Censorship and the Curriculum The following Web sites contain extensive resources related to censorship and, in particular, banned books. Use these sites to answer the questions below. American Library Association: Banned Books American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression Free Expression Network: School Issues While the First Amendment is intended to protect our freedom of expression, where should we, as educators, draw the line when it comes to the books and other materials we allow into our schools? For example, what if an honor-roll student in your AP history class wants to do a report on "Pornography and American Society"? Would you forbid it? If so, why? If not, would you limit his or her access to certain books, periodicals, or Web sites? Would the maturity or achievement level of the student have anything to do with your decision -- i.e., what if he or she was only an "average" student in a lower-level social studies class? What if the requested topic was abortion or the white supremacist movement? What aspects of your educational environment e.g., administrators, parents, local politics would be likely to influence your decision? |