Censoring children's books
Discussion
The BBC has an interesting article about increasing censorship of children's books in the US: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11417672
It includes a list of the 10 most banned books, with reasons. I think the saddest one is "To Kill a Mockingbird" - on the basis that it contains racism. Surely that's the whole point of the book; it's condemning it, not encouraging it!
Although the article puts much of the blame on the religious right, a couple of books are on the list because they are told from a religious viewpoint.
So are there any books you would ban from a school library, and if so, what and why?
It includes a list of the 10 most banned books, with reasons. I think the saddest one is "To Kill a Mockingbird" - on the basis that it contains racism. Surely that's the whole point of the book; it's condemning it, not encouraging it!
Although the article puts much of the blame on the religious right, a couple of books are on the list because they are told from a religious viewpoint.
So are there any books you would ban from a school library, and if so, what and why?
cazzer said:
Catcher in the Rye.....because it's s
t.
And don't tell me it's because I don't get it. It's just st.
A real case of Emperors New Clothes (which would probably be banned for containing nudity)
Not just me then, and endured it for a second time recently to give it a second chance. It starts, nothing happens, you sense he's going to go postal, then nothing, it ends. That's it.t.And don't tell me it's because I don't get it. It's just s
t.A real case of Emperors New Clothes (which would probably be banned for containing nudity)
Read To Kill A Mockingbird recently again too, got so much more out of it than in my youth.
Well, I just read my son a battered copy of 'Gunther purges the ghetto of the insidious Zionists for the greater glory of the Fatherland' I recently found in Mutti's attic and while I suppose it may have seemed a little archaic in places mainly it just comes across, now, as whimsy. The illustrations are charming.
I bet that there are those that would like to see it banned, though. And those people get called PC Nazis. It's the ultimate insult to Gunther.
I bet that there are those that would like to see it banned, though. And those people get called PC Nazis. It's the ultimate insult to Gunther.
Justayellowbadge said:
Well, I just read my son a battered copy of 'Gunther purges the ghetto of the insidious Zionists for the greater glory of the Fatherland' I recently found in Mutti's attic and while I suppose it may have seemed a little archaic in places mainly it just comes across, now, as whimsy. The illustrations are charming.
I bet that there are those that would like to see it banned, though. And those people get called PC Nazis. It's the ultimate insult to Gunther.
http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/fuchs.htmI bet that there are those that would like to see it banned, though. And those people get called PC Nazis. It's the ultimate insult to Gunther.
Just sometimes, truth is stranger than JAYB.
Smallend said:
The BBC has an interesting article about increasing censorship of children's books in the US: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11417672
It includes a list of the 10 most banned books, with reasons. I think the saddest one is "To Kill a Mockingbird" - on the basis that it contains racism. Surely that's the whole point of the book; it's condemning it, not encouraging it!
Although the article puts much of the blame on the religious right, a couple of books are on the list because they are told from a religious viewpoint.
"To kill a Mocking bird" was included because black parents objected to the use of the word "It includes a list of the 10 most banned books, with reasons. I think the saddest one is "To Kill a Mockingbird" - on the basis that it contains racism. Surely that's the whole point of the book; it's condemning it, not encouraging it!
Although the article puts much of the blame on the religious right, a couple of books are on the list because they are told from a religious viewpoint.
" within the group. Your are right, though. The book is very much against racism, which suggests to me that the objectors haven't actually read it enough to show that context.sneijder said:
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Read To Kill A Mockingbird recently again too, got so much more out of it than in my youth.
Me too! I read it for "O" grade and over analysed it to death. On reading it again (20+ years later) I really enjoyed it - the character development is great. And to think this was the only book Harper Lee wrote.Read To Kill A Mockingbird recently again too, got so much more out of it than in my youth.
cazzer said:
miniman said:
My daughter has a Peppa Pig book called "Recycling Fun". Needless to say, when I read it to her the following are added:
Lentil munching
Misguided cretin
All goes in a landfill anyway
Total lifecycle environmental impact
Long time since I've genuinely "lol"edLentil munching
Misguided cretin
All goes in a landfill anyway
Total lifecycle environmental impact
Smallend said:
So are there any books you would ban from a school library, and if so, what and why?
The Bible (and other religious texts, let's not discriminate), for the harm done to the development of impressionable children's critical thinking faculties. I'd settle for it/them being relocated to the "Fiction" section.
Edited by 4988cc on Saturday 2nd October 21:54
4988cc said:
Smallend said:
So are there any books you would ban from a school library, and if so, what and why?
The Bible (and other religious texts, let's not discriminate), for the harm done to the development of impressionable children's critical thinking faculties. I'd settle for it/them being relocated to the "Fiction" section.
Then there is the history which makes perfect sense if you read it in the cultural and historical context that it was intended to be read.
Of course you could just censor it on the basis that most religious types and nearly all atheists aren't clever enough to work out any of the above.
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