The importance of the freedom to read

National Banned Books Week is an annual celebration during the first week of October that celebrates the freedom to read. Not only is it a celebration, it also spotlights attempts to censor books in schools and public libraries. It is a week to stand up for the right to read and liberate the voices of librarians, teachers, booksellers, publishers, writers, journalists, and readers all over the country.

Now, let us talk about why banning books can be absolutely wrong. In a way, books are an expression of a writer’s thoughts and ideas. By banning, challenging, or restricting written work, we are restricting the writers themselves. Not only are we restricting writers, we are restricting readers. Book banning takes away their freedom to read, to choose what content they want to consume, or to learn something new. Readers should have the liberty to read what they want, regardless if somebody else likes it or not. In fact, Ms. Florida & Ms. Trzesinski, our OM media specialists, couldn’t have said it better, saying, “If people disagree with content in a book, no one is forcing you to check out that book, just don’t take that book home…no one is forcing you to read the book but it should be available to someone who does want to read it.”

The mindset behind those challenging books is extremely flawed. It is understandable that a parent may not want their child to read something they deem as inappropriate. However, this desire for protection, does not mean it is okay to take away these books from someone else.

Personally, I oppose book banning. It is sort of like someone complaining about a popular candy, causing it to be removed from store shelves completely. Isn’t it completely unfair that because of that one person, that candy that people love is now gone? Why should I not be able to read a book because someone else does not like it? I should be able to read any book, no matter its content. While I understand excluding extremely explicit books from schools and libraries, a book about diversity should never be banned. All students and readers should be allowed to learn, whether someone is against it or not. All humans have the right to education.

Banned Books Week may have already passed this year, but fighting for the right to education and the freedom to read never stops. Readers, writers, and teachers alike won’t stop fighting, so neither should we. Keep on reading!