What should students be able to read? What students should be able to read is a question that has been argued throughout history, with people questioning what teachers should be able to discuss or even what historical events can be included in textbooks. Between laws, school boards, and overall political pressures, everything is slowly becoming more and more censored.
While a lot of the supporters of book bans argue it’s for protection, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: The debate over education is no longer academic; it’s become political.
In the past few years, the number of book challenges in schools and libraries has been increasing. Many of the targeted books focus on different historical realities that critics say are inappropriate or divisive. On the other hand, educators argue that students need to understand the reality of our world, and that the results of these challenged books are that many students are losing access to stories that reflect diverse perspectives and identities.
Some commonly banned books are “Of Mice and Men”, “The Handmaid’s Tale”, and “The Bluest Eye”. Many of these books serve a real purpose in the learning environment, but they’re being challenged simply because they contain off-putting themes that some people disagree with or feel their kids shouldn’t be learning about.
Across multiple states, laws are now restricting how students can even discuss different subjects. A lot of teachers are speaking up about how they feel afraid to teach honestly because they fear that their lessons could cost them their jobs.
This doesn’t just impact the teachers, though, because the students also feel as though their classroom discussions have become increasingly scripted.
At the center of this debate there is a question of who should decide what students should learn. Parents? Teachers? Maybe the school boards? When these decisions are made far from the classroom, students are the ones who lose the most.
The truth is that education has always involved community beliefs, but where do we draw the line between protection and censorship? When do we allow students access to knowledge for the chance to think critically?
No matter what a person’s political viewpoint, the solution isn’t going to come just by shutting down ideas. It must come from a conversation between parents, teachers, and students where they voice their needs and the educational impact.
Education is what shapes the future, and when we limit what we can read and what can be discussed, we’re hurting the next generation’s imagination and ability to question. This brings out the most important part of a democracy: Knowing that the ability to think freely isn’t just a privilege. It’s a responsibility.
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