- Question
Should schools be able to ban books?
Hundreds of books have been challenged or banned in schools throughout the US. These books are banned on a huge range of reasons, from obscene language to sexual content to violence to the discussion of menstruation. But all of these things are facts of life. Should academic institutions have the power to censor books?
No, schools should not be able to ban books
This position holds that schools should not be able to ban books. It argues that schools have no business policing what children read — that banning books suppresses diversity, attacks free expression, is outdated, and deprives students of books that can be their best teachers.
Yes, schools should be able to ban books
This position holds that schools should be able to ban books. It argues that schools have a responsibility to regulate what children read — keeping out material that promotes hate speech, and shielding young students from content too mature for their age.
Banning books is unenforceable
This position holds that banning books in schools is unenforceable. It argues that a school ban cannot keep a determined reader from a book — libraries, bookshops, home collections and willing parents all provide ready access — so the ban achieves nothing but the appearance of control.