Bubble Of Censorship

Blume confirms the purpose of this piece with her question, “What is censorship?” (342). Knowing there are many different classifications of censorship depending on to whom the question is directed, she proceeds to share her own point of view of what censorship means for readers, writers and education (342). She sheds light on the harsh realities of censorship by affirming the difference between parents safely monitoring what their children are exposed to and pervasive censorship based upon fear of the unknown or the misunderstood (343). Blume’s choice to share personal childhood experiences and her own encounter with the pressure of censorship exhibit her vulnerability. Because her story is personal and relatable, she invokes a positive response from readers while offering a nonchalant invitation to unite in her quest for abolishing censorship.

One area of thought regarding censorship suggests that it serves an important part in the upbringing and developing morality parents have planned for their children. This is a largely popular perspective because censorship gives parents

Children’s innocence must be protected by censorship. The debate on whether censorship is beneficial to society often compiles to a few main reasons. Subjects like freedom of speech, women’s rights, and children’s innocence is brought into question when discussing censorship. It is an important debate because what is censored influences societal beliefs of what is right and wrong. It decides what truths are revealed publicly. Some people think censorship is beneficial because it supposedly protects children, but it is actually useless because it underestimates children’s tolerance, witholds information, oversexualizes women, and sugarcoats the truth.

“It’s not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written, the books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers” (Blume 1999). Judy Blume can not explain the problem of book censorship any clearer. The children are the real losers because they are the ones that are not able to read the classic works of literature which are the backbone of classroom discussions all across the United States.

If one parent censors a book, because they do not want their child to read it, every kid looses the opportunity to read it. Some parents want to censor too much for their kids. What these parents do not realize is that it makes the child un prepared. If you give someone rose colored glasses to shield them from all the red flags of the world, all the red flags just end up looking like flags. Censorship hurts a child. The American Association of School Administrators states “Censorship is defined as the removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary, artistic, or educational material”. Since when does that sound like a good decision. Censorship can only further destroy our fragile society.

Every year, an event called Banned Book Week calls to attention the list of books removed, or ‘banned’ from school libraries and classrooms. An organization known as the American Library Association, or the ALA, holds this event to “celebrate the constitutional right to access reading material”(Censorship). These books, many times, are called to attention for their sexual content, explicit language use, or controversial topics discussed. Books should never be restricted for children by anyone but their own parents, and no school board, PTA board, or community should be able to stop a child from learning and pursuing knowledge. Banning books, instead of protecting a child from harmful content, would marginalize their way of thought and restrict them from new ways of thinking or ideas.

Censorship is a controversial restriction that can be placed on almost every aspect of life. The origin of censorship was used as a trademark for leaders throughout history to direct and control society. Now censorship is accomplished through the altering of books, plays, films, television, radio channels, and other forms of communication. The motives of censorship are wide ranged, with censors aiming at material believed to be offensive, explicit, rebellious and/or profane. As a result, ideas have been suppressed to protect the general population as well as, states repute, and religious ideals.

Taking away an individual’s right to choose should no longer be a problem in today’s world, yet hundreds of books are banned every year. According

In 2016 a high school Nampa implemented the use of one on one devices into their everyday learning. With these devices came the ability to expand not only the knowledge of students but the very way that teachers were able to teach them. Over time the awe of having these devices faded and students were left trying to balance the use of devices and actually being taught. Due to some of these reasons schools should understand the benefits of technology, come up with plans on how they’ll limit the amount of time spent using the devices, and whether they will continue using old-fashion methods.

From fiction to nonfiction, from romance to horror, from children’s to adults, and from classics to newcomers, censorship of a wide range of books is becoming more popular. Many forget how much influence a person can receive through the words in a book or the pictures throughout a story. The issue of “morally destructive and offensive literature” has become a common concern among people worldwide. However, the banning of certain books can be looked at in two completely different ways: protecting the precious minds of humankind, young or old, or forbidding those minds from reading the particular topics that were put in place to be learned. Regardless of the content inside of them, books are the greatest teachers in the world. Why

Since the advancement of technology, schools have considered replacing textbooks with tablets. According to a 2012 report from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), schools spend more than $7 billion dollars on outdated textbooks a year. It has become a major problem. With all the outrageous expenses including paper, printing, and publishing costs that go towards printing textbooks, schools should consider using tablets instead of books for students to use. Therefore, buying tablets would make it more affordable and convenient for schools to receive new information with digital textbooks. However, teachers feel as though tablets would be a distraction in the classroom by having students pay attention to apps, email, and games instead of improving their learning. Tablets can help students improve their learning by providing digital textbooks and educational apps, prevents backpack-related injuries, and increases standardized test scores.

The idea of censorship is based upon the idea that there are some things that people, especially young people, should not be exposed to. People must be protected from stories or images or ideas which may be upsetting. They must also be protected from negative things which they might try to emulate. There is an obvious flaw in this system of logic; this perspective assumes that people cannot think for themselves. If they are exposed to violence or sex or bad language, then they will act violently, engage in sexual behaviors, or use bad language. In the case of young people, there is more validity to this argument. Children do tend to copy what they see and hear, whether that be in the media or in everyday life. However, it is hoped that adults can distinguish for themselves what is right and what is wrong. If they cannot do so, how can people believe that by censoring offensive materials in the media, then somehow this will ensure that people behave well? Censorship simply will not eliminate violent or otherwise poor behaviors but will instead ensure that people receive information from the wrong sources.

Classroom use of technology has exploded over the past few years. Though the number of devices found in a classroom depends on the school budget, chances are that most modern classrooms utilize at least a few different types of technology. Laptops and computers, tablets, smartphones, interactive boards, and other learning devices have become integral to the education system.

According to the American Library Association (ALA), more than 456 books have been banned since 2013. These books were banned from schools and public libraries for reasons such as religious viewpoints, suicide, sexism, smoking, and homosexuality. Censorship is humanity's way of restraining the viewpoints of others. It is the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, or even news that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security. Some may argue that censorship is necessary because children and young adults should not be exposed to certain topics. Despite what they say and no matter your age, you can always take something educational away from a book. Books should not be censored because it hinders the growth and freedom of our society.

Censorship is everywhere; in school, in the news, and in the world. Humans employ censorship to limit, or ban, the information a person, or a group of people, receive. According to Potter Stewart, censorship reflects society’s lack of confidence in itself. The idea of banning certain information, especially books, is quite interesting. By examining this process, people can explore the hidden information and subtle messages in books. Heavily scrutinizing suspected books is the only way to learn why some voices, points of views, and beliefs are being silenced. In order to even consider how books are banned, we must ask ourselves, is banning a book ever the right answer and is banning the only option. Books should not be banned because students have the freedom to read the materials they want and they should be mature enough to handle certain topics.