Books you (apparently) shouldn't read
By Isla Weimann
Last week, Mrs. Martha Harper, a former English teacher and current librarian at PCHS, arranged a section of books in our library that are banned in different states due to political bias, graphic imagery, racial violence, and other topics that public schools may think are “too much” for a young audience to be exposed to.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, for example, discusses sexual violence and major events from the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. As a result, some states have removed the novel from public schools, with critics claiming such themes are inappropriate for classrooms.
The 1st Amendment of the Constitution outlines the freedom of expression, stating that citizens can write or publish whatever they please, as long as it poses no immediate threat to others. Considering this, banned books are quite controversial.
While these works are perfectly legal to share with the public, student access has been restricted. Some feel this violates the 1st Amendment rights of both students and authors. Others feel book banning is necessary to protect American students from complex, mature, or sensitive content. Harper believes that what is read should never be censored, no matter the reader's age. A poster from her banned book display reads in bold lettering, “Let books be, protect the freedom to read.”
Harper also said that historical events must be brought up, no matter how gruesome they are. She mentioned women’s suffrage and political violence as examples that should be learned about in public schools because “If you don’t correct something, it’s liable to happen again.”
Too often, we take the variety of books available in our library for granted. As you pass through the media center this week, take a look at the shelves. Consider the many novels and their contents. Consider how removing them from library shelves would impact you and your peers. Most of all, take advantage of your “freedom to read”.
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