When You Put a Ban on a Book

Charli Frazier, Reporter

The practice of book banning is one that most students and almost all teachers are familiar with. A book gains controversy due to the contents within its pages, a debate between two opposing sides breaks out, and a decision is reached. The book is either pulled from shelves in that area or remains untouched for all to read.

Banning a book can be due to many reasons. When asked why people might want a book to be banned in schools, Mr. Simpson, the school librarian and media specialist, said, “Usually it comes down to fear and misunderstanding. Quite often, parents or someone in a community hear about a small portion of the book or don’t understand what the story is or the context.”

In most cases, it’s parents that are the ones that bring up the idea of banning a book. One parent, Brandi Eastwood, had something else to say on the matter. “I think it’s just stupid,” said Eastwood.

“You’re not letting them learn about something they’ll eventually find out anyway.”

So, what do students have to say about this? For one, they’re the ones who bans are being put in place for. One student, sophomore Blake Stivers, said, “It makes it harder for messages to be spread to a wider audience.”

“Knowledge should be unlimited, and restricting that is not good,’ said Blake.