Books have been banned in schools as long as they have been included in the curriculum. Banning books refers to schools not allowing books that they deem to have inappropriate content to be taught in the classroom. Although the reasons for banning books have evolved with society, books are still banned in schools today. Books are banned for a variety of reasons, including offensive language, sexual content, violence, religion and homosexuality (Crum). These reasons are often controversial and difficult to discuss in class, so instead of incorporating them into schools, the books are banned. However, depending on the specific content of the book, these reasons may depend on the interpretation of what is too obscene for students. It shouldn't be up to schools to decide which books are and are not appropriate for students. When schools ban books, they isolate students from controversial topics. It would be more helpful for students to read these books in a class where they can develop their own opinions. Books should not be banned in schools because they protect students from difficult ideas, which in turn can lead to students being closed-minded. Schools are also taking away students' opportunities to learn about the world around them or connect with the subject of the book. The negative impacts of banning books outweigh the positive impacts of actually banning them; Banned books are often books that teach students how to deal with complex situations in their lives. Authors of banned books may also receive unfavorable treatment due to their books being banned. Book banning misinterprets the author's goal when writing books. Schools should not ban books from their curricula because this goes against the First Amendment, there are several negative impacts to banning books, and schools that ban books misunderstand the author's intent. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Banning books violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or restrict freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (US Const. Amendment I). To use current terminology, Congress cannot prohibit people from reading, writing, or saying what they choose to do. However, schools are given some leeway when it comes to banning books. There have been many court cases relating to the relationship between students' First Amendment rights and schools. These court cases often result in violating students' First Amendment rights in some way. The article "5 Notable Cases of Banned Books for Banned Books Week" by Shanna Lisberg lists cases in which students felt their First Amendment rights had been violated by their schools. In Board of Education v. Pico, the Island Trees school district removed the books because their content was against religion. Then a student, Steven Pico, spoke out against the book's removal along with a group of other students. The group, led by Pico, sued the school board, claiming that the banning of these books violated its First Amendment rights. This case was finally decided by the Supreme Court which affirmed that the FirstAmendment allows students to read books of their choice and that the school's power to remove books has its limits (Lisberg). Although schools are limited in banning books, they can still do so. However, schools should not be excluded from the First Amendment because students have the same right to express their First Amendment rights as anyone else. It is clear that schools banning books violates students' First Amendment rights because it violates students' right to read what they choose. Censorship would also be included in the First Amendment, since by definition it violates the First Amendment. Censorship is defined as “the suppression of “offensive” words, images, or ideas that occurs whenever some people succeed in imposing their personal political or moral values ​​on others.” ("What"). Banning books would also fall under the scope of censorship, so banning books would violate the First Amendment as it would hide information from people, in this case specifically students. Although censorship no longer occurs as often as in the past, book bans still occur today. As society has progressed over the years, tolerance for inappropriate content has also grown. However, censorship is still present in schools and the books themselves are still banned. The censorship of books by schools also takes away students' right to decide what they can and cannot read, thus limiting students' ability to think for themselves and develop. Schools that ban books from their curricula are robbing students of valuable information they should have access to. Although the First Amendment prevents Congress from interfering with people's access to books, censorship is proof that this still happens. Banning books is a prime example of censorship, a specific violation of the First Amendment. Censorship is milder today than in the past, however it still occurs through schools that ban books. Schools should not ban books because it is a form of censorship prohibited by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. While there are legal reasons why books should not be banned in schools, there are also reasons that directly impact students. There are several negative impacts of book bans on students. The negative effects of book bans are far greater than the positive effects, so while schools ban books to benefit students, they can often restrict students instead. While the books are banned to protect students from inappropriate content, this could cause them further harm in the long run. Banning books can exclude students and make them feel isolated. It can also disconnect students from the real world and discourage them from having their own opinions. What are these effects and why do they limit students instead of helping them? The article “How Banning Books Marginalizes Children” by Paul Ringel mentions the negative effects of book banning and explains why the effects protect young students. The source states that the banned books are usually the ones that students can connect with the most, and by banning these books, schools are saying that some students' life experiences are more valid than others (Ringel). This would be evident with a book banned due to references to sexuality, as students who are coming to terms with their sexuality would be protected from reading these books. Banning books in one example as such could be incredibly harmful to students and prevent students from reading books that connect to their situations.This can also lead to students feeling isolated and detached from their peers. If banning books is more harmful than rewarding, then it is clear that schools should not continue to ban books. Another negative impact on students would be that banning books limits students' ability to learn controversial ideas and how to respond to them. The books are banned due to controversial topics, and when students read them they are introduced to these topics in a contained environment that allows them to develop their own opinions about them. Examples of banned books that teach students about controversial topics are mentioned in "10 Literary Classics That Were Banned" by Christopher Klein. One of the books mentioned would be To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, which is banned due to racial discussions and profane language (Klein). To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic that informs students about racial issues and allows students to form their own thoughts about the book's plot. It is important for students to learn history, and books like To Kill a Mockingbird provide teachers with an outlet to discuss a difficult period in history with their students. When schools ban books like To Kill a Mockingbird, they control how and when students are exposed to controversial topics. It would be more helpful for students to learn about these topics within a classroom setting where the content of the book is explained to them and they are able to understand perspectives that may be different from their own. Discussing books like To Kill a Mockingbird allows students to talk openly about controversial ideas with their peers. This generates a forum where students can develop their own opinions and why they think what they think about a topic. With all the benefits of reading banned books and the negative impacts of not reading, books should not be banned in schools. When schools ban books, they misunderstand the author's intentions. Schools that ban books convey a negative perspective on the authors of these banned books. However, authors do not write books to harm students, but to inform them. Since the topics of banned books are often controversial, authors try to educate students about these topics through books. When schools ban these books, they take them out of context and create a problem where there doesn't need to be one. Controversial topics are often difficult to discuss, and the authors provide students with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with these topics and form their own opinions. Schools interpret this as an attempt by the perpetrators to corrupt the modest minds of young people. What do authors think about the banning of their books? The source, “Quotes from 16 Famous Authors on Their Banned Books,” by David Canfield, offers authors of banned books an outlet to share their thoughts on their books. Harry Potter series author JK Rowling responds to the idea that her books promote Satanism. Rowling says she knows her books convey a noble story and objects to the idea that her books contain satanic references (Canfield). The Harry Potter series is one of the most frequently banned books, yet the books themselves are seemingly innocent. While Rowling's books shouldn't be banned in the first place because the Harry Potter series is harmless to students, schools can interpret anything from the books if they look carefully enough, even if it may not represent the author's intent . Any book could be considered inappropriate for students in a given context, it just depends on how much schools want to look for a reason to ban a book. Authors write books with the intent to teach peoplestudents the good and the bad or to educate them about past events, so that they are not condemned to repeat them. In the article “11 Quotes from Authors on Censorship and Banned Books” by Simon and Schuster, the author of The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde, responds to the banning of his book. Wilde states that “The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its shame” (Simon & Schuster). Banned books reflect difficult ideas that schools are not comfortable with, yet these books present reality. Instead of banning these books, schools should promote them as they teach students about the reality of the world. Authors who write about controversial topics don't do it because it's easy, writing about the topics they deal with often presents a higher level of difficulty. Schools should not ban books because the authors write about controversial topics to assist students, and when schools ban books they spread the idea that the authors wrote these books to corrupt students. The opposition would argue that banning books serves as a way to protect children. The purpose of banning books is not necessarily to withhold information, but to filter the subject matter conveyed to students through books. This would make sense since banned books are banned due to controversial topics, and these topics often make people uncomfortable. When people feel uncomfortable with certain topics, they generally choose to ignore them, as would be the case with banned books. However, banned books are often the ones that have the most to offer students because they encourage students to have their own opinions and also how to handle difficult topics. An example of a banned book would be To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, mentioned in the American Library Association's "Banned & Challenged Classics." To Kill a Mockingbird has been banned multiple times due to racial themes and offensive language ("Banned"). While topics such as race or foul language might be considered inappropriate for students, they also help students learn about these topics and how to approach them. To Kill a Mockingbird contains a valuable insight into U.S. history, showing students what life was like for African Americans in the 1960s, when the book is set. Although To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most frequently banned books, it encourages students to think differently than they normally would. Banning books can also harm students more than it benefits them. If a student were to be transgender and saw books that included banned transgender characters, what impact would this have on their psyche? In the article “How Banning Books Marginalizes Children” by Paul Ringel, the impact of book banning on students is discussed, “keeping books about certain types of children or experiences out of libraries or placing them on separate shelves perpetuates a disturbing view of a protected world". The American childhood that rarely actually existed.” (Ringel). When schools ban books, they exclude life experiences and in doing so present the idea of ​​what a student should be. To summarize, when schools ban books they are eliminating a student's opportunity to connect with a character in a similar situation to their own. Banning books doesn't protect students, but it protects them from the world as it is. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Banning books in schools is still an ongoing problem. The books should not be banned because they encourage students to be tolerant of others and also give students a different perspective. As.