What are the problems with banning books
Book banning has been a really big thing that is going on in the country today. It has been causing books to be removed from the shelves in the libraries at school. It has been going out of hand in some ways because books can get banned for the most ridiculous reasons just because of just one thing that is “too much.” When books get taken away from the school library, it causes children not to be able to read the books as easily and therefore may cause kids to have a lack of knowledge, and feel like they got something taken away from them.
When books get banned in schools it is because they often have something that is too dark or mature. But when books get banned in schools, It takes away freedom of speech and people feel like they are not being heard when books are taken away. In the article, When are book bans unconstitutional? A First Amendment scholar explains, “Censorship does not violate the Constitution unless the government does it.” This is explaining that censorship is allowed to happen in schools even though we have rights to voice our opinions. When books are banned in schools, people can’t read what they want to and books are a form of speech. Freedom of speech is a right that we all have and if banning books from the schools makes people feel like their freedom of speech is being violated, then schools are not understanding what are people’s basic rights.
Many times when books are banned from schools it is just because they have offensive language in them or have a sensitive topic. In the article, When are book bans unconstitutional? A First Amendment scholar explains, states that “removal from school curricula of books that marginalize minorities or use racially insensitive language, like the popular “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The quote is explaining that books can get removed from the schools because there is offensive language in them. If books are removed in schools because of that, then kids will not understand what was going on during that time period, and therefore will cause kids to have a lack of knowledge and may not be able to learn from the past and what was going on. Schools need to be teaching kids that the world is not a perfect place and that bad things can happen in the world.
There have been books that have gotten removed from the schools just because the characters in the books are different from them. In the article, When are book bans unconstitutional? A first amendment scholar explains, is showing us that, Most books targeted for banning in 2021, says the American Library Association, “were by or about Black or LGBTQIA+ persons.” When books are banned that are featuring minorities, they are taking away books that are seen from another person’s point of view. If there are people of that group, then they will feel like they are not being included or heard because they are not able to get a book from the library that is about them. Seeing the world from another person’s point of view can help kids learn that there are ways to educate yourself and knowing that there are different ways to see the world by reading a book from a different point of view.
It is important for kids to learn about topics that are dark. When kids learn about serious or important issues, it helps them have more knowledge. In the article, Does banning books really help children? It states, “Urbani, now a professor of education at Northeastern University in Oakland and a childhood education expert, said we should be talking to children about uncomfortable topics and books allow for those conversations.” When kids learn about uncomfortable or serious topics, they will have an easier time understanding why learning what is right or wrong. Normalizing certain topics can let kids know that certain things are not always easy in life and learning about topics that are sensitive can help people understand different things more easily and by helping certain topics be normalized, It will cause people to be more open and educated about the world around them.
Even though there may not be certain topics appropriate for certain ages, it still does not mean that books have to be banned in the library. In the article Does banning books really help children? “Urbani says each child will be different and she encourages parents to consider their child’s maturity level and be open to having conversations if their child reads something that confuses them or is beyond their maturity level.” Kids may mature at different ages and therefore might read books that are beyond their level. Even though parents may not think that the book is right for their kid, they should not have a right to take it away from someone else’s kid just because the topic is too mature. Some kids may be mature for their age and therefore could have a better understanding on the topic then others.
In conclusion, banning books from the schools does not help or protect kids at all. In reality, books help kids see the world and by taking away from others does not help kids learn as much. In fact, kids will not learn as much if they do not have as many books covering certain topics as stated in the previous paragraphs above. Since books contain speech within them, banning them will be against the first amendment. People’s freedom of speech is an important thing that everyone needs to have no matter what. If books are banned just because there is a sensitive topic within it, then children might not be able to learn about the topics in the right way. While kids can learn outside of school, school is the place where we learn about topics when we start going to school. Books are an important part of education because reading is the topic that is showing information that is crucal
References
Kayata, Erin. “Does Banning Books Really Help Children?” Northeastern Global News, 18 Sept. 2023, news.northeastern.edu/2023/09/14/banning-books-harm-children/.
Erica Goldberg Associate Professor of Law. “When Are Book Bans Unconstitutional? A First Amendment Scholar Explains.” The Conversation, 12 Sept. 2023, theconversation.com/when-are-book-bans-unconstitutional-a-first-amendment-scholar-explains-176225.
Counterintuitive Fall 2024 
Let’s just look at the argument paragraph by paragraph.
—You need a bigger opening punch, RebelPilot. “really big thing” doesn’t cut it.
—”the most ridiculous reasons” is too vague to be really persuasive, too.
—I don’t see the reason to specify “dark or mature” subject matter and the constitutional question. There could be lots of other reasons to object to books, right? Politically sensitive? Racist or homophobic?
—We can’t tell from your quotation of the FA scholar whether removal of TKaM is valid and acceptable or not.
—We can tell what you think is the right choice, but not whether the scholar supports you
—If what you’re suggesting is a more specific illustration that books about slavery in which white masters abuse their “property” are a valuable learning experience that should be part of any aware curriculum, we’d have a better understanding of what you mean by “bad things happen in the world.”
—Here your quotation matches your own position more obviously.
—Your sentences are surely wordy, but you seem to be making deliberate claims.
—Look how many times you hint about “things” without identifying what they are, RP:
Normalizing certain topics can let kids know that certain things are not always easy in life and learning about topics that are sensitive can help people understand different things more easily and by helping certain topics be normalized, It will cause people to be more open and educated about the world around them.
—Here you put structure and performance together nicely, RebelPilot.
—You introduce the premise: “different books for different ages.”
—Followed by a quote that, summarized, says, “Parents can be in charge of what’s appropriate for their kids’ maturity level.”
—And then you nail it: Parents shouldn’t have the right to censor a book for somebody else’s kid.
—Nice work.
—I’m afraid your First Amendment argument just doesn’t hold up, RebelPilot.
—Books are speech, but nobody’s being jailed for publishing. The government is allowed to set curriculum standards in public schools.
—Anyway, if you can find a good First Amendment source, please share it with me. I’d love to see it.
—Conclusions should offer something new, RP. We remember these ideas from five minutes ago. Your last couple sentences have really run out of wind.
—Savor what you did well, RP. You have committed to a classic organization pattern of describing and supporting several examples of Reasons Books Get Banned.
—I look forward to your revisions.
Provisionally graded. Revisions are always encouraged and Regrades are always possible. Put the post into Feedback Please if you elect to revise.