Could a book-rating system pacify concerns of school censorship?
Educational expert Larry Sand writes in Front Page Magazine that myriad organizations on the Left remain worried about public school libraries “banning” (read: not offering to students) books deemed as developmentally inappropriate. Sand suggests a creative solution to preserve parents' right to raise their kids, while averting censorship dilemmas entirely: an organization-run book rating system, à la the Motion Picture Association's film classifications.
In addition to complaining about attempts to remove dirty books from our schools, the anti-banning zealots try to make the case that books outside the porn realm are also on the chopping block. Perhaps the most strident outfit in the country is PEN America, a group that grandiosely claims that it “stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide.” The group reveals that from July 2021 to June 2022, their Index of School Book Bans lists 2,532 instances of individual books being banned.”
But Jay Greene, Senior Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, vehemently disagrees. While PEN America claims that many important books having nothing to do with sex have all succumbed to the book banners, Greene methodically destroys this assertion, writing, “Among the books that PEN America alleges were banned are classic works, such as Anne Frank’s Diary, Brave New World, Lord of the Flies, Of Mice and Men, The Color Purple, and To Kill a Mockingbird. In every school district in which PEN America alleges those books were banned, we found copies listed as available in the online card catalogue....”
Perhaps, instead of constantly grousing about book bans, PEN America could channel the film industry. The Motion Picture Association realizes that not all content is appropriate for all age groups and self-censors via a rating system:
PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned – Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.)
R: (Restricted – Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.)
X: No one under 17 can be admitted.
Why would PEN America not adopt a similar regimen for books?
This article originally appeared in Front Page Magazine. Read the whole thing here.
Read alternate perspectives, and solutions, on restricted school library offerings here and here.
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