[Opinionated Blowhard]

I read the article and think its too broad brush. Its not “weird” to say junior high students should not read a book that has graphic depictions of sex or profanity in it. Its also not “weird” to say that children of certain ages should not read books with certain themes. That is educational judgment. Once a kid hits college, they should be able to read whatever they want, no matter what the theme or no matter how much sex or profanity it has in it. But this idea that a teenager has the automatic right to read books with sex or profanity or certain themes as a matter of “freedom of expression” because the works are allegedly “classics” is misplaced. Educational judgment is way too often labeled as “book banning.”

[Mrs. Don-o]

Books are almost never banned, strictly speaking. They are usually taken off of mandatory class reading lists. They are not taken off the library shelves or premptively prevented from publishing.

Taking a book off of a mandatory reading list is not a question of censorship, but of sponsorship. If a book is offensive to parents, that is reason enough that it should not be made mandatory.

The parents are morally responsible for their children's education: they have a right as well as a duty to determine the content of the educational program. Moreover, the parents are paying for the education; they ought to control the product they are buying.

"To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."