Comments on: BANNED BOOKS WEEK http://thepinakes.com/2009/10/banned-books-week/ from papyrus to pdf Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:03:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Adina Leitner http://thepinakes.com/2009/10/banned-books-week/comment-page-1/#comment-441 Adina Leitner Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:11:22 +0000 http://thepinakes.com/?p=354#comment-441 In an Intellectual Freedom class taught by Professor C. James Schmidt, I created a database reviewing every book which had been suggested for banning in California (in fact the town of Banning, CA banned books). The majority of books which have been banned (or books people have tried to ban) are children’s books. One of the tenants of the Library Bill of Rights is that libraries and librarians are not to act in loco parentis. Almost all of the books which I surveyed deal with sexual education, alternative lifestyles, and occult (á la Harry Potter). When a child or teenager finds that their family is unlike others in their neighborhood, or that they themselves are different from their friends, they should have the right to turn to a free, safe place to learn and to explore. While doing my research I came across a multitude of parent groups bent on censoring what other people’s children read. Banned books are simply one person trying to censor another’s point of view. I believe that one week a year is worth celebrating that fact that we have not fallen to censorship. That so many books which are challenged or banned are acclaimed by reputable sources and have become literary jewels is a testament to the openness of the minds of readers. I really enjoyed your post Daniel – keep up the good work! In an Intellectual Freedom class taught by Professor C. James Schmidt, I created a database reviewing every book which had been suggested for banning in California (in fact the town of Banning, CA banned books). The majority of books which have been banned (or books people have tried to ban) are children’s books. One of the tenants of the Library Bill of Rights is that libraries and librarians are not to act in loco parentis. Almost all of the books which I surveyed deal with sexual education, alternative lifestyles, and occult (á la Harry Potter). When a child or teenager finds that their family is unlike others in their neighborhood, or that they themselves are different from their friends, they should have the right to turn to a free, safe place to learn and to explore. While doing my research I came across a multitude of parent groups bent on censoring what other people’s children read.

Banned books are simply one person trying to censor another’s point of view. I believe that one week a year is worth celebrating that fact that we have not fallen to censorship. That so many books which are challenged or banned are acclaimed by reputable sources and have become literary jewels is a testament to the openness of the minds of readers. I really enjoyed your post Daniel – keep up the good work!

]]> By: jsr http://thepinakes.com/2009/10/banned-books-week/comment-page-1/#comment-416 jsr Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:13:28 +0000 http://thepinakes.com/?p=354#comment-416 wish I had more than two thumbs to put up! nice post! wish I had more than two thumbs to put up! nice post!

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