Current Discussions

27 responses so far ↓

• 1    Carlos Larin // Oct 13, 2006 at 2:27 pm

  The people are the ones that get to chose whether there kids read it or not but not for all the kids the parents that really don’t care if there kids read it or not. Not everyone because maybe some kids want to read that book but they can’t beacuse only a few parents think it’s not a good book. If a child is not old enough to make the dicision then a parent should make the choice. The reason the parent makes the decision because they are going to chose whether they want there kids to read that book or not.

• 2    Erika Garcia // Oct 13, 2006 at 2:29 pm

  I believe everyone has the choice to read whatever they want no matter what age they are. Of course the decision of children is what their parents decide for them. I believe its a personal decision to do and read whatever you want.

• 3    Carli Lo Cicero // Oct 13, 2006 at 2:30 pm

  I think that no one should be able to tell us whether or not a book is acceptable to read. We should be able to determine what we can handle. Who knows what we can take better then ourselves? If there is a child that wants to read a certain book, it up to the parents to decide if it’s ok. I highly doubt any book that a child will want to read can be that bad. The books that are “not right” are far to advanced for a child do understand, or want to read.

• 4    Claire Michaeli // Oct 13, 2006 at 2:33 pm

  I believe, Gordon made a big deal out of it and started the whole conflict. I agree with Nora Baines and the principal should keep the book at the library and in classrooms.

• 5    Erick Mejia // Oct 13, 2006 at 2:35 pm

  I think that we are ready to make a Decision of our own, We just ask to give us a chance. I know some people wont give chances, but the only thing i would tell pepole is that us teenagers only need a chance to show you that we could make a decision of our own

• 6    Nicky // Oct 13, 2006 at 2:37 pm

  I think that we should be able to Make choices for ourselves and not be dictated in what to read. I mean we do have the right to In our constitution. If a child is to small their parents should because they brought them in to this world. We all should have some say in what we do.

• 7    Paola Santiago // Oct 13, 2006 at 2:38 pm

  No one should be able to tell us what to read and what not to read. That is a personal decision that no one can infringe on. In the case of a child, well, that is ultimately up to the parent. A very young and inexpirience child lacks the capability to make a consious decision. I say let the kid read what he/she wants after they turn eight. That, it seems to me, is a fairly responsible age. Or at least an age where a child is begining to learn about responsibility.

• 8    Oscar Villanueva // Oct 13, 2006 at 2:39 pm

  Well we all have the decion to choose if a book is acceptable to read or not. Nobody can tell us if we can or cannot read a book it only takes determination and self-motivation to actually read the book. If a child is not old enough to make a decison his parents shold tell him/her the benefits of rading and not reading and let the kid decide.

• 9    summer // Oct 13, 2006 at 2:41 pm

  No one get to decide whether a book is acceptable to read or not. I think everyone should make their own choice of what is acceptable, except for children. There should be an age limit, for example, children 13 and under should have their parents permission on a book they want to read because maybe their parents don’t want them to learn bad launguage.

• 10    Josh Fulgencio // Oct 13, 2006 at 2:47 pm

  I believe that we can read what we want to read, if someone dosn’t like a book they can just simply not read the book.

• 11    Mercedes // Oct 15, 2006 at 1:19 pm

  I believe that everyone has a right to read what book they want to. Books were made for a reason, to be read by people. And if a child is not old enough to decide what book they can read, a parent should help, but not over-influence the child not to read it later on. But seriously, people who find things wrong in books, have way too much time on their hands.

• 12    Erin Lanagan // Oct 16, 2006 at 2:28 pm

  I agree with everyone that we all have a right to decided what we will read, see, and experience, and that is such a basic freedom that it always surprises me when I learn that groups are attempting to ban a book for adults. This is an indication of small minds trying to censor an author’s genuine expression of their beliefs or creativity. I always wonder why those who would prevent a book from being accessible to, usually, young adults, feel so threatened by it. If a book is truly horrendous or vile in its content, no one is going to want to read it anyway. But then, there is the issue of books promoting racial hatred, or how to build a bomb, and I must say those kinds of books make this argument more complicated.
  As to whether a child should be allowed to read any book she desires, I do think that this is in the domain of the parents, and they ought to have a say in what their children are exposed to, because this is really a natural inclination to protect kids from things that are way beyong their age level. But again, this can get so thorny and difficult…some people are so conservative as to want to shield their kids from any alternative lifestyle or viewpoint – then do these parents get to stop a school from putting a provocative book on the reading list? I wonder.

• 13    Mr. Wegner // Oct 18, 2006 at 9:14 pm

  Good question Erin. As evident by the reading we have done this semester about banned books, the parents certainly do have a say in what is read in their child’s school. Time and time again people have tried to shield others from what they feel is “dangerous” or “inappropriate”. This all seems to boil down to perspective and how one individual or society might consider something to be negative while another sees it as a positive. As a departure from our focus on reading, let me offer an extreme example of perspective. Cannibals are people who eat humans. To most societies that is an unspeakable act, while it is very much a part of the culture and heritage of a Cannibal’s society. Though I would never do such a thing, I do not fault those people for their own customs and beliefs; they are simply not mine. Relating this back to books, though I would not agree with a book that denounces The Holocaust or shows racial intolerance, I could not justify censoring it simply because it does not agree with my own sensibilities. That is not how we maintain our essential liberties and basic rights. That would be how we destroy them.

• 14    Kent Baxter // Oct 22, 2006 at 1:05 pm

  This is a great topic and interesting discussion. It seems that underlying many calls for censorship is the premise that a text can incite behavior. Is that true though? Just because I read something in a book doesn’t necessarily mean I’m going to do it or accept it as being the norm. Even young children have the ability to judge whether something is right or wrong. Often children have more sense than adults!

• 15    silina ouzounian // Oct 24, 2006 at 1:06 am

  I belive that the children or who ever it is has the right to choose if they want to read the book or not. If a child is too young to read that book then I think that the parents should choose what their child can or can not read. Also as Carols said if your parent’s don’t care of what you read then you can read what ever you want. That’s freedom, but if a parent think’s that their child is young to read that book then they can just choose a book that the kid and the parents likes.

• 16    Sarene Kushdilian // Oct 24, 2006 at 10:11 pm

  Like Erin and others have posted, I too think the question of censorship is “thorny and difficult.” My initial reaction is that books should never be banned. Anyone should have the right to read whatever he wants. Moreover, nobody should have the right to make books inaccessible. I have glanced over a banned books list and was shocked to see most of the titles listed!
  However, as a future teacher, I have to be aware of others’ perceptions of certain “controversial” topics. In fact, a part of me understands why some parents would have difficulty in allowing their children to read certain books. After all, their priority and tendency is to protect them. Even though I may disagree with their views, I appreciate the effort they put in to make a positive influence in their children’s lives.
  Though I would never advocate banning a book completely, I would be more open to the idea of NOT teaching a particular book in class.

• 17    Renee Pariente // Oct 26, 2006 at 2:17 am

  I am a parent myself and a future elementary school teacher and I think that teachers need to take a look at books from all sides before integrating them into the curriculum. I know I wouldn’t want my children to read some of the books I have had to read in college such as Go Ask Alice. I also think that teachers should send home letters to the parents describing the books they would like the students to read and give the parents the option on whether or not their child should read the book. If one parent is against the book, chances are there are more parents that might have a problem with the book. I also think that students should read books that are age appropriate. There is a huge amount of books out there for kids to read that there must be some compromise on teaching books to students that will please everyone involved.

• 18    Julie Donnahoo // Oct 26, 2006 at 2:44 am

  This is a difficult topic because we are forced to look at the situation from many different perspectives. Would the way we feel about censorship change if we were parents, teachers, administrators, or authors? Those who challenge books obviously feel strong about their convictions; can we discredit their views completely? I am not saying that censorship is the best route, but maybe it would be possible to find some comfortable middle ground. What if books came with the same ratings as video games or movies? It would make parents more aware of the content and give some basis for the decisions that are made about what is read or not read in schools. Could finding common ground be the answer, or could it cause more problems?

• 19    Fernanda Gonzales // Oct 30, 2006 at 6:47 pm

  I think the peole are the ones who have to choose the books they want to read and they want to have.In my opinion i choose the books i want to read and want to buy theres alot of conflicts about choosing what books to read or people are choosing us what to read . About bang books i really dont think is right to follow that .In my opinion i read what ever i want to read and any books i want to read .People are not going to tell me what i have to read because im not going to follow that.I think when little kids grow up and they explore new things they will say why is this book bang if this book is good . I think is right for us to choose or own books and read wht ever i want thats or right to choose.

• 20    Rudy // Oct 30, 2006 at 6:50 pm

  In my opinion i think that people have the right to choose what they want to read. I think that i could choose what ever book i want to read and no one should select it for me. I understand that some people i think some books are bad ,but there haves to be a good reason why that book was created. I think that every single book hads a reason or a messege to give out to some one. Just think about it!!! Its not fair.

• 21    Angela // Oct 30, 2006 at 6:56 pm

  People who judge a book to see whether its acceptable are mostly parents, I think that everyone should have the right to read whatever they want. If a child is not old enough to decide then their parents should decide for them because maybe the child is not mature enough for some content that some books have.

• 22    Jessica Estrada // Oct 30, 2006 at 6:56 pm

  I don’t think that anyone really decides what books are acceptable to read. I think that the similar opinons of many different people make a book acceptable or unacceptable to read. Many think that it is the government or parents that take the books off the shelves but if you really think about it, it’s the thoughts and feelings of everyone- teachers, students, librarians, actors, writers, etc. I think that we should have the right to choose what we read because we have that right to think and speak freely. It is our opinions that matter to us the most and if we don’t like a certain book , then that’s our opnions. We can’t assume that just because we don’t like the book’s contents that others will think the same way. If a child is not old enough to decide whether a book is acceptable, I think that no one can form an opinion on his/her behalf. If someone did make a decision for a child,then it wouldn’t be the child’s decision, it would be their own.

• 23    John Perfetti // Nov 8, 2006 at 4:49 am

  I believe the first part of the this question is quite irrelevent since as Americans we have the right to read or right, or publish, just about anything we like including any and all religious text/ antireligious text, pornography, or political manifestos and doctrines etc. There is little debate as to what adults are and are not aloud to read. with the exception of child pornograghy, which is less a matter of censorship and more a matter of a child’s right not to be sexually exploited etc. and the denial of a right to purchase such materials in which a child/children are being sexually exploited
  So I’ll focus on the second part of the question concerning children and adolescents who have little if any right to decide what they can and can’t read.
  With the exception of imancipated youths, It is the role of the parennt or gaurdian to decide the degrees of freedom their child has as it pertains to consumption of media.
  Until a child/youth is legally an adult and free to do as they please, free to draw media from what ever well they please, there really isn’t much they can do aside from challenge within the home their particular “rights” to access.
  I may be wrong in thinking this question to be redundant, but for the sake of argument I will include a few examples.
  If a child wants to watch MTV, while a parent advises against it that is th eparents right and is a matter to be resolved in the home.
  If a child wants to read the Bible, the Koran, the Teachings of Buddha, Playboy, Hitler’s Third Reich, or the Pokey Puppy against the wishes of their parent/gaurdian than that too is a matter to be settled in the home.
  Despite what any one believes, or agrees with it is a parents right to raise their child as they see fit. If that means restricting them from Cable telivision or telivision all together, that is their right. If the parent decides the only thing suitable for the child to read is Biblical text then so be it.
  However I suppose the question is more a matter of “should”. in that matter then I turn to my personal beliefs on child rearing and media censorship.
  When one is a legal adult the should be aloud to take in whatever media they choose, (especially if I wrote it). I have no right to tell them otherwise. As for my child, as I see the child grow mentally and as the child matures they will be allowed to take on more adult topics for consideration, discusion and entertainment.
  I do not have any kids so I have no gauge as to what age they should or should not be before I allow them to enjoy the comedy of George Carlin or the harsh reality of gangster rap or the books I [will have hopefully] publish.
  I would like to believe though that come suuch a blessed time, I would constantly be challenging my child/ children to think, and foreever trying to stimulate their own creativity.

• 24    Tabitha Espinoza // Nov 17, 2006 at 5:06 pm

  Reading should be fun, right? So, if I think something boring do I have a right to tell my professor “Hey, this is just too boring for me?” I don’t think so–cause he/she will say, then you’ll fail this portion of the class–simple as that. That’s in college, now in high school, should it be different? Should every student be REQUIRED to read something because it is a good piece of literature? The same way we read in history, science…all of those classes…why should our English classes be any different? If I didn’t want to read about WWI, then do I have the right as a HS student to let my history teacher know that I don’t want to–even if it offends me? I think I need to suck it up b/c it is history and change my frame of thought, not take it persobally and learn what I need to learn…if I don’t like it, then I can forget it after I’ve been tested.

• 25    Julie Donnahoo // Dec 11, 2006 at 4:51 pm

  As one grows and matures and they do have the right to chose what they read there are things to take into consideration:
  1) There may be consequences to not reading something (such as a failing grade as Tabitha mentioned)
  2) You actually gain the right to censor for yourself
  I know censoring something that you can read, listen to, etc. seems to go against what we have been saying, but there may be certain things that you do not want to have to listen to or read. For example, at any age, if you do not like the lyrics to a song you can simply turn it off or walk away. Just because you get older and are all of a sudden in the realm of doing what you want one may find that there are certain things that do not seem appealing. Just because it is out there, does not mean an individual has to accept it or absorb it. An assignment is just that… something you must do to avoid consequences, and generally your best interest is kept in mind, but out in the adult world all types of information is thrown at us. Out there we are the ones who have to decide what is in our best interest.

• 26    David Rodriguez Per.3 // Mar 26, 2007 at 10:08 pm

  The people has the right to judge whether the book is acceptable for them to read. We all have the right to choose what we want to read. Children dont make the decision, the parents have the right and the responsibilty to chose what children can read. An example is, a sex book, its not acceptable for a child to read. This is why its so important for a mother to choose a book for their childs this way they cant read a book thats not appropriate for the children.

• 27    Christi Robinson // Apr 28, 2007 at 4:06 pm

  This is a great topic, and one that has been around for centuries. John Milton, most known for his classic epic poem “Paradise Lost,” wrote on this very topic in 1644. In his book “Areopagitica” he was calling essentially for freedom of speech through the press. He believed it was a noble action to “speak free” against a government who would limit the printing of certain books that they considered dangerous or repulsive. In this book, he argues that the proposed censure law would discourage learning and truth. Milton opposed the licensing law because it would prevent “objectionable” books from ever hitting the press. In this way, the government (which was closely tied to religion) would be forcing their views on the public. Milton believed that we must understand error to confirm truth. If what is deemed evil is banned from the press, people will only be “fed” what is deemed “safe” for their consumption. And who is the judge of what is “safe” or “appropriate”? The concern over censurship is indeed an age-old concern, and I guess it always will be with us.

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