- Information
- AI Chat
5-6 Milestone 1 2019
English Composition II (ENG123)
Southern New Hampshire University
Recommended for you
Related Studylists
englishPreview text
5-6 Milestone 1 Eng- Dr. Jennifer Graham
Emily Hicks July 31, 2019
5-6 “Hey!!! Librarians!!! Leave those Books Alone!!!” Introduction In my essay, I hope to persuade my audience to stop censoring books. Challenging, banning, and self-censorship by librarians is an issue in America that needs to be addressed. Students and adolescents should not be censored on their reading material because they have a right to diverse literary content in school. Every story deserves a chance to be read, interpreted, and possibly drawn from. Words have enough power to change a person's world or views of their world. Everyone should have a choice about what they read. Librarians should not be able to censor books because students need different reading material available, a Librarian’s job is to provide neutral information from all points of view, and reading controversial books does not negatively influence children’s behavior or mental health.
The first key point is students need different reading material available. When students are educated in more diverse subjects, they are more likely to possess critical thinking skills. Banishing a book from being read also banishes the new ideas, lessons learned, and multiple perceptions the book has to offer (Griffiths, 2016). If our children are to be exposed to a higher education that focuses on growing their literacy development, communication, critical thinking, reading, and creative skills then we need to allow our children to utilize controversial content. If the children are allowed to access the challenged books, then the children are more likely and better equipped with critical thinking skills to question the world around them. Some banned books also teach children to challenge social norms when they are unjustified (Lycke and Lucey 2018). The world would be a very different place without controversy. Let us not forget that through all the controversy and turbulence of the Revolution, the world was inexorably changed for the betterment of humanity and society. The second key point is a Librarian’s job is to expose children and adolescents to neutral
being affected in a positive way in their mental health (Ferguson, 2014). Another source for my counterargument is about a study on Librarians and why they do self-censorship. The study showed 70% are afraid of the parent’s of the children. The complaints the parents give the librarians and all of the controversies in the community did not seem worth it to the Librarians (Whelan, 2009). This is a very sad fact that you should not have to deal with. Nonetheless, you have to decide if you want to let fear or principle motivate the decisions you make. I know fear can be a powerful feeling. Is this feeling stronger than that feeling of doing what is right for the children and your own beliefs about Intellectual Freedom? It is time for Librarians to stop censoring books in any kind of way. Instead of protecting yourself with self- censorship, you could try protecting your library with a written selection policy. I also read about written-selection policies too. All libraries should have these policies to protect Librarians and schools from conflict about a book. These policies allow you to display a banned book and give you protection from any conflict (Whelan, 2009). Thank you for what you do, Librarians. Your job is very important to humanity and our evolution. Librarians should keep in mind that they are not there to parent kids, protect people from ideas, or impose your own ideologies. However, it is your job to provide neutral information from all points of view. In conclusion, Librarians have a very important job. They should provide controversial content in their libraries. Challenged books hold vital information to help our children learn and grow in many ways. Books encourage adolescents to speak up for their self when treated badly, that being unique is good, to stand up for justice, and to make their own decisions. I think John F. Kennedy said it almost perfectly. He stated that “We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people,” John F. Kennedy. We have addressed self-censorship and why we should not do it. We have dealt with the fact that we avoid controversial books out of convenience. Therefore, with that simple act, we are closing young minds to different worlds,
cultures, and ideas. We may not always agree with or like what we read in books. Nonetheless, this does not mean books have nothing to teach us. I would like to point out in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury that they actually burned all of their society’s books. Do you remember what happened to them? They became a numb and mindless society. Is that what we seek for our children and future generations? Ray Bradbury is known for saying, “You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them." This quote is eerily correct. We should never forget how important it is to our evolution to keep on dreaming, thinking, and reading. Self-censorship should stop happening in Libraries because students need to read diverse content to grow many skills, Librarians should present challenged books in their libraries instead of self-censoring them, and banned books do not negatively affect children's mental health.
5-6 Milestone 1 2019
Course: English Composition II (ENG123)
University: Southern New Hampshire University
This is a preview
Access to all documents
Get Unlimited Downloads
Improve your grades
