Director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation Founded Banned Books Week in 1982 Staunch supporter of First Amendment Rights and defender of Intellectual Freedom and the Freedom to Read March 15, April 11, 2009 Judith F. Krug

Censorship: Impact on Intellectual Freedom Jeannetta Hale Caplan, Ed.D. Arkansas County ISD (Retired) Rockport, Texas International Reading Association May 5, 2009 Minneapolis, MN © Jeannetta Caplan

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. The Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791 The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution

Intellectual Freedom vs. Censorship Intellectual freedom encompasses the freedom to hold, receive and disseminate ideas. "Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Q&A." American Library Association (Accessed 05 April, 2007) Censorship is the suppression of ideas and information that certain persons— individuals, groups or government officials—find objectionable or dangerous.

Intellectual Freedom Support Critical Literacy/Thinking Support Information Literacy Develop intellect - growth, change Use the mind to: Locate & evaluate information on issues & beliefs Reflect & think critically about issues & beliefs Ideas in Education

Censorship Focus on inclusion/exclusion of information Transmit bits of information Knowledge-absolute truths-one right answer Rote learning No questioning of issues or beliefs Leave minds alone

Challenge vs Banning Challenge - an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based on the objections of a person or group. Banning - the removal of materials from the library or curriculum, thereby restricting the access of others.

What is Censored Print materials Non-print materials Internet Curriculum Teaching strategies Teaching materials

Where does censorship occur? All over the world Schools Libraries Universities Booksellers Publishers Newspapers & Magazines Businesses Censored

Who censors? Governments Religions Publishers Booksellers Businesses Individuals-Citizens (parents, library patrons, teachers, etc.) Grass roots organizations

Methods of censorship Government bans/edicts Religious bans/edicts Official challenges - libraries & schools- can lead to banning Stealing/defacing materials Silent censorship Self censorship - readers, authors

*violence *language *racial discrimination *sexuality *religious views Reasons for challenges in the U. S.

Reasons for Censorship FearFear To protect or shieldTo protect or shield Censors believe they know what is best for others.

“Parents—and only parents—have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children—and only their children— to library resources.” The Library Bill of Rights A censorship stipulation Photos from Microsoft Office Online Clip Art

Beliefs About Censorship I live in the USA. I don’t need to be concerned about censorship. Censorship only happens in other places. Censorship won’t affect me or my intellectual freedom. People in a censorship controversy are looking for trouble.

The Truth Censorship can happen anywhere. No one is safe from censorship. Nothing is safe from censorship. Censorship impacts everyone’s intellectual freedom.

Censorship’s Impact on Teachers Limit what I teach: Curriculum Content Limit what I teach with: Instructional Materials Limit how I teach: Strategies, Methods, Activities Inhibit my freedom of expression Where’s my Intellectual Freedom? Academic Freedom?

Since freedom of mind and freedom of expression are the root of all freedom, to deny freedom in education is a crime against democracy. John Dewey

"Books and ideas are the most effective weapons against intolerance and ignorance." --Lyndon Baines Johnson, February 11, 1964

Censorship’s Impact on Students Affects how they are taught Limits reading choices Affects reading motivation Limits access to information –Inhibits information literacy –Inhibits critical reading –Inhibits critical thinking Inhibits freedom of expression Thinking!

Censorship’s Message Knowledge is dangerous Thinking is dangerous You can’t be trusted You don’t know what you’re doing Intellectual Freedom is dangerous!

“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.” Judy Blume "100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of ," American Library Association, February 16, (Accessed April 27, 2008) Document ID:

Who is responsible for our intellectual freedom? Everyone, not just librarians, teachers & the courts We are all responsible. Photo from The Print Shop clip art collection.

"Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us." -- Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, " The One Un-American Act." Nieman Reports, vol. 7, no. 1 (Jan. 1953): p. 20.

“He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition: for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself. ” Thomas Payne Fight censorship by: Dissertation On First Principles Of Government “The ultimate expression of free speech lies not in the ideas with which we agree, but in those ideas that offend and irritate us.” - Chuck Stone Develop Yourself Expose your mind to a Banned Book Photo from Microsoft Office Online Clip Art Knowing First Amendment rights Staying informed Being active Voicing concerns Respecting rights of others Teaching children their rights

Who monitors & fights censorship? Grassroots Organizations Individuals

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