Controversial Books in K12 Classrooms and Libraries: Challenged, Censored, and Banned

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Description

Controversial Books in K12 Classrooms and Libraries: Challenged, Censored, and Banned analyzes the history of controversy surrounding assigned reading in K-12 classrooms and books available in school libraries. Randy Bobbitt outlines the history of book banning and controversy in the United States, stemming from 1950s conservative Cold War values of patriotism and respect for authority and ramping up through the 1960s and onward as media coverage and parental intervention into the inner workings of schools increased. The author claims that sensitive topics, including sexuality, suicide, and drug use, do not automatically imply the glorification of deviant behavior, but can be used constructively to educate students about the reality of life. Bobbitt argues that in an effort to shield children from the dangers of controversial issues, parents and administrators are depriving them of the ability to discover and debate values that are inconsistent with their own and those around them, teaching instead that avoidance of different viewpoints is the solution. Scholars of education, communication, literature, and policy will find this book especially useful.

Reviews

Bobbitt (communication law and policy, Bowling Green State Univ.) provides a comprehensive discussion of hundreds of cases of challenged, censored, and banned books in the US. The first two chapters provide the broad picture and set out general issues, and the last chapter examines legal challenges. The remaining six chapters are topical, looking at censorship related to profanity, race, sex, sexual identity, politics, and religion. Each chapter provides journalistic-style discussion of attempted attacks, both successful and failed, on works ranging from novels to textbooks. Bobbitt provides a balanced view, looking at both sides of the issues, but at the same time makes his anti-censorship position clear. Challenges to books are very difficult to track, so this volume stands out because of its extensive coverage of so many different experiences. This breadth alone makes the book valuable. . . the book is a goldmine in terms of facts and details. Summing Up: Recommended. . . Graduate students, researchers, professionals, general readers. * Choice Reviews *

Author Bio

Randy Bobbitt holds a PhD in communication law and policy from Bowling Green State University.