The sign on the podium from which Mary Siegle reads a passage from “Catcher in the Rye” says: THINK for yourself and let others do the same. Kansas State is celebrating Banned Books Week.
This event has been taking place since 2006, during American Library Association’s Banned Books Week. This year’s event began Monday and will continue through Friday.
According to the Office of Intellectual Freedom, there are many specific reasons why books are banned, but the top three reported are: inappropriate language, sexually explicit material and being “unsuited to any age group.”
Many famous, classic novels – some of which are required reading in many high school English curricula – are part of the list of banned and challenged books. For example: “The Great Gatsby,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The Color Purple” and “Gone with the Wind.”
“It’s important to raise awareness of the dangers of censorship and banning books,” said Naomi Wood, associate professor of English. “When books are censored and banned, too often it means that information is being suppressed. Often, individuals want to prevent everyone from accessing information that perhaps only they and a few people like them find objectionable.”
K-State Collegian has the story.
I See No Thinking For Themselves
“Think for yourself,” says the ALA’s BBW banner, yet I see no thinking for themselves. Is professor Naomi Wood thinking for herself? I doubt it. Here, this might help, but only if one is open minded:
ALA Oppresses Kids on Banned Books Week and All Year Long; Opinion: There Is a Time to Ban Books from School Libraries
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