Stephanie Wilt

1/20/17
Cramer
Period: 7

Censorship in Schools

Censorship in schools is a complicated situation because there are many situations

in schools that can impact the way children learn about the world and the way schools
teach. Censorship in schools is the prohibition of any books, films, news, etc that are
considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security. The problem with
censorship is that, "when schools censor ideas, student become increasingly interested in
such subjects and typically discover some clandestine means to gain access to these taboo
ideas." (Petress). Censorship is also a benefit to kids in school because it exists to not
curtail the freedom of the people but to protect them. Schools have such of a thing in
school to set limitations on what kids should and should not view, which has a positive
and negative effect.
"Censorship has taken on a negative, even demonized, loading in our US culture;
however, using the above definition, parental and teacher gate-keeping qualify as
typically positive and generally acceptable examples of censorship." (Petress). Opponents
of censorship point out that, when students are prevented from reading certain books or
having access to certain materials, they lose the chance to be exposed to learn about
certain things and new ideas. A deeper problem with censorship has been found in school
libraries and public libraries. Most libraries have a restricted section with some books that
have some explicit material within the book. Librarians also could get in trouble by not
restricting certain books. This debate librarians have over certain books is known as a
"book challenge." "More than 40 percent of librarians responding to SLJ's 2016 survey
say they have personally faced a book challenge. Librarians working in schools on the
West Coast are most likely to answer 'yes' to having directly facing a challenge (49%).
Librarians in the Northeast are the least likely to answer 'yes' (38%)." (Jacobson). Many
Educators and Librarian figures have confusion on where to draw the line with
censorship without being worried about what kids read. "I am surrounded by the
collective confusion of a classroom full of students who have believed for seven years
that literature is safe and boring." (Spencer). John T. Spencer, a teacher at an elementary
school, is trying to prove that censorship has crossed the line and that kids are falling out
of love with literature and reading. He believes that kids think of reading as a "chore."
Censorship is preventing the nurturing of ideas and opinions in students.
 "Schools censors also believe, in most cases, that censorship is the most
expedient, safe, and familiar way to keep salacious, frightening, inciting, titillating,
overwhelming, or seditious words or images out of the reach of students that might likely
inhibit, prohibit, obfuscate, sidetract, or contradict what is intended to be taught in school.
Such beliefs are not always grounded in fact; and some that are factually grounded do not
justify censorship as a remedy." (Petress). Censorship in school often results to having
firm ground rules and a comprehensive list of materials that teachers can use in their
classes. Censorship can help teachers save time and effort since they no longer have to
spend time wondering if a certain book, CD, or DVD is appropriate for the students or
not. Censorship also gives parents a peace of mind as well. Since schools have a
censorship policy, parents are less worrisome about what their children are learning in
school. "I feel like I'm breaking the rules when I push students to see the power of
literature to change lives." (Spencer). Spencer is trying to say he wants children to get the
full aspects of reading and literature while dealing with censorship. He is still giving kids
knowledge while he follows the rules of censorship.
Censorship has it's downfalls yet it has its benefits. Once educators give in to one
group's request to ban certain materials, it won't be long before another group has a
certain concern with the material and have that material be censored. If this happens,
what is left to teach then? At this point, educators need to draw the line on censorship on
certain materials. At the same time, censorship is needed in schools as a protector to all
the children's/teens minds and to keep certain groups or religious believers from getting
offended by certain things shown on the internet/books. "Censorship, here, came down to
a question of degree rather than kind. School officials must be able to prove serious harm
will result, not mere embarrassment or inconvenience before censorship will be sustained
in courts." (Petress). The argument of Censorship in school is debatable and people have
their own opinions. Censorship both hinders and improves a child's learning experience
and this is why schools have censorships in school to set limitations on what kids view.