What is Banned Books Week?
Photo Credit: Lena McPeters
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October 21, 2011 • Lena McPeters, staff writer
Filed under News, Student Life
Banned Books Week was Sept. 24 to Oct. 1. Several of the teachers have expressive ideas on the controversy that is Banned Books Week.
Higher authorities, sometimes teachers, have banned books. Adolph Hitler began to ban books for public reading due to the controversy these books created. This was a way for the Nazis in Germany to control the ideas of the public. Since Hitler, several books have been banned by governments, such as the communist governments, in the same attempt to withhold some of the ideas contained in these books.
“It brings attention to the fact we do have freedom of speech,” school librarian Sharon Holder said, “and when we challenge that, it goes against everything our country is built on… Just because it’s controversial doesn’t make it wrong.”
BBW was begun by the Office of Intellectual Freedom, established in 1967, whose goal was to educate people about the importance of intellectual freedom in libraries. The week was celebrated in a convention in 1982. This celebration was founded by the American Book Association. This week was originated to celebrate the many books that were once censored by governments, such as the ones in Latin America.
”Change is essential to the world and progress. If we take out… the ideas… then we throw a wrench in the machine that is revolution,” said theatre teacher Tara Granberry. This year BBW was recognized by Rebecca Randolph’s English II class. The banned books were set out in the library for Randolph’s class and other students to experience what Banned Books Week is all about.
“I want to encourage reading of [almost] anything that excites them, and I hope that the community would encourage the same,” Randolph said.
Most of the school’s English teachers do not think books should be banned from public view. Though some books are thought to be inappropriate for some ages, most teachers agreed they should not be withheld for their ideas
“It brings to light that there are narrow-minded people in the world that think they have the right to tell free citizens what they can and cannot read,” said John Binns, English teacher.
Favorite banned books of the teachers
“The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger. (Favorite of John Binns) “The Catcher in the Rye” was banned between 1966 and 1975 for being “obscene,” with an “excess of vulgar language, sexual scenes, and things concerning moral issues,” according to About.com.
“Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck. (Favorite of Sharon Holder) “The Grapes of Wrath” was considered “dangerous” because of “obscene language” and “the unfavorable depiction of a former minister,” according to Blogspot.
“Fahrenheit 451″ by Ray Bradbury. (Favorite of Tara Granberry) A parent complained to the superintendent of West Marion High, a high school in Mississippi, about the book’s usage of a phrase and subsequently, the book was removed from the reading list… The initial complaint was that the words … in it were making it a corrupting force on society, According to Answers.com
“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain. (Favorite of Elizabeth Nunley) “ ‘Huckleberry Finn’ was banned from the start. People did not approve of the ‘foul language’ inside the book. It was also disliked because it was said to show derogatory [criticism] towards African Americans,” according to About.com.
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