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2006
Addendum Free Speech and Censorship: Banned
Books Due to the
conflicting world we live in today, book after book continues to be
challenged and added to the Banned Books list for our nation’s schools. It is an unfortunate circumstance to some,
and a celebrated by others. However,
due to the access of internet and its wide use in schools, homes, and
organizations all across the United States, there has been a strong push back
against the banning of books. Children
in schools can potentially gain access to a banned book through the use of
the internet. Certain websites have
been specifically created to assist those in search for a book that has been
put under restriction. It is no wonder
that this fairly new internet access to these forms of literature will
frustrate and discourage those who hope to instill the proper censorship of
specific forms of writing. This page
will increase understanding on the issue of banned books, and show specific
web sites that are currently battling against it. Technology’s influence on education has
endless effects, and the liberty to gain access to banned readings in schools
is only one example. Definitions Censorship: “In its broadest sense it refers to
suppression of information, ideas, or artistic expression by anyone, whether
government officials, church authorities, private pressure groups, or
speakers, writers and artists themselves.
It may take place at any point in time whether before an utterance
occurs, prior to its widespread circulation or by punishment of communicators
after dissemination of their messages, so as to deter others from like
expression.” ("Definitions of Censorship." The FileRoom. 4
Sept. 1994. 6 June 2006
http://www.thefileroom.org.) Banned Books “The term "challenged book" refers to a
book that has, for whatever reason, been considered by one of more people to
be inappropriate, and its removal from library shelves has been requested. A
"banned book" on the other hand is a challenged book that has
actually been removed from the shelves.” (Roberts, Michelle. "Banned
Books: a Pathfinder." 21 Nov. 2003. 6 June 2006
<http://www.albany.edu/~mr3240/isp605/#introduction%20&>.) Books are
often challenged or banned due to an individual or group of individuals
considering the book to be controversial, immoral, inappropriate, sexually
explicit, divisive, corrupt, vulgar, violent, or even wicked. Unfortunately,
challenged and banned books are often valuable, classic works of literature.
(Roberts, Michelle. "Banned Books: a Pathfinder." 21 Nov. 2003. 6
June 2006
<http://www.albany.edu/~mr3240/isp605/#introduction%20&>.) “It’s not just the books under fire now
that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that
will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young
readers will be the real losers.” —
Judy Blume
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Background Information: 1990–2000
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Between 1990 and 2000, of the 6,364 challenges reported to or recorded by the Office for
Intellectual Freedom (see
The 100 Most
Frequently Challenged Books): |
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· 1,607 were challenges
to “sexually explicit” material (up 161 since 1999); |
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· 1,427 to material
considered to use “offensive language”; (up 165 since 1999) |
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· 1,256 to material
considered “unsuited to age group”; (up 89 since 1999) |
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· 842 to material with
an “occult theme or promoting the occult or Satanism,”; (up 69 since 1999) |
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· 737 to material
considered to be “violent”; (up 107 since 1999) |
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· 515 to material with a
homosexual theme or “promoting homosexuality,” (up 18 since 1999)and |
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· 419 to material
“promoting a religious viewpoint.” (up 22 since 1999) |
Top Ten Challenged Authors 1990 to
2004
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1. Alvin
Schwartz |
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2. Judy
Blume |
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3.
Robert Cormier |
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4. J.K.
Rowling |
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5.
Michael Willhoite |
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6.
Katherine Paterson |
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7.
Stephen King |
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8. Maya
Angelou |
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9. R.L.
Stine |
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10. John
Steinbeck |