Banning Books Why should we care?

What Makes Us the U.S.?

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution “ 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 First Amendment guarantees: Freedom of religion Freedom of religion Freedom of speech Freedom of speech Freedom of the press Freedom of the press

Banned Book Week Celebrating the Freedom to Read Banned Book Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. It is celebrated every fall. September 2014 will be its 31 st year.

This week is sponsored by: The American Library Association The American Library Association American Booksellers Association American Booksellers Association American Booksellers Foundation for American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression American Society of Journalists and Authors American Society of Journalists and Authors Center for the Book/Library of Congress Center for the Book/Library of Congress and other sponsors. This is the 28 th year recognizing Banned Book Week.

So… Why Should We Care?

Some people think that they know what is best for us. They want to tell us what to read. They want to tell us what to think.

“Local school boards may not remove books from school library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books…” - U. S. Supreme Court in Board of Education, Island Trees School District vs. Pico (1982)

In 1982, 17-year-old Steven Pico and four friends challenged the removal of 11 books from the library shelves, including these titles: Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut Best Short Stories of Negro Writers Best Short Stories of Negro Writers edited by Langston Hughes Go Ask Alice by Anonymous Go Ask Alice by Anonymous Black Boy by Richard Wright Black Boy by Richard Wright A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ but a Sandwich A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ but a Sandwich by Alice Childress

The school board defended its decision to the local press, calling the books: “anti-American, anti-Christian, anti-Semitic, and just plain filthy.”

The court recognized that the First Amendment rights of students are “directly and sharply implicated” when a book is removed from a school library.

Therefore, the discretion of school boards to remove books from school libraries is limited…if the party’s intention is to deny students access to ideas with which the party disagrees, it is a violation of the First Amendment. Therefore, the discretion of school boards to remove books from school libraries is limited…if the party’s intention is to deny students access to ideas with which the party disagrees, it is a violation of the First Amendment.

Banning books is not a new idea, however. 360 B.C., Plato described the ideal Republic: “Our first business will be to supervise the making of fables and legends; rejecting all which are unsatisfactory…”

In ancient times, when books were hand written, burning them guaranteed that no one would be able to read them.

First documented case The first recorded case of censorship by a government was in the 3 rd century BC The first recorded case of censorship by a government was in the 3 rd century BC Qin dynasty, China Qin dynasty, China What was destroyed? What was destroyed? All historical, religious documents prior to this dynasty’s rule were ordered to be burned All historical, religious documents prior to this dynasty’s rule were ordered to be burned

After Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press around 1440, popular books were printed and sold in Germany. Within 20 years, Germany’s first official censorship office was established.

In England, King Henry VIII established a licensing system. All manuscripts had to be submitted to the Church of England for review and approval.

Censorship in History 1535 – French King Francis I prohibited the printing of books 1535 – French King Francis I prohibited the printing of books 1559 – the Catholic Church printed a list of which books to allow or prohibit – the Catholic Church printed a list of which books to allow or prohibit. This list grew to 5,000 titles. In 1966, Pope Paul VI terminated the list of banned publications.

German playwright Heinrich Heine (1821) said, “Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings.” In 1933, Nazis burned over 25,000 “un-German” books.

Ban vs. Challenge CHALLENGE: CHALLENGE: Usually involves filling out a form and making an official complaint Usually involves filling out a form and making an official complaint Books can be challenged thousands of times and never be banned Books can be challenged thousands of times and never be banned Harry Potter series: challenged 3,000+ times since 2000 Harry Potter series: challenged 3,000+ times since 2000 BAN: BAN: To ban a book, it must first be challenged. To ban a book, it must first be challenged. If there are legitimate reasons for concern, the book may be removed from the shelves If there are legitimate reasons for concern, the book may be removed from the shelves Only a handful of books have been nationally banned Only a handful of books have been nationally banned

Today, most challenges happen at: school libraries public libraries

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools has a “Statement of Concern” form that concerned parties may complete and submit to school libraries.

Challenges by Initiator

Ironically, most groups who initiate a challenge do not consider what they are doing “censorship.”

G- General Audiences All ages admitted PG- Parental Guidance Suggested Some material may not be suitable for children PG-13- Parents Strongly Cautioned Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13 R- Restricted Under 17 requires accompanying parent/adult guardian NC-17- No One 17 and Under Admitted

Rating system for books? There is no uniform system for rating books based on the audience and appropriate level. There is no uniform system for rating books based on the audience and appropriate level.

Reasons for banning books Challenges are frequently made because books contain: profanity, violence, homosexuality, sex or sex education.

Reasons for banning books Other topics of concern witchcraft, the occult, rebellious children, “new age” philosophies, racist, sexist, or “politically incorrect” language.

Challenges by Reason

The ALA documented over 6,000 challenges between

What someone chooses to read is a personal and private decision. This is a decision between you and your parents.