Book Censorship in Schools - Why Books Get Banned

Many folks do not realize that our education system in the US has banned many different books over the years, including various versions of the dictionary for explanations of sexual acts and incest for instance. Wikipedia notes that "Catcher in the Rye" and "Grapes of Wrath" were once banned in the US, of course not anymore. Kansas had banned textbooks discussing evolution, and in Pennsylvania they'd banned textbooks explaining "divine intervention" theory. Some books have been banned by the government due to the potential of giving away military or state secrets, that would include producing them for schools.

Speaking of our schools, have you ever wondered why books get censored in schools or are rendered unacceptable for school libraries? Well, let's talk shall we - specifically let's talk about 5 of the more common reasons why books are banned?

1. Religious Reasons
2. Political Correctness
3. Taboo Topics in Society
4. Vulgarity and Moral Issues
5. Parents Find the Unsuitable

Many schools which are run by religious organizations will refuse to allow certain books on the property, generally there isn't much opposition to this because those who are devout enough to send their kids to these schools tend to agree, those who send their kids there for a superior education at a private school may oppose such, but generally won't speak up and risk having their children asked to go elsewhere to get an education.

Political correctness would be the other side of the religious fundamentalist motif and motivation for banning books or having textbooks re-worded to fit a softer tone on various subjects and often these two sides of the argument are both very vehemently charged. Although they often agree on some things being banned such as extreme vulgarity or extreme racism and extreme violence is becoming a more common theme that both of these groups can agree on.

Of course, once we get into college, kids are no longer kids or teens, they are adults and as adults most Universities and colleges believe that it is their right to choose what they read or reject on their own personal and moral grounds. Still, we can understand how parents become activists as they don't want certain material taught to their children, who can blame them?

There is enough violence on TV, in video games, and online already. It's hard to keep our children safe. Some parents decide home schooling is the only answer - perhaps you can begin to understand why? Please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on the Future of Education. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net