Title: Banned Books - Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org
Headings: Banned Books – Top 3 Pros and Cons
Banned Books – Top 3 Pros and Cons
Should parents or other adults be able to ban books from schools and libraries?
Pro 1
Parents have the right to decide what material their children are exposed to and when.
Pro 2
Children should not be exposed to sex, violence, drug use, or other inappropriate topics in school or public libraries.
Pro 3
Keeping books with inappropriate content out of libraries protects kids, but doesn't stop people from reading those books or prevent authors from writing them.
Con 1
Parents may control what their own children read, but don't have a right to restrict what books are available to other people.
Con 2
Many frequently challenged books help people get a better idea of the world and their place in it.
Con 3
Books are a portal to different life experiences and reading encourages empathy and social-emotional development.
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Content: Banned Books - Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org





Banned Books – Top 3 Pros and Cons
Last updated on: 9/28/2020 | Author: ProCon.org | MORE HEADLINES
Jiles Masiclat reads a book at the Aviano Air Base, Italy library. Source: Deana Heitzman, “‘Paws to Read’ Inspires Summer Reading,” aviano.af.mil, June 18, 2014
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The American Library Association (ALA) has tracked book challenges, which are attempts to remove or restrict materials, since 1990. In 2019, the ALA recorded 377 reported book challenges in the United States, an 8.6% increase from the 347 reported challenges in 2018. [ 22] [ 26] In most years, about 10% of the reported challenges result in removal or ban from the school or library. However, in 2016, five of the top ten most challenged books were removed. The ALA estimates that only about 3% to 18% of challenges are reported to its Office for Intellectual Freedom, meaning that the actual number of attempts to ban books is likely much higher. [ 1] [ 24]
Challenges are most frequently brought by patrons (33%), followed by parents (32%), a board or administration (13%), librarians or teachers (10%), political and religious groups (6%), elected officials (3%), and students (3%). [