Danamarie Fini Fairfield University MD 403 Fall 2008 Book Banning & Censorship Danamarie Fini Fairfield University MD 403 Fall 2008

Definition... “Commonly used in describing books, periodicals, and documents that are considered unsuitable for use in schools” Censorship is defined as, “The removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary, artistic, or educational material—of images, ideas, and information—on the grounds that these are morally or otherwise objectionable in light of standards applied by the censor” (Thomas 11). According to the ALA, “A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials.”

Why Censor?! Books are often challenged because they contain: Profanity Violence sex or sex education Homosexuality Witchcraft and the occult “Secular humanism” or “new age philosophies” Portrayals of rebellious children “Politically incorrect”, racist, or sexist language

History... As far back as 450 BCE, Greek philosopher Anaxagoras was condemned and expelled from Athens for insulting the gods by saying that the sun was a “white hot stone and that the moon reflected the sun’s rays” In 16th century England, William Tyndale was captured, strangled, and burned at the stake because he partially translated the Bible into English In the 1830s, the U.S. issued family friendly bibles in which “indelicate” passages were deleted

Influential Court Case In 1976, the board of education in Levittown, NY responded to a demand of a conservative community group by removing 11 requested books from school libraries Books included: The Fixer – B. Malamud Slaughterhouse Five – K. Vonnegut Jr. The Naked Ape – D. Morris Go Ask Alice – Anonymous In response to this book ban, a 17 year old student, Steven Pico, headed a group of students who sued the Board of Ed. For violating their First Amendment speech rights

Influential Court Case, cont. The U.S. District Court stated that the board of education could remove books for reasons of “respecting the traditional values of the community…” The students took the case to the U.S. circuit of Appeals, where the decision was reversed The school board then took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court

Influential Court Case, cont. The U.S. Supreme Court found in favor of the students The court interpreted the right to express ideas as the right to receive ideas Though schools have that right to control curriculum, students cannot be regarded as “closed circuit recipients of only that which the State chooses to communicate” Schools simply CANNOT remove a book because they do not like the ideas presented within!!!

Frequently Challenged Books Harry Potter volumes by J.K. Rowling And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell & Justin Richardson Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou Forever by Judy Blume Go Ask Alice – Anonymous And many others..!

Banned Books Week Begun in 1982, this annual ALA event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. It is observed during the last week of September yearly “BBW (Banned Books Week) celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where these two essential conditions are met.” More Info… Banned Books Week 2008

Banned Book Videos Video 1 – a Huckleberry Finn song that features other books that have been challenged and banned Video 2 – most challenged books of 2007 Video 3 – the top 100 most banned books Video 4 – a CBS Katie Couric clip discussing Banned Books Week

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