Photo courtesy of Jonas Jacobsson on Unsplash

Book bans in the United States have reached an all-time high. This is a product of ongoing debates that stem from our nation’s communal values. Librarians and teachers who were once viewed as heroic civil servants are now being demonized. Librarians and teachers are experts in their fields. They go through many tests and enlist in various classes to meet the requirements to be able to teach. Teachers and librarians have credibility and are knowledgeable. 

I understand parents being concerned about their child’s wellbeing. However, I believe that any decisions that are going to be made need to go through a process to avoid decisions being made based solely on politics. Our culture of education has taken a major pivot, and it is our choice as Americans to decide which direction to take.  

When children read, they are given a chance to dive into a different life completely, they can form empathy and understanding for different types of people and cultures. “To Kill a Mockingbird,” written by Harper Lee, is a book that is known through generations as transformative; however, it was recently listed as one of The Los Angeles Times’ “15 Most Banned Books in America.”  While the paperback version has been knocked off the shelves in many states, the story appears on Broadway. 

Parents want to filter their children’s education through the books they read. Education is a “discovery processs” meant to teach what simply can’t be learned from home. This process is being completely hindered by adults and it is unfair. I can understand and appreciate parents having values that they want to be taught to their children, but that takes place in the home. 

Bans on books are not “per-student” or individualized. A book ban affects every current student, as well as future students to come. What happens when children aren’t able to access stories of other viewpoints, or even stories of controversial topics that have the potential to start meaningful conversations? 

How does it look to a child of an LGBTQ family that a book that says “gay” in it was banned from their school library?

At school, students are taught a wide range of information, so that they can form their own thoughts and opinions. If we change our curriculum or book lists, children won’t be able to learn for themselves, they will be just a product of their parents. Books are great pathways to new knowledge and understanding of others. When we filter the books students can read, we are also filtering what they learn and the empathy they can gain. 

In ninth grade, we often read “The Catcher in the Rye.” This is a book that focuses on themes such as depression, loss of identity, innocence, etc. The book captured themes that I could relate to at the time. I resonated with Holden and his personal struggles in the real world. As a student, I craved conversation on the subjects covered in the book, but these topics were barely even discussed. I then read the book again in 10th grade English class at a new high school. This time around, I felt that we were able to hold a discussion free of judgment. 

Engaging in these important conversations was extremely beneficial to my growth as a student and as a person. I was so thankful that my new school allowed their students to have freedom of thought. 

We don’t all have to agree, but learning from each other and holding conversations on things we don’t agree with is so valuable. Eliminating controversial books means eliminating controversial conversations.