Director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom 1967--2009

Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation 1969-2009

Founded Banned Books Week in 1982

Staunch supporter of First Amendment Rights and defender of Intellectual Freedom and the Freedom to Read

March 15, 1940 -- April 11, 2009

Judith F. Krug

Censorship: Impact on Censorship: Impact on Intellectual FreedomIntellectual Freedom

Censorship: Impact on Censorship: Impact on Intellectual FreedomIntellectual Freedom

Jeannetta Hale Caplan, Ed.D. Arkansas County ISD (Retired)

Rockport, Texascaplanjh@yahoo.com

International Reading AssociationMay 5, 2009 Minneapolis, MN

© Jeannetta Caplan

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free

exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to

assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of

grievances. The Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791

The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights of

the United States Constitution

Intellectual Freedom vs. Censorship

Intellectual freedom encompasses the freedom to hold, receive and disseminate ideas.

"Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Q&A." American Library Association. 2006.

http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/intellectualfreedomandcensorship.html (Accessed 05 April, 2007)

Censorship is the suppression of ideas and information that certain persons—individuals, groups or government officials—find objectionable or dangerous.

Intellectual Freedom

• Support Critical Literacy/Thinking • Support Information Literacy• Develop intellect - growth, change• Use the mind to:Locate & evaluate information on issues &

beliefs Reflect & think critically about issues &

beliefs

Ideas in Education

Ideas in Education

Censorship• Focus on inclusion/exclusion of

information • Transmit bits of information• Knowledge-absolute truths-one right

answer• Rote learning • No questioning of issues or beliefs• Leave minds alone

Challenge vs Banning

Challenge - an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based on the objections of a person or group.

Banning - the removal of materials from the library or curriculum, thereby restricting the access of others.

What is Censored

• Print materials• Non-print materials• Internet

• Curriculum• Teaching strategies• Teaching materials

Where does censorship occur?

All over the world• Schools• Libraries• Universities• Booksellers • Publishers• Newspapers & Magazines

• Businesses

Censored

Who censors?

• Governments• Religions• Publishers• Booksellers • Businesses• Individuals-Citizens(parents, library patrons, teachers, etc.)

• Grass roots organizations

Methods of censorship

• Government bans/edicts• Religious bans/edicts• Official challenges-libraries & schools- can lead to banning

• Stealing/defacing materials• Silent censorship• Self censorship-readers, authors

*violence *language *racial discrimination *sexuality *religious views

Reasons for challenges in the U. S.

Reasons for Censorship

• Fear Fear • To protect or shieldTo protect or shield

Censors believe Censors believe they know they know

what is best for others.what is best for others.

“Parents—and only parents—have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children—and only their children—to library resources.” The Library Bill of Rights

A censorship stipulation

Photos from Microsoft Office Online Clip Art http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/

Beliefs About Censorship

•I live in the USA. I don’t need to be concerned about censorship.

•Censorship only happens in other places.

•Censorship won’t affect me or my intellectual freedom.

•People in a censorship controversy are looking for trouble.

The Truth

• Censorship can happen anywhere.

• No one is safe from censorship.

• Nothing is safe from censorship.

• Censorship impacts everyone’s intellectual freedom.

Censorship’s Impact on Teachers

•Limit what I teach: Curriculum Content

•Limit what I teach with: Instructional Materials

•Limit how I teach: Strategies, Methods, Activities

•Inhibit my freedom of expressionWhere’s my Intellectual Freedom?Academic Freedom?

Since freedom of mind and freedom of expression are the root of all freedom, to deny freedom in education is a crime against democracy. John Dewey

"Books and ideas

are the most effective weapons

against intolerance and ignorance." --Lyndon Baines Johnson, February 11, 1964

Censorship’s Impact on Students

• Affects how they are taught

• Limits reading choices

• Affects reading motivation

• Limits access to information

– Inhibits information literacy

– Inhibits critical reading

– Inhibits critical thinking

• Inhibits freedom of expression

Thinking!

Censorship’s Message

• Knowledge is dangerous

• Thinking is dangerous

• You can’t be trusted

• You don’t know what you’re doing

Intellectual Freedom is dangerous!

“It's not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers.” Judy Blume

"100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000," American Library Association, February 16, 2007. http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bbwlinks/100mostfrequently.cfm (Accessed April 27, 2008) Document ID: 350340

Who is responsible for our intellectual freedom?

Everyone,not just

librarians, teachers& the courts

We are all responsible.Photo from The Print Shop clip art collection.

"Restriction of free thought "Restriction of free thought and free speech is the and free speech is the most dangerous of all most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one subversions. It is the one un-American act that could un-American act that could most easily defeat us."most easily defeat us." -- -- Supreme Court Justice William O. DouglasSupreme Court Justice William O. Douglas

"Restriction of free thought "Restriction of free thought and free speech is the and free speech is the most dangerous of all most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one subversions. It is the one un-American act that could un-American act that could most easily defeat us."most easily defeat us." -- -- Supreme Court Justice William O. DouglasSupreme Court Justice William O. Douglas

Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, " The One Un-American Act ." Nieman Reports , vol. 7, no. 1 (Jan. 1953): p. 20.

Fight censorship by:

Photo from Microsoft Office Online Clip Art http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/

• Knowing First Amendment rights

• Staying informed

• Being active

• Voicing concerns

• Respecting rights of others

• Teaching children their rights

Who monitors & fights censorship?

•Grassroots Organizations

•Individuals

The End