Banning of Books
Written stories have been around for a long time. For as long as humans have walked the earth they have been capturing their lives in pictures, symbols and words. Some stories were saved on cave walls and some on leaves but eventually stories started to be composed on paper and saved in books. As soon as books started to be published they were critiqued and some were eventually banned. Books have been banned for several different reasons such as containing inappropriate language, racism, or demonic themes. Some people are in favor of banning books and some people are against it.
Although some feel it is appropriate to ban books containing inappropriate material for certain age groups books should not be able to be banned because reading increases awareness and literacy, it is against freedom of speech, and reading is a more educational source of entertainment than television. Some books are banned because they have been deemed age inappropriate. Certain people feel banning these types books protects young readers from being exposed to inappropriate elements such as foul language, suggestive themes, or drugs. That is why schools ban books.
Young children do not need to be exposed to these things. Children grow up fast enough and books with inappropriate materials only speeds up the process of them losing their innocence. Despite the potential for inappropriate language, written text provides a great source of entertainment for readers. Nowadays the most common source of entertainment is television. This relatively new technology has rapidly spread in popularity. Television provides viewers a visual story experience in many different forms such as drama, comedy, action, or adventure. These types of stories can be experienced through reading, as well.
But, reading requires people to use more of their imagination as they interpret the story. This is why many feel reading is more educational than watching television. However, if a book gets banned readers will not be able to exercise their imagination, learn its lessons, and enjoy its story. Also, banning books will contribute to a decrease in the popularity of reading and therefore increase the popularity of watching television. All books should be available to people so they have access to a better form of entertainment. Banning books also restricts education.
If a book is banned then teachers in schools around the country cannot teach the valuable morals the book has to offer. This greatly inhibits students’ education. Reading also helps people become more aware of the world around them. This is important because if children cannot read a book because it is banned then they may not learn about important events that have occurred in the world. Children need to be aware because they are the future leaders of the world. Along with increased awareness, reading increases literacy as it exposes people to a wider portion of their language.
So, banning books only hinders the education of children, students, and others who could have possibly read their stories. Finally, one inalienable right all citizens of the United States have is freedom of speech. The first amendment of the Constitution says “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. This grants everyone the right to say, draw, or write anything they desire. This means that authors can write about any topic they choose. If an author’s book is banned it contradicts their Constitutional rights. This is technically illegal. The banning of books can be harmful to education and decreases options for entertainment. Additionally, it goes against the Constitutional right of freedom of speech. Banning books also decreases the ability of people to read and increase their awareness of different events around the world and can negatively impact literacy.
Unlike television, books exercise the readers’ imagination as they provide entertainment, they teach important lessons, and they are far more educational. Although some feel it is appropriate to ban books containing inappropriate material for certain age groups books should not be able to be banned because reading increases awareness and literacy, it is against freedom of speech, and reading is a more educational source of entertainment than television.
