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Angela Potter
Mrs. Cramer
College Composition, Pd 1
February 3, 2017
The Reason Kids Take Education as a Joke

The education system is the leading source of censorship. An area that is supposed to

allow you to learn and discover new subjects is blocking you from learning about these certain

situations. Racism is a giant reason for censorship in schooling, but the truth which was once the

world's past should not be hidden. However, censorship is a sensitive and misunderstood aspect

that needs to be further discussed to perhaps censor what is actually needing to be censored,

which seems contradicting, but there are subjects that kids in preschool that should not be taught

until middle school. Censorship takes away students' understanding of important, yet

controversial topics, important literature, and restricts the freedom of speech.

First off, students are being blindsided by schools supporting the idea and practice of

censorship. It is seen as a sensitive topic for school administrators in thousands of public schools

(Petress). Censorship has taken on a negative persona for the right reason; it limits access to

education of information because of personal reasons from those around us. There are many

different controversial topics that are important for the youth to be aware of and to be exposed to,

yet the schooling system is taking it away from them. In different types of literature there is the

use of racism; normally this will upset people. What has to be accepted is that racism is in our

past, and that some novels focus on the past. This should be more valued to teach this

information in schools in order show how the times have and have not changed since the novel

was written. Being against racism should be taught to anyone of all ages for them to grow up to

know that race does not define any person. A more valuable lesson on racism is better than a

lifetime of ignorance (Petress). Another controversial topic that is not talked about much for
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schools is books that involve sexual activity (Jacobson). These novels are ones that actually need

to be censored or monitored until the maybe the third grade. Sexual type of content should be

taught in schools, but for those who are at an age to which they know right from wrong. In those

talks religion can be brought up and how to wait, but even that is not allowed because not

everyone follows the same religion, another controversial topic that is not allowed in public

schools.

Even Fahrenheit 451 is a known banned book because of a situation in the novel about

burning Bibles. Religion is an extremely controversial topic that is never discussed. Which is not

exactly a terrible thing, but there are multiple religions that should be explained for everyone

around to understand, no matter who they are and where they are from.

In addition to the statement of banned books; The Little House on the Prairie was banned

for racism towards Native Americans (Petress). This famous book (and even famous TV show)

was banned for a controversy that made sense because of how people were in that time period.

Children in high school make offensive remarks every single day; reading a novel that takes

place in an offensive time period will do no harm. This will only teach them that these remarks

will get you nowhere until you learn to accept others for their differences. Next, schools will be

censoring history textbooks wait, they already are! Textbooks, out of anything else, are being

banned (Petress). There will be no way for us to gain knowledge of how not to repeat the past if

it keeps being censored. No child is too young to learn about racism, different forms of religion,

and how to not take part in bigoted actions.

Books like To Kill A Mockingbird and Fahrenheit 451 have so much meaning and

multiple lessons to be learned that children are being restricted from reading in result of some

sort of fear. An autobiographical book about a Puerto Rican in Harlem was banned because of
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detailed descriptions of drugs (Petress). These situations happen to actual people, being able to

explain your personal story to thousands of people through a book is amazing. Banning this is

hiding someones life from other people who could potentially head down the same road. Some

schools provide restricted sections, in which only certain age groups are allowed to enter to

check out content not seen as fit for children (Jacobson). Either way, no matter how schools go

about censoring topics, banning books from others that are from third grade and up is irrational

and should not happen. Doing this is taking away the freedom of thought and speech for the

child.

For that reason, students have been known to become increasingly more interested in

subjects that revolve around what they are not able to have access to (Petress). No matter what,

kids will be able to find way around rules, schools will not be able to keep these topics away

from them forever. In some schools kids are being bribed to read. This takes away the whole

love and independence of reading, it is not actually the student want to read, but to get what they

are being bribed with (Spencer). The best teachers are those who legitimately want their students

to think for themselves and form their own opinions. In John T. Spencers class he has students

engage with each other and explain how they feel about books. Spencer is one who believes that

children need to be able to read books with controversy to be able to form who they are. Students

need to fall in love with thinking and taking away their reading of in depth, incredible, historical,

or non-fiction types of books will not help them.

In conclusion, censorship takes away students understanding of controversial subjects,

the chance for them to experience incredible literature, and removes the ability to have the

freedom of speech. Having books like The Little House on the Prairie is less threatening to the

minds of children than books like Fifty Shades of Grey but we treat them like they are the same.
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There is some restrictions that we should have, like sexual subjects. This should be saved for

sexual education courses. The rules of censorship need to be changed so topics that are disputed

among others everywhere can be known of for the next generations. On the topic of controversial

subjects, with science and religion no one is being benefitted by hiding the truth of the world. All

ideas need to be shared throughout the world, having these ideas in books and in schools is the

best way to spread them around. Censorship will only make the generations after us more

ignorant than the ones before us.

Works Cited

Jacobson, Linda. Unnatural Selection. (Cover Story). School Library Journal 62.10

(2016): 20-21. Teacher Reference Center. Web. 5. Jan. 2017.

Petress, Ken. The Role Of Censorship In School. Journal of Instructional Psychology

32.3 (2005): 248-252. Teacher Reference Center. Web. 5 Jan. 2017.

Spencer, John T. Dont Bribe My Kids to Read. Editorial. In Practice | Teaching Nov.

2012: n. pag. Print