Censorship was discussed in Module 3 several weeks ago. I didn’t blog about it at the time even though it has been percolating in the back of my mind and has prompted several discussions with others.
I was very intrigued by Reynold’s chapter on scary stories (2007, p. 131-154). Previous to this, I have rather written off scary stories as I have very sensitive children who have nightmares for weeks after seeing/hearing/reading something scary. I’ve seen the negative effects and the anxiety it has caused so I have chosen to censor the books/images/games/shows in my home for my younger children. This article has, however, helped my thinking with seeing some of the benefits and has given me some foundational knowledge should the scary books in the library be challenged.
I am interested when I return from the summer holidays to talk to the other teacher librarian about LGBTQ books. I am not sure what books are in the school library already that fall into that category. I wonder what interaction she has had with parents over them? I remember a book being censored at my primary school when I was a child because it featured parents who were divorced. This seems crazy to me now. Books are such a great way both for kids to see others going through the same thing as them or for kids to be exposed to different situations then they find themselves in. This can build understanding and empathy for others they might not understand or for students in that situation to not feel alone or strange.
There are some books that have long been accepted that are now being censored. I remember reading about the Little House on the Prarie books being placed on the banned list and the author name being stripped from the children’s book award list (Flynn, 2019 and The Guardian, 2018). Others have penned reactions urging that this be used as an opportunity to educate and understand a different time and perspective instead of erasing them (McLemore, 2019). I’ve seen warnings on older Disney movies that outdated cultural stereotypes might be present in the movie and to watch with caution. Apparently, this has been updated with even stronger cautions and some movies removed altogether (BBC News, 2020). There is a need for some things to be recognised as culturally hurtful, and this is where the value of a teacher librarian hosing a “Banned Books” week could have real educating value to the school.
I’m interested, as I transition part-time into the teacher librarian role this year, to find out what is already happening in the area of censorship and what I can do support others whether that’s through targeted book displays, book discussions and recommendations, or the raising awareness through the school newsletter. I want to do everything I can to help build student awareness and empathy.
What books do you remember being censored in your childhood? Does it seem silly now?
References
BBC Newss (2020, October 16). Disney updates content warning for racism in classic films. (2020, October 16). https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54566087.
Flynn, M. (2019, April 29). Laura Ingalls Wilder’s name stripped from children’s book award over ‘Little House’ depictions of Native Americans. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/06/25/laura-ingalls-wilders-name-stripped-from-childrens-book-award-over-little-house-depictions-of-native-americans/
McLemore, L. (2019, May 28). Historical Perspective or Racism in Little House on the Prairie? https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/historical-perspective-or-racism-in-little-house-on-the-prairie/
Reynolds, K. (2007). Radical children’s literature: Future visions and aesthetic transformations in juvenile fiction (8th ed.). Palgrave Macmillan UK.
The Guardian (2018, June 24). Laura Ingalls Wilder’s name removed from book award over racism concerns. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jun/24/laura-ingalls-wilders-name-removed-from-book-award-over-racial-concerns