be purchased at a bookstore and online.

Wade12345 · Accepted Answer

Psycho and "Fade" should both be banned. Nobody should read that except a crime scene investigator. I made the mistake of reading Psycho when I was in the 8th grade because the school librarian suggested it to me. It took several entire years to get the crap out of my head that the book is designed to put into your head.

Fade is similar to Psycho. I read that one a few years later, thought I could stomach horror and found out I couldn't. It's ridiculous that books like this are available in Jr. High libraries and High School libraries.

Aerissa_Jade · Answer

This is a little tricky to me, cause schools have funding issues so to me they should only be stocking their libraries with books used in school and classes.

Let the cities have the huge libraries with everything.

If a teacher assigns work, then they should have the books for it... if it is part of the agenda. Schools don't need to have everything like the city libraries do.

Can't say they should ban anything but they shouldn't waste money on stuff not related to education.

Besides with e-readers books are getting more expensive to buy anyways.

Dazed0N0Confused · Answer

No book is worth banning, every book should be available for anyone to read anytime. I'm personally buying copies of every book on the list for my son to read when he's able.

Ffs harry Potter was on the banned books list not too long ago because Christians don't like magic 🙄

purplepoppy · Answer

I'm against banning novels just because they have outdated views in them. They were written in a different era and it's good that people can see how people thought back then.

But the type of book that wants to rewrite history such as those denying the holocaust or are clearly just political propaganda have no place in a school

SomeGuyCalledTom · Answer

Up to primary school it's fair that school libraries should have age-appropriate content. But from secondary school onwards, I don't think school administrators should dictate what books students can and can't access on school premises. Of course no school library can stock every book ever written, so somewhere along the way some librarian ends up making judgement calls to stock Book A when they could've stocked Book B in its place. But if schools are actively BANNING specific books because they don't like the ideas communicated therein, then that's a huge problem and a violation of young people's right to explore and freely communicate new ideas.

humanearth · Answer

I think book banning is freaking stupid

Why don't they just kill 90% of us and who ever left. Force them to live in a big fake city. That can spy on you 100% of the time.

You can own land, houses even your own clothing

Everything is owned by the government

And here is the best part, you'll be forced to like it. Because they alter your brain though a bunch of vaccines

There that's a world with no freedom or books of your chosen choice.

So keep banning books and making stupid laws.

Kaneki05 · Answer

Banning books is wrong even if it's wrote by hitter himself.
Though I do admit whenever I see a book which is "How to become confident man every lady will want" with an obvious ignorant looking guy on the cover I do think best just to recycle this rubbish and not let someone get scammed.
But that's a separate issue than books tbf that's called having a problem with scams and pyramid schemes.

petitedollbabee · Answer

I think it’s good in some aspects. Books like fifty shades of grey, or books that portray gruesome murders etc, should not be read by kids.

Although a lot of books were banned at the Christian school I went to as a kid. I brought a Percy Jackson book to school to read during my lunch break and it got confiscated because it had Greek mythology gods in it, and apparently reading books about other gods was a big no no. In that instance, it’s ridiculous.

Part2603 · Answer

Nobody is "banning" books hun. You can still order them on Amazon. Well ironically, Amazon has censored some stuff. But anyway, when it comes to public schools for CHILDREN, the community has the responsibility of setting the standard of what materials to provide to them.

This is still a free country, and you're still free to buy whatever degenerate filth you want, just don't pretend it's appropriate to put dildo instruction manuals on public school shelves.

FunnyName · Answer

I think it’s really really dumb especially in high schools where students are old enough to make their own decisions on what they wanna or don’t wanna read

Like if you find a book offensive or inappropriate then you don’t read it but don’t stop others

BlueScorpio · Answer

I'm gonna say it depends on the book? There have been instances where parents are finding pornographic books in their childrens library and are furious about it. One woman was reading the book to her school district I believe and these idiots turned her mic off cause it was too "adult" and there were children there. That was the whole freaking point! If it's too graphic to read in front of everyone at the meeting, then it's too graphic for kids to be reading in school.

HelperDude · Answer

Banning books is just another step closer to communism. Certainly books should be age appropriate as it wouldn’t make sense for say a 4 year old to be reading Lord Of The Flies. However, as they get older we should be introducing them to a wide array of books and topics. What happened to just common sense? A book written by a white supremist you don’t put on school shelves but something that has mention of slaves you certainly can. Why? It happened and children should most definitely read and learn. History is full of bad stuff that happened but it is important. You aren’t shielding kids by changing history or banning it.

Sun_Kim-Ai · Answer

B and C.  I actually advocated for the banning and blacklisting of certain books and authors from the library and schools of my jurisdiction.

LindsayR07 · Answer

The banning of books is a hallmark of controlling ideas, limiting knowledge and controlling what people think in order to suppress opposing ideas.

Every effective dictator regime had pushed for the banning of books, and usually for the "well-being of the children"

bolverk · Answer

It in general a bad thing to ban books,
it shows a weakness in those banning the books ( especially when it is a Principle/School Board) that they cannot defend the position they have taken, they remove books that question that position so they having to answer those questions.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

It's a long standing tradition

MelvinGeek · Answer

I mean, it depends on the type of book and that book's intended target demographic, particularly those targeting young children.

You probably wouldn't want your children reading something potentially indoctrinating and/or sending a confusing message.

Blueeyes81 · Answer

Its a fine line. I think most of us would have a problem with Mein Kampf, The Turner Diaries, Anarchist cookbook and other extremists bkoks being in the childrens library. The problem lies with who decides and that can lead to many books with merit being banned. Its a tough call.

llorando · Answer

It's completely wrong and total BS. If a student or their parents doesn't like/agree with a book, simply don't read it. No student should be forced to read a book they don't agree with, while at the same time no student should be forced not to read a book cause some snowflake student or their parents don't agree with it.

Blackcosmo · Answer

What the hell? Aren't schools all about helping us broaden our knowledge and vocabulary or whatever?  I get it if books that are inappropriate or offensive are banned but why all? I love books.

redbeardsley91 · Answer

Obviously, stuff like "Lolita" shouldn't be allowed ("teacher has a sexual relationship with his student". Sounds like something out of a porno, I know).
"Mein Kampf" is a bit of a touchy subject: on the one hand, NO, but if read in a historical context and knowing the author was the biggest POS who ever lived...

Rebel_Queen · Answer

Schools want us to read and then ban the books- Like WTF? You tell me to go check out a book and then you ban all our "young adult" books- SMH

lightbulb27 · Answer

Stupid. Frankly some of the crap they read in class is questionable. Just put a warning label in it.

Better to ban some music and tv garbage than books.

People need warned of the hazards of of what they expose themselves to.

menina · Answer

I think it depends on the book and the reason why it was banned. For instance to me it makes no sense to ban a book just because it has characters who are gay. However banning a book with racist or sexist statements is worth it.

2rushbiOV3 · Answer

You could check-out Mein Kampf & The Turner Diaries from my high school library and although both are highly controversial works they should’ve been deemed required reading long ago. Too many people are unaware of the history behind their current day politics because the teaching of government and civics is deeply lacking in public school education. Until we face the past, both ours and the worlds, we will never know the true trajectory of our future.

BurntKeyboard · Answer

If other books can be about equally as educational and helpful, I don't really care. They can probably buy a copy on eBay and read it at home if they wanna read it so bad. Personally, I wouldn't bother with banning books from a school if I was in charge.

Cathy7734 · Answer

Don't they just want a band right wing propaganda books?

Ill_made_Knight · Answer

The problem with banning books is that you are essentially trying to do someone elses thinking for them, or more to the point, not trusting them to come to a reasonable conclusion about the material in it. Thought control. Bad.

Pinay_ako · Answer

What? That’s ridiculous! What’s a library workout books?

lightningwolfo · Answer

I mean if something is banned and the students know about it you just made at least five of the kids go and buy it just to read it to figure out why it’s banned…

Smoke-n-Growls · Answer

It's a bad thing. If a book is controversial, then make sure it's covered in class so teachers can help mediate an intelligent and critical discussion of it. Burning books is for Nazis.

rosemilk · Answer

if that child wants to, they can go to the library and read the book themselves and yes i think it is wrong to ban a certain book or restrict access to them

KatherineJ · Answer

I didn’t vote on any of the options listed. My belief is that any book in a school library should be age and content appropriate.

EnglishEuropean · Answer

Well the schools can't actually prevent you from reading books. All they can do is take them out of the school library.

hIopinionated_ · Answer

The attention they draw to the (mostly important) books compels me to know what the books are and want to buy them as well. I feel the exact same way towards the books banned in jails as well

ElementoP · Answer

I only believe in banning books in schools if there's inappropriate or sexually explicit material For example, kids don't need to be taught how to perform oral sex and what "Tossing salad" means

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

It really just depends on the books that get banned.

RedStiletto88 · Answer

I don’t like that at all, yes books in school should be age appropriate but using politics/religion as excuses to ban books is sooo against freedom.

call_me_scar · Answer

I don't like when that happens as its always done by some karens who think harry potter is evil

Literalbillionaire17 · Answer

I think it’s dumb when the students are 8 grade to high school level. Like they’re turning into young adult let them read shit. Sometimes they need to read hard truths

ArtemisSilver · Answer

Depends why. Schools are also free to curate their own library, it's not like nobody can read these on their own time. Why should they supply books that undermine what they're trying to teach?

JamesDiaz11 · Answer

Anything on critical race theory, gender theory, or homosexual propaganda should be banned in schools.

imfreeze95 · Answer

I was on a committee making a policy about exactly this we put the power in the hands of the parents and let them decide which books their kids should be able to check out

Minahh · Answer

I don't like it. They should be able to read whatever they want, however I agree that on some books definitely should be trigger warnings and students made aware how it can impact them.

Zolly99999 · Answer

I guess it depends on the books.. I don't think playboy should be in schools lol but history books and such are very important in my opinion

TroyDT · Answer

Which books? I mean, does anyone really want his 2nd grader reading The Joy of Sex?

Changiis07 · Answer

What when did this happen?

Apulu_Imback · Answer

Noooo books are my life!!

UnknownGagsUser · Answer

Uhh crazy idea to ban book reading 😒

jazque · Answer

Say what!@@?

chocomilk99 · Answer

Damn is this happening in ur country...

douride2 · Answer

Mostly it is a bad thing in my opinion.

AsaKyo · Answer

Really stupid

jengeorge26 · Answer

Children need a good education. Read books

Lunatic1 · Answer

Banning books is a terrible idea.

Dinosaursandanime65 · Answer

NOOOOOOO MY CAREER

ramher69boy40 · Answer

Stupid!! Ban bad teachers!!

How do you generally feel about schools banning books for students to read?

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