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Libraries, schools, and parents all face problems when it comes to children. One of the common issues between three is what is appropriate for children to experience. Books, television, and video games are only the beginning as a collective sense of fear overwhelms the nation. Books in schools are specifically targeted. After all, who wants their kids to read stories that contain curse words, real-life situations, and social policy issues?

The first thing to remember is that most students are given a choice in some issues, specifically as far as summer reading lists or extra reading lists. The choice, although ultimately up to the child, will most likely be discussed with the parent. As a parent, I would much rather my child read Mark Twain's controversial Huck Finn than some of the approved readings I have seen listed. There are a large number of classics that have been challenged, banned, and burned due to some people's intolerance, but the issue runs very deep. In fact, the roots seem to extend all the way to the Bill of Rights.

The Bill of Rights guarantees all persons in this nation the right of press, expression, and many other important rights. Of course, this is important for one reason: books that are banned are an expression of the author's viewpoint. Moreover, children have the right to learn things, even if they may need to find out about new ideas that they were not familiar with before. Most books that are challenged and banned are due to the fact that they involve ideas such as homosexuality, racism, sexism, or other prejudices. I, for one, would hope that my child learns of these things. I would much rather them be aware of the world around them and making informed decisions than be a bubble-child.

A great example of banning books is the story of Huck Finn. Many challenges arose because of words used in the text, specifically a racial slur towards African-Americans. Of course, people who supported this side went through the entire book, searching for those words. Once they got that far, they ignore the rest. If the book is examined in context, it is easy to see that the most honorable, morally upright character is a black man. If the book was racist, would it show Jim in such a light? I don't think it takes a kid in elementary school to be able to answer that.

Parents may be upset at what the children have to read for school, and they personally may not agree with all the ideas set forth, but is it really cause for banning (or, to match the title of the article, being less permissive)? The answer is clearly no. Reasons may vary, but the absolute truth is that banning books is a slippery slope that leads down a bad road. Please, for the sake of our children, allow them to learn.

Learn more about this author, Brad Mcnally.
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