Censorship in schools has become a big debate. Books are being tossed out left and right at the demands of parents. (List of banned books: http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bbwlinks/100mostfrequently.htm Books that have vivid descriptions of rape, graphic language, and books having anything to do with magic. Most of the people who complain reason that it goes against religious values. (Though, of course, not all are Christians, most people who complain for religious reasons are Christians, because its a majority religion in the US) People fail to notice the Bible depicts rape, violence and vulgar language as grossly as any book you could find in a school library. To say you are protecting a high school student from being warped, you are also saying that they need protection from Christain relgion. "Censorship is not protecting the child from the flame, its denying the flame is there."

Well...I personally think that certain books should be banned...since we as Christians are strong in our faith, we are able to say no to what everyone else is doing by reading the sex scences and curse words that are there frequently and descriptively. Mow some on the list I've read and disagree with them...i.e. The Adventures of Huckleberr Finn and Tom Sawyer, Judy Blume books, A Wrinkle In Time, The Outsiders, and How To Eat Fried Worms...at some point or another I've read all these books and enjoyed them at the time...but there are books on that list I've never heard of...and the books I have heard of but didn't put on here I agree that they should be banned...probably because of my religious belief. But I also think it's up to you what you read...I don't think some of the books we have to read in school should be forced upon us to read...about 6 years ago I had to read the Harry Potter Series (or which ever ones were out at the time) and I don't think that's fair. As I Christian, I strongly disagree with witchcraft...even if people say it's just for fun...but you people don't understand how much danger you're putting yourself in when you open yourself up to things like Harry Potter and things like it. I just hope you accept my opinion and belief with an open mind.

And the thing about imaginary friends...I don't think it's some form of mental retardation...every child I've ever known who has had a constant imaginary friend, was neglected or abused in some sort of way...that's their way of feeling loved and accepted. So...kountry_kate3@hotmail.com

I agree. If you are that firm in your convictions, then reading something that challenges your beliefs should not matter...

For my philosophy class, I had to sign an agreement at the beginning of term that said that I was okay with viewing R-rated images and movies...

There is a girl in my AP English class who refuses to read All the King's Men (the book we've been reading all year long) and has chosen to read The Good Earth instead of The Catcher in the Rye for our end of the year project. All because of (very undetailed) sex scenes and some curse words. The cursing is quite frequent in Catcher but isn't all that bad in King's Men.

She's basing all of this on her Christian values. But she needs to focus on getting an education and reading great literary works instead. I mean, even if the sexual scenes and cursing bother her, she could look at it as, "This is a piece of literature that I need to read so I'm just going to do it and cringe a little and get over it." It's not like the books are going to corrupt her. I don't get it.

hmmm...that is interesting...

Of course, if the onset of the imaginary friends is around college age, it is likely not imagination, but schitzophrenia...

quote:

imagination is one of the greatist gifts humanity can posses but they should be taught the line between fantasy and reality

You know, imaginary friends used to me thought of as a kind of mental retardation, but now that there have been scientific studies, these children are generally the brightest and only fulfilling a psychological need they cannot fill otherwise.

A book is a book, fiction not reality and children should be allowed to imagine, corny as it may sound imagination is one of the greatist gifts humanity can posses but they should be taught the line between fantasy and reality

Wow...that list is a little bit ridiculous. I've read probably 25% of those books (most in school...) AND I'm Roman Catholic...oh my goodness!

Can I just add another "OH MY GOSH"? My church library has the entire Harry Potter series. When I asked my DRE (Director of Religious Education), who is older and VERY conservative, why we had books like that in our library, she replied "They're good books, why wouldn't we have them in our library?"

*sighs*...& they wonder why im not Christian!

This is kind of funny because so far this year every book I have had to read for english has been a banned book.