Adolescent Literature and Censorship

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Adolescent Literature and Censorship

• Dr. Roggenkamp
• English 406

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How big of a problem is it?

• No clear answerhow is censorship defined? And
  by whom?
• How many cases arent reported?
• Seems to be increasing nationwide this century
• All regions of nation, at all grade levels
• By diverse individuals and groups

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Repeat Offenders

• Not just a Bible Belt issue
• All states have reported challenges
• Leading California, Florida, Texas, Oregon,
  Michigan, Illinois
• Less common in Northeast

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How big of a problem is it?

• Certain districts have had 25 to 47 of
  materials challenged
• Significant numbers of challenges are to works on
  OPTIONAL reading lists and in libraries (e.g. 31
  in 1990-91)
• Biggest complaint formerly dirty books
• Charges now much more diverse
• Sources PFAW, ALA

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Challenges by Type, 1990-2000ALA Office of
Intellectual Freedom
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Challenges by Year, 1990-2000ALA Office of
Intellectual Freedom
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Challenges by Institution Type, 1990-2000ALA
Office of Intellectual Freedom
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Challenges by Initiator Type, 1990-2000ALA
Office of Intellectual Freedom
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First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

• Congress shall make no law respecting an
  establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
  free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom
  of speech, or of the press or the right of the
  people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the
  government for a redress of grievances. (Adopted
  1791)

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First Amendment and Public Schools

• To what degree does free speech apply to minors
  in public school setting?
• To what degree do the religious portions of
  amendment apply in public school settings?

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General Reasons for Censorship

• Family Values
• Political Views
• Religious Views
• Political Correctness
• Categories often overlap

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General Reasons for Censorship, 1

• Family Values
• Parents/groups feel threatened by changes in
  traditional ways of life
• Schools/books contribute to breakdown of
  American family
• Books reflecting diverse idea of familydiversity
  challengers not willing to accept
• Books condone adolescent characters who think on
  their own defy parents

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General Reasons for Censorship, 2

• Political Views
• Threat of non-American of anti-American
  viewpoints
• Charge that books are radical, subversive,
  non-Patriotic, socialistic, communistic

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General Reasons for Censorship, 3

• Religious Views
• Books that disagree with their beliefs are
  personal attacks
• At worst there is ONE true faith (very narrowly
  defined) and ANYTHING else (including neutrality)
  is part of religion of secular humanism
• Fear of plurality, of even exposing children to
  learning facts about other religions
• Threats of witchcraft and occult

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General Reasons for Censorship, 4

• Political Correctness
• Desire to overturn old stereotypes against
  traditionally marginalized groups
• E.g. ethnic and racial minorities, women, etc.