Banning books is suppressing critical thinking. Recently, the Roald Dahl book publisher has ‘changed’ a few words in the books that might be offensive. What a shame. When I read aloud Little House on the Prairie, Pa’s neighbor says, “The only good Indian is a dead Indian.” I welcome reading that statement aloud to my students, because it opens the door to talk about how wrong it is. How can we learn what is right unless we read about what is wrong?
Thank you, Charles French, for your outstanding quotations on book banning.
“Books and all forms of writing have always been objects of terror to those who seek to suppress truth.”
Wole Soyinka
“If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all—except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our liberty.”
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A Teacher's Reflections 
I could not agree more
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well said Jennie!
I’ve heard the Republican’s do not like their bible being banned in Utah.
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A great share Jennie…
Thank you, Carol.
Thank you, Jennie. I was just over on Charles’s site and left a comment there. How ironic to live in a free country and then expect to give up that privilege so easily.
Exactly!
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Great reblog. Jennie
Thanks, Don.
Charles continues to find such pertinent quotes. It is so sad that they ever had to be written.
Best wishes, Pete.
He does! I have wanted to write about Indians in the Little House books, and Charles’ post was a perfect fit.
Jennie, thank you so much!
You are welcome, Charles!
I can’t remember if I mentioned it before, but I am enjoying “Breaking Bread With the Dead” by Alan Jacobs about how to be hospitable to earlier writers. We aren’t to agree with everything they say, but take a moment to contemplate that future generations might be appalled by some of what we take for granted. I hate the idea of changing texts instead of tackling the issues they bring up in readers.
Well said! Don’t change the text, tackle the issues. It’s a great learning experience.
Absolutely. Imagine if they took the
Antisemitism out of “Merchant of Venice.” How could we have a real engagement with the text?
Exactly!
Many, if not all, Enid Blyton books are now banned in schools. I used to love reading about boarding schools and the adventures the children got up to. I was a product of working class parents and went to a state school, but no way did I ever want to be separated from my parents at that age and be sent away to a private school. Ms Blyton wrote great adventures for kids to read. Who cares if the kids had a privileged upbringing? I just enjoyed reading the stories.
Amen! Book banning, even changing the words, is just wrong- for so many reasons. Enid Blyton books are great stories.
Indeed. She wrote about what she knew, and she obviously went to a private boarding school. It’s like she’s been punished for having rich parents.
Yes!
Such short-sightedness to deprive kids of these books.
Absolutely!