Jessica CrockettJessica CrockettCynthia RushCynthia RushMissy SharpMissy Sharp Sara Sara AhlersAhlers

What is What is CENSORSHIP?CENSORSHIP?

• ““The removal, suppression, or The removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary, restricted circulation of literary, artistic or educational materials artistic or educational materials on the grounds that these are on the grounds that these are morally or otherwise morally or otherwise objectionable in the light of objectionable in the light of standards applied by the censor” standards applied by the censor” (Reichman).(Reichman).

History of History of CensorshipCensorship

• 213 BC: Confucius’ books are 213 BC: Confucius’ books are burned except one copy of each, burned except one copy of each, which was kept in the Chinese which was kept in the Chinese State Library. State Library.

• In 1821, Heinrich Heine stated, In 1821, Heinrich Heine stated, “Where they have burned books, “Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human they will end in burning human beings.”beings.”

In the SchoolsIn the Schools

• Censorship in schools has been Censorship in schools has been increasing since the 1980’s. increasing since the 1980’s.

• The ALA Office for intellectual The ALA Office for intellectual freedom received a total of 515 freedom received a total of 515 reports of challenges in 2002, a reports of challenges in 2002, a 15% increase since the previous 15% increase since the previous year.year.

For/against censorship For/against censorship in in the schoolsthe schools

• ForFor– The children will be The children will be

harmed if they are harmed if they are not protected from not protected from inappropriate inappropriate materials.materials.

• AgainstAgainst– Censorship of books Censorship of books

violates academic violates academic freedom and freedom and diversity of thought.diversity of thought.

““When a controversial book is When a controversial book is taken off the shelves, the empty taken off the shelves, the empty space is not filled with another. space is not filled with another.

Instead, ignorance takes its Instead, ignorance takes its

place.place.””-Tara Watson-Tara Watson

Censorship in a Censorship in a democracydemocracy

• In a democracy, the majority rules but In a democracy, the majority rules but what about the rights of the minority? what about the rights of the minority?

• In Watch Dogs or Mad Dogs? Jim In Watch Dogs or Mad Dogs? Jim Trelease says, “They have a right to Trelease says, “They have a right to protest and a right to be heard. What protest and a right to be heard. What they don’t have is the right to impose they don’t have is the right to impose their will upon others.their will upon others.””

Topics censoredTopics censored• ReligionReligion• PoliticsPolitics• SexSex• Challenging Challenging

AuthorityAuthority• Drugs/Alcohol useDrugs/Alcohol use• Race/ethnicityRace/ethnicity• LanguageLanguage• Sexual OrientationSexual Orientation• Bodily functionsBodily functions• DeathDeath

““The official The official restriction of any restriction of any expression believed expression believed to threaten the to threaten the political, social, or political, social, or

moral order.moral order.””

-Judy Blume-Judy Blume

LANGUAGE USAGELANGUAGE USAGE• The Chocolate War, The Chocolate War,

by Robert Cormierby Robert Cormier• The Catcher in the The Catcher in the

Rye, J.D. SalingerRye, J.D. Salinger• Forever, by Judy Forever, by Judy

BlumeBlume• To Kill a To Kill a

Mockingbird, by Mockingbird, by Harper LeeHarper Lee

• Of Mice and Men, by Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck.John Steinbeck.

RELIGION

• The Harry The Harry Potter Series, Potter Series, by J. K. by J. K. RowlingRowling

• Bridge to Bridge to Terabithia, by Terabithia, by Katherine Katherine PattersonPatterson

•The Color The Color Purple, by Purple, by Alice WalkerAlice Walker

•Alice Series, by Alice Series, by Phyllis Phyllis Reynolds Reynolds NaylorNaylor

SexSex

Race & EthnicityRace & Ethnicity

• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twainby Mark Twain

• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Dean TaylorMildred Dean Taylor

• The Watsons Go To Birmingham, by The Watsons Go To Birmingham, by Paul Christopher Curtis Paul Christopher Curtis

SEXUAL ORIENTATIONSEXUAL ORIENTATION

• Daddy’s Daddy’s Roommate, by Roommate, by Michael Michael WillhoiteWillhoite

• Heather Has Heather Has Two Two Mommies, by Mommies, by Leslea Leslea NewmanNewman

CHILDREN challenging CHILDREN challenging authorityauthority

•Captain Captain UnderpantsUnderpants, by Dav , by Dav PilkeyPilkey

•Lord of the Lord of the Flies, by Flies, by William William GoldingGolding

DRUg/alcohol useDRUg/alcohol use• Go Ask Alice, by Go Ask Alice, by

AnonymousAnonymous• When I Was Puerto When I Was Puerto

Rican, by Esmeralda Rican, by Esmeralda SantiagoSantiago

• Fallen Angels, by Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean MyersWalter Dean Myers

• Where the Heart Is, Where the Heart Is, by Billie Lettsby Billie Letts

Court DecisionsCourt Decisions

• Evans v. Shelma Union High Evans v. Shelma Union High School District of Fresno School District of Fresno County (1924)County (1924)

• Hazelwood School District v. Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988)Kuhlmeier (1988)

• Virgil v. School Board of Virgil v. School Board of Columbia County (1989)Columbia County (1989)

AVOIDING AVOIDING CONTROVERSYCONTROVERSY

• Clearly stated Clearly stated policiespolicies

• Weighing the Weighing the viewpoints of viewpoints of various groups in various groups in the communitythe community

• Considering Considering community and community and parental concernsparental concerns

• Acceptance of our Acceptance of our national diversitynational diversity

• Minority rightsMinority rights• Non-politicalNon-political

avoiding avoiding controversycontroversy• Ask parents to Ask parents to

contribute to developing contribute to developing school reading programs.school reading programs.

• Give recommended, Give recommended, rather than required rather than required reading lists.reading lists.

• Have files of professional Have files of professional reviews reviews

• Be familiar with laws Be familiar with laws that protect academic that protect academic freedom.freedom.

• Discourage the concept Discourage the concept that only one text can be that only one text can be used to teach a specific used to teach a specific theme.theme.

HanDling HanDling ControversyControversy• Meet with the Meet with the

complainant and complainant and attempt to resolve attempt to resolve the issue. the issue.

• Ask for a written Ask for a written complaint complaint

• Give the Give the complainant a copy complainant a copy of district policies of district policies for controversial for controversial materials.materials.

Handling Handling controversycontroversy• Provide the school board with a final Provide the school board with a final

report.report.• Inform the complainant of the review Inform the complainant of the review

process and meeting time.process and meeting time.• Provide an appeals process.Provide an appeals process.• While the complaint is being While the complaint is being

explored, you can still keep the explored, you can still keep the controversial material available.controversial material available.

• Resources: NCTE anti-censorship center

Who does Censorship Who does Censorship hurt?hurt?

• Censorship leaves students with Censorship leaves students with an inadequate and distorted an inadequate and distorted picture of the ideals, values, and picture of the ideals, values, and problems in our culture.problems in our culture.

• Rory Edwards, age 12, as quoted Rory Edwards, age 12, as quoted in The Washington Post, “I don’t in The Washington Post, “I don’t want to be shut out from the want to be shut out from the truth. If they ban books they truth. If they ban books they might as well lock us away from might as well lock us away from the world.”the world.”

ReferencesReferences

• http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/c/censorship.asp

• http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr031.shtml

• Goldberg, Beverly. “Censorship Goldberg, Beverly. “Censorship Watch.” American Libraries 35.4 Watch.” American Libraries 35.4 (2004): 15. (2004): 15.

• Reichman, Henry. Censorship and Reichman, Henry. Censorship and Selection, Issues and Answers for Selection, Issues and Answers for Schools. Chicago: American Library Schools. Chicago: American Library Association, 2001.Association, 2001.

• http://www.angelfire.com/scifi/dreamweaver/bannedbks/censorbackground.html