“The worst form of censorship.” This is the short version of many people’s view on book banning, including elementary librarian Jaclyn Groff. Book banning is quite the controversial topic in this country, especially in education communities. For those unfamiliar, book banning is the process of removing books that are deemed “inappropriate” or “offensive” from school libraries. However, these decisions are rather subjective and can severely limit the selection of literature available in schools.

      When thinking about banned books, people typically think of sexually explicit

material and inappropriate language. These assumptions would be correct, but among that content is also a larger quantity of books that discuss critical issues such as racism, abuse and mental health. Pulling these kinds of books out of libraries adds to the idea that those who are struggling should struggle in silence. Books featuring LGBTQ+ characters are also often removed, which severely limits students from broadening their perspective of the world. Reports have shown that 48% of banned books contain topics relating to violence and abuse, with another 30% discussing LGBTQ+ themes.

      In a society where many people are taught that there is only one correct way to think, it is imperative that students are exposed to different viewpoints and ways of living. Secondly, there are already very few students in this decade who enjoy reading books in their free time. The more books that are restricted, the more educators and politicians are unconsciously discouraging adolescents. This will ultimately lead to a decrease in literacy and overall intelligence surrounding vocabulary and reading. Over a third of educators believe that banning books discourages critical thinking, and almost 80% said that students feel more compelled to read when given the opportunity to read banned books.

      One of the most problematic aspects of book banning is that there are students in these schools who are experiencing the things in these books that are made to seem “taboo”. How is a growing teenager supposed to feel comfortable sharing what they are going through if they feel that nobody else can relate? An overwhelming majority of school districts that have banned books reside in conservative states like Florida or Texas. However, this does not mean that nobody in those states has ever encountered a similar situation relating to sexuality, race, or any kind of violence.

      For some statistics, over 3,362 books were banned during the 2022-2023 school year. That’s an increase of about 33% from the previous year. Yet another point against book banning is that it decreases publicity for authors and illustrators. A total of 1,482 authors, translators, and illustrators were affected by school book bans last year, and those numbers add up quickly over the years.

      By ending school book bans, students will automatically improve their quality of education by allowing them to have more room for independent thought. The government can only have so much say in a student’s life, and so many restrictions could soon become detrimental to the ever-expanding worldview of American adolescents.