Banned Books: How Fahrenheit 451 Became Our Reality
Censor this, ban that, nowadays it seems like no matter what we do it will always without fail make somebody mad or uncomfortable. When it comes to books about racial inequities and sexuality, our government turns their nose up to them. According to them, these are issues that do not and should not be talked about in schools. But why suddenly did we feel the need to rid critical pieces of American Literature from our education systems?
Banned books have been a controversial topic in the world of education for decades. The act of banning books is the process of prohibiting the distribution or access to specific books, usually due to their content, language, or themes. While the practice of banning books is often justified as a means of protecting children from inappropriate material, it has had significant impacts on the future of our education systems.
In some states, they will go as far as criminally charging librarians and teachers for stocking certain books in their library. In the state of Wyoming, one county prosecutor’s office considered these charges for stocking books like “Sex Is a Funny Word” and “This Book Is Gay”. Furthermore, in Oklahoma, a bill was introduced in the State Senate that would ultimately prohibit school libraries from having books that focused on topics like sexual activity, and sexual and gender identity.
There have been a plethora of books that have been banned that may seem really surprising. Children’s books that have been around for decades suddenly stripped away from students across the country.
“It surprised me when Dr. Seuss books became banned as those were a major part of education when I was growing up. Dr. Seuss teaches students about rhyming and many important life lessons such as tolerance, respect, gratitude, and many more. I understand why the six books that were banned got banned, however I feel that it led to a cancel culture eruption and people cancelled his books altogether,” said Elizabeth Milliken a middle school teacher from Hartford County in Connecticut.
According to an article by Smithsonian Magazine, the report titled Banned in the USA: The Growing Movement to Censor Books In Schools found that 2,532 instances of individual bans, which covered 1,648 unique books. According to PEN America, the most banned book is by author Maia Kobabe titled Gender Queer: A Memoir . This fact alone is what proves why some states are trying to ban books; to avoid any sort of discussion around the topic of sexual identity.
Source: Amazon
Throughout the 2021-2022 school year, 138 school districts across 32 states banned more than 2,500 books. Combined, this is 5,049 schools and almost four million students that these book bans affect.
The increase in book banning is due to a widespread of conservative propaganda and Republican lawmakers nationwide. These groups have objected to books with LGBTQ characters as well as any book that has to deal with race and racism. These are the same groups of people who feel as though it is not important to discuss critical race theory, an academic concept and practice that recognizes systemic racism is deeply ingrained in American society and examines how our systems promote inequality, in schools.
I had the opportunity to interview Julia Freeman, an English teacher in Woonsocket Rhode Island. When asked if she feels it is still important to discuss banned books she responded with “Yes. For the same reasons it’s important to still talk about slavery and World War two.Literature is a time capsule; it reflects the attitudes and beliefs of the time it was written in. it allows students to learn about the progression of thought, societal norms and thegrowth of humanity.” However, she feels as though freedom of speech has become very limited especially within a school setting due to the fact that the more books, we as a nation continue to ban the less, we will have to discuss with future students. Books that focus on race like The Story of Rosa Parks and The Hate U Give are being banned because according to Republican beliefs, anything that has to do with race is not seen as important despite being a crucial part of American history.
There has been a nationwide attempt to censor discussions of race in the classroom. One of the main reasons why books that talk about race and racism are banned is because they challenge dominant narratives about American history and culture. Many of these books examine the history of racism in America and its ongoing impact on society, which can be uncomfortable for some individuals and groups who may feel threatened by this information. Additionally, some individuals and groups may believe that books that talk about race and racism promote "victimhood" or encourage students to view themselves and others through a lens of race. However, proponents of these books argue that they promote empathy and understanding of different experiences and perspectives, which can help to combat racism and promote equality.
Another reason why books that talk about race and racism are often banned is because they can be seen as controversial or offensive. Freeman also states that “controversial books lead to important conversation” These books may contain language or themes that some people find offensive or inappropriate, leading to calls for their removal from schools and libraries. The banning of books that talk about race and racism is often seen as a form of censorship, as it limits students' exposure to diverse perspectives and ideas. By limiting students' access to these books, we run the risk of perpetuating harmful stereotypes and biases, rather than promoting understanding and empathy.
Banning books can also have a significant impact on the social and emotional development of students. Literature is often a means of exploring complex emotions and experiences and banning books can limit students' ability to engage with and process these topics. This can be particularly harmful for students who may be struggling with issues such as mental health or identity. Both of which topics that republican dominated states try to veer away from within the school systems according to the ACLU, in an article titled State Lawmakers Are Trying to Ban Talk About Race In School, authors Emerson Sykes and Sarah Hinger emphasize the fact that those who are proposing and passing the bills to ban books in school systems is predominantly those in the republican political party.
Literature is often a means of exploring complex emotions and experiences and banning books can limit students' ability to engage with and process these topics. Students may feel confused or frustrated when they are unable to access books that address sensitive or difficult issues, such as mental health, sexuality, or identity. Without access to these books, students may struggle to understand their own experiences or the experiences of others. Banning books can limit students' exposure to diverse perspectives and ideas. Books that are banned often address controversial or challenging topics, such as race, gender, and religion. When these books are removed from curriculums or libraries, students are denied the opportunity to engage with diverse viewpoints and develop empathy and understanding for people with different experiences and backgrounds.
The act of banning books can also have negative impacts on students' critical thinking skills. When students are denied access to certain books, they may develop a narrow-minded worldview or lack the ability to think critically about complex issues. This can limit their ability to engage with diverse perspectives and ideas and make informed decisions about their own lives and the world around them. A lot of students form opinions based on what they hear at home and what they were brought up to believe so if they are not able to engage in critical thinking at home, it is crucial that they are exposed to such topics and discussions in school. In order to learn and grow as individuals, they need to be exposed to a myriad of topics in order to form their own educated opinions.
Banning books can create a sense of fear or mistrust in students. When students see books being banned or censored, they may feel that their own thoughts and opinions are not valued or respected. This can lead to feelings of isolation, frustration, or anger, which can negatively impact their social and emotional development. It is important that students feel heard and represented throughout their education or they could become resentful.
In conclusion, banning books can have a significant impact on the social and emotional development of students. It can limit their exposure to diverse perspectives and ideas, limit their ability to engage with complex issues, and create a sense of fear or mistrust. It is important for educators and parents to promote critical thinking, empathy, and understanding by encouraging open dialogue and engagement with diverse viewpoints and ideas.
Don’t Say Gay:
Red states like Florida and Texas are quite outspoken with their feelings towards the LGBTQ community. They feel as though topics of sexuality and sexual identity should not be discussed in school at all, this includes banning any sort of literature that has to do these topics.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has recently proposed a ban on books that discuss sexual and gender identity in Florida public schools. The proposed ban would restrict books that discuss gender identity or sexual orientation from being included in the classroom curriculum or available in school libraries.
The reason given by DeSantis for this proposed ban is that he believes that these books do not align with Florida's values and that they may promote ideas that are not appropriate for children. He has also expressed concerns that such books may confuse children or lead to questions about their own gender identity or sexual orientation. Critics of the proposed ban argue that it would limit students' access to important information and perspectives, and that it would be a violation of students' First Amendment rights. They argue that discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation are important for promoting understanding and acceptance of diverse identities and experiences, and that it is not appropriate for the government to dictate what books students are allowed to read or learn from.
Opponents of the proposed ban argue that it would harm LGBTQ+ students by limiting their access to resources and information that could help them better understand and accept themselves. Studies have shown that LGBTQ+ students who are exposed to positive representations of their identities in books and other media are more likely to have positive mental health outcomes and feel supported and valued in their communities. When we are able to provide a comfortable learning environment for students apart of the LGBTQ community, it helps these students live their truth and feel heard.
While Governor DeSantis has stated that the proposed ban on books discussing sexual and gender identity is intended to protect children, it is important to recognize that such a ban could have negative consequences for students by limiting their access to important information and perspectives and potentially harming LGBTQ+ students. It is important for educators and policymakers to prioritize the needs and well-being of all students, regardless of their sexual or gender identity.
When it comes to whether age appropriateness is a determining factor Jeffery Demaio, a social studies teacher at North Haven High School said, “yes I do, there are certain mature themes that a young reader may not be ready for.” Banning books that are age appropriate is done to protect young readers from exposure to content that may not be suitable for their specific age group. When asked if he feels there are valid reasons to be banning books. Demaio said “I think at times there are valid reasons… there are probably books that kids are not mature enough to read and truly comprehend.” That is not to say that books should be banned as a whole but more so where they are deemed inappropriate, for example it is immoral to have a young child in elementary school reading books that contain any explicit sexual content or violent scenes. Books that are not age-appropriate may cause confusion or misunderstanding and may even have a negative impact on the development of a child's worldview.
However, it is important to note that banning books solely based on age appropriateness can also limit access to information and ideas that could be beneficial to readers of all ages. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider the reasons behind banning a book and to ensure that the decision is not made solely on the basis of age-appropriateness.
As we continue to ban books across the country it is important to make sure that we understand that books are apart of history and it is unfair to take away the privilege we as a country have read these works freely. We as a nation have fought for the freedom to be able to read what we want when we want to further expand our horizons as individuals but as book banning continues to rise, it feels like we are taking steps backwards in history.