Quote of the Day “Censorship is the child of FEAR and the father of IGNORANCE.” — Laurie Halse Anderson, Author of Speak and Chains

Another Quote of the Day “Banning books gives us SILENCE when we need SPEECH. It closes our ears when we need to LISTEN. It makes us BLIND when we need SIGHT.” — Stephen Chobsky

THE NETHERLANDS Country of the Day This country’s national anthem (the Wilhelmus) is the oldest in the world, dating back to the 16th century In an Oxfam report, this country ranked the healthiest in the world based on the availability of plentiful, nutritious, and affordable food and the diet of its citizens There are more bikes than people in this country Same-sex marriage has been legal in this country since 2001 (it was the first country in the world to legalize gay marriage) This is the lowest country in Europe, with roughly 60% of the country below sea level It has the highest population density in Europe It is the largest exporter of flower buds, particularly tulips, in the world There are over 1,000 windmills dating back to 1850 that are still in active use THE NETHERLANDS

Brainstorm Activity! What is censorship? Which countries restrict freedom of speech more than others? Why might freedom of speech be restricted? In countries that restrict freedom of speech, what other freedoms might be restricted?

Censorship and Banned Books Ryan Sutherland

Important Terms Censor - an official who examines books, plays, news reports, motion pictures, radio and television programs, letters, cablegrams, etc., for the purpose of suppressing parts deemed objectionable on moral, political, military, or other grounds. Censorship blocks something from being read, heard, or seen.

How is this related to Global Classrooms? FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Nations with Limited Freedom of Speech Burma, North Korea, Turkmenistan and Libya. Other countries that abide by a strict censorship include Cuba, Syria, Eritrea and Uzbekistan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch6qDoYzQdM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrtLYuv0tzw

Terms Continued To "censor" is to review something and to choose to remove or hide parts of it that are considered unacceptable. Censorship is the name for the process or idea of keeping things like obscene word or graphic images from an audience. There is also such a thing as self-censorship, which is when you refrain from saying certain things — or possibly re-wording them — depending on who is listening.

Legislators (local, state, federal) Who Censors? Legislators (local, state, federal) Members of review boards of any kind (school boards) Clergy (priests, ministers, etc.) School administrators Teachers Librarians Parents Theaters Book stores Television Studios

Facts Concerning Censorship Places where censorship can occur: the classroom, the library, school, home, the press … Literary censorship can include any text. Sexual Orientation/Sexuality Religion Violence

Consequences of Censorship

But are books censored ONLY in countries like Burma, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Libya, Cuba, Syria, Eritrea and Uzbekistan?

Who Else Burns Books? Religious Organizations Political Organizations

Censorship on the Rise (U.S. Examples) Between the years of 1979 and 1984 (5 years), the number of reported challenges went from 300 to 1,000. Such works as: Romeo and Juliet Hamlet Judy Blume books: Then Again; Maybe I Won’t; Deenie and Blubber The Diary of Anne Frank Of Mice and Men The Catcher in the Rye Huckleberry Finn An issue of Sports Illustrated *Some copies of these particular books showed up in libraries torn to shreds.

Censorship on the Rise Between the years of 1990-2000, 6,364 texts were challenged. 1,607 – sexually explicit material 1,427 – inappropriate language 842 – occult theme; promoting occult or Satanism 737 – Violent material 515 – homosexual reference 419 – religious themes

The First Amendment of U.S. Constitution …the basic right to freedom of expression. Congress Shall Make No Law… “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 assembly, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Spanish Constitution; Article 20.1 The following rights are recognised and protected: a) the right to freely express and disseminate thoughts, ideas and opinions trough words, in writing or by any other means of communication; b) the right to literary, artistic, scientific and technical production and creation;

20.1 c) the right to academic freedom; d) the right to freely communicate or receive accurate information by any means of dissemination whatsoever. The law shall regulate the right to invoke personal conscience and professional secrecy in the exercise of these freedoms.

Upon formation of the Bill of Rights “The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable of reading them.” - Thomas Jefferson

To Censor Not To Censor To Censor? Or not to censor?