Against Banning Books

Many school libraries have started banning books from their shelves in the hope that students will pick better books to read then ones certain people feel as inappropriate. On a teen website, a student writes an opinion essay about what she thinks about banning books. Many things she writes I agree with when it comes to this topic. One this she writes is, "First, I believe that education should be open to everyone. Everyone should have an opportunity to read any literature of their choosing and form his or her own opinions based on the reading. Micah Issitt lists "three basic rights covered under the freedom of the press: the right to publish, the right to confidentiality of sources, and the right of citizens to access the products of the press." I agree that education should be something chosen upon by the student. Throughout our lives, we are required to take certain classes because it is require we know how to do certain things. This includes grammar, math, science, and history. We are even required to read certain books. But one thing that is unique about the written word is that anything you want to read is out there. Reading books is the only why that you get to learn about what you want to know. Even if the book is a fantasy or a fiction book, the reader can learn how to create stories and ideas using imagination.

The student continues saying, "My second reason specifically addresses the last right stating that citizens should have access to the press. The government should not restrict books from being published or interfere into personal affairs as this is an infringement of the First Amendment." I respect that the government wants to protect the next generation from things that may not be good for them, but they don't really have that authority. Even though Harry Potter is seen as a witchcraft filled book that gives students ideas of untrue practices, I personally think that Harry Potter is a way that a student can step into a new world and use imagination in a way that they may not have thought of themself. The government should warn parents about books that they think may not be approprate for their children, but not make a ban list for people to go by without even evaluating the books themselves.  

The studend concludes with, "Finally, I believe that parents should monitor what their own children read, but not have the authority to ban other children from reading these novels." I understand that parents want to protect their children from certain ideas, but that shouldn't mean that they can ban it from othe children also.

I love reading books. It's a way for me to escape the stress of life and jump into a story that I probably myself would never think of writing. I can't imagine someone not being able to continue reading a series of books because their library decided to ban the book. I understand that books can also be purchased, but the whole point of a library was for students to be able to borrow a book and then return it without having to go out and buy the book they may never read again. I'm glad I have parents that trust me in the things that I read and trust that I know what things are right and good, and what things are just fantasy.

K., Neha. Against Banning Books. 14 March 2012 <http://teenink.com/opinion/social_issues_civics/article/131038/Against-Banning-Books/>. Web.