Teachers challenge book ban

By Alexandra Svokos, Huffington Post

While some parents want certain books removed from schools, teachers are remembering the important reasons to keep them in the classroom.

This week is the 32nd annual Banned Books Week, described by organizers as a “celebration of the freedom to read.” Books have been banned from libraries and schools for reasons that range from religious viewpoints to sexual and drug references. In 2013, the American Library Association, or ALA, recorded 307 challenges — that is, formal complaints for a book to be removed from a school or library.

From January 2013 through August 2014, “sexually explicit,” “offensive language,” and “unsuited for age group” were the most commonly cited reasons for challenging a book, according to the ALA. Texas had the most book challenges at 114. “The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie was the most frequently challenged title nationwide.

Donna Decker, a professor who teaches a course on banned books at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, N.H., said she thinks it is necessary for teachers to educate students using banned and challenged books.

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