censorship

Scott Watson Mrs. Koch English Honors 2 March 18, 2012 Title Long ago when the United States was first starting out, it was unique as a country because of the fact that our government gave its citizens exclusive rights towards freedom of speech. Over the years many different forms of communication have appeared, whether it be through the phone, or mail. Along with these advancements in communication came new ways to express your opinions. With the creation of the internet, the United States entered completely new territory. Originally the internet was very small, but now its single handily one of the most important pieces of technology ever created. With the introduction of video hosting web sites and social networking, people are literally a post way from each other. Along with these connivence's, the internet is also a powerful tool within America’s classrooms. However, many schools block student’s access to vital information, citing that many web sites that student’s read as interruptions to the classroom. By doing so, many schools violate what our forefathers set out to do so long ago. Instead of giving students the information they often need, they often censor web sites indiscriminately, often ignoring the actual content on the web sites. Because of this,,instead of protecting students from disruptful web sites, more often than not, the consequences usually cause more harm then not censoring the web sites in the first place. But also along with this form of censorship, there are many more forms of censorship. Literally anything could be censored; clothes, ideas, and books could be considered worthy of a ban. Schools often censor web sites because they contain information on one or more subjects that the school deems harmful to students. The information could be about drugs, guns, or anything illegal or unimportant to learning. However, schools usually neglect to examine the web sites thoroughly. For example, some schools block Wikipedia’s article on Tobacco. Students who are trying to learn about Tobacco’s long history are unable to do so. If the school moderators had given a quick look through of the article, they would’ve seen that there was very little if any information that students could use for unlawful means. Another example of this relates to Minnesota school district. When Doug Johnson wanted to show his class an educational web page about the effects of atomic testing, the web page was blocked because the information inside of it was about a chain of islands called the Bikini Islands. When schools begin to use internet censor programs, the programs don’t take into effect the actual information pages contain, instead depending only the title and keywords in the pages. It’s not uncommon for information to be inaccessible to teachers, especially when it has anything to do with things considered controversial.(Wagner, Mitch) Another form of censorship that schools enforce is that students are not allowed to wear certain types of clothing to school. Some examples of clothing that schools don’t allow include clothes have chains on them, clothes with provocative holes in them, clothes with patches, pajama pants, shirts advertising alcohol or tobacco, among others. Many students could be considered opinionated and exercise their first amendment by wearing their own shirts. Many consider wearing a shirt advertising Bud Light the same as wearing a Cardinals shirt. However, schools consider these kinds of shirts detrimental to learning and don’t allow them. A popular trend is having holes on your pants. The holes are often made in the jeans where the quads are and on the knees, and sometimes on the butt or crotch of the pants. While there is a common agreement that provocative clothing disrupts the classroom, most schools have zero tolerance policy towards holes and don’t allow them anywhere. Brad Matthewson was a junior who was sent home twice and who faced trouble after he wore shirts advertising gay pride. In response to anger towards the censorship, the principle of the school said that people might become offended by Matthewson’s shirt. However, matthewson said that no one had complained to him about the shirt. When he asked pressed the matter further, he was told that he still wouldn’t be allowed to wear the shirts because the school feared that the shirts would spark controversy. Because of this censorship, the American Civil Liberties Union has come to Matthewson’s defense. The final form of censorship that schools impose on their students is the censorship of books that the schools deem hurtful towards the learning environment. An example of this would be Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer. Written 1876, the use of derogatory terms for African Americans is a common sight within the book. Because of the changes concerning civil rights within American in modern times, the use of such terms could be considered very inappropriate within the classroom. However, the authenticity and the literature value contained within the book wouldn’t be the same if it were edited. Another series of books that occasionally come under fire is the Harry Potter series. One elementary school would not purchase Harry Potter books, saying “They knew that they would get complaints (because of the witchcraft themes), so they didn’t buy them.” There have also been events in which students have gotten in trouble for reading religious texts within the school, and it’s not limited to certain religions. The fear of students learning controversial information, or of parents become angry over what the school allows their children to read can cause schools to ban important and vital books from the curriculum. Books can be used as very important tools within the classroom and the use of controversial material can be some of the most effective ways for students to learn. It’s not uncommon for religion to appear in history class, no matter what the time period that students are studying. this general education may come under fire because of parent’s complaints. Instead of outright banning the reading of religious texts, students should be given the choice of not hearing about other religions before the material is presented. This way students that don’t want to hear can be satisfied, and others who want to learn are able to do so. (Kelly, Melissa) While many schools began their censorship policies with good intentions, in the end they only cause more grief and annoyances then what they would’ve gone through without the censorship at all. Often times students are unable to access information because the school deems it controversial, or that it goes against the learning environment. However, it could be argued that students in highschool should be allowed to access many things that they aren’t. It’s up to individuals and their maturity, but it could be considered unfair for students who need information to be denied it simply because others are to immature to access it. Along with internet censorship, students should be allowed to express their ideas, regardless of whether or not others consider it offensive. If students are blatantly trying to be offensive, that’s a different story. the final form of censorship that should be reviewed are the bans put on certain books. Students should never be unable to read literature or ideas from the past. The ideas that our country were founded on included freedom of speech, soemthing that schools shouldn’t be able to regulate. Wagner, Mitch. How the Internet Harms Schools. 2010. Computers World. May 8, 2012. Kelly, Melissa. censorship and Banning in America. 712educatiors. 2010. Secondary Education. May 8, 2012.