Story by Logan Tromp, Opinion Columnist
Anyone who has taken more than one English class should be familiar with the concept of banned books. Not too long ago, it was commonplace to see news stories about parents going to their school boards because of the books that were being read in their kids’ schools. Aquinas College, being an academic institution itself, should be concerned with such a topic. Considering that Aquinas College wants to provide the best education and information for its students, the question arises: Should Aquinas ban books? If so, what books? And on what grounds?
Aquinas College students should be able to have access to differing opinions on certain subjects, and they should have the opportunity to learn new information without being restricted. After all, what is more alluring than the prospect of forbidden knowledge? If one believes that a certain book should be banned because of the message it portrays or the contents within it, it would be logical that in due time the book would become obscure due to its very nature. Bad ideas eventually die off. Truth remains the truth.
Nevertheless, as with all social issues, the question of how something will affect children will surface. Books are very powerful, for they invoke emotion and persuade the reader in various ways. Also, it should not be a surprise that some subject material is not suitable for children of all ages. There are age ratings on video games and movies for example. Books don’t have this. Should there be an age rating system on books? That would be a topic for a different article.
If it can be agreed upon that all books aren’t suitable for all children, then it would imply some books should be restricted until an appropriate age. The word “ban” carries a strong negative connotation, but restricting book availability is a reasonable decision. Who gets to decide what books to restrict in schools? Ultimately it should come down to the individual parents and their child. No child should be forced to read something that they or their family deem unsuitable for their age because books do have the power to harm their reader. Sexually explicit, violent, and mature themes will leave a lasting impact on a reader.
While what is suitable for children will be debated, there are plenty of books out there that will not psychologically harm children, and these books should be encouraged. At the end of the day, everyone wants the best for the next generation of kids, but it will take many conversations within families and communities to achieve this.
Featured Image courtesy of PBS
The Saint 