The Curriculum Resources Center in the School of Education celebrated Banned books week by partnering with Belk Library and hosting several events.
School of Education students and faculty used Banned Books Week as an opportunity to raise awareness about censorship.
At Speaker’s Corner on Tuesday, Sept. 26, individuals read from highly regarded books which have been challenged or banned. Allison Bryan, director of the Curriculum Resources Center, read from “The Adventures of Captain Underpants” by Dav Pilkey, a popular series which has been challenged due to rude language and partial nudity. Julie Justice, assistant professor of education, read “King and King” by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland. This fractured fairy tale has been challenged for encouraging homosexuality.
Virginia Little, junior middle grades social studies major, read from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling, which has been challenged for promoting witchcraft. Lesley Henry, director of education outreach, read “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak, a well-known picture book challenged for its portrayal of supernatural ideas.
Molly Kearns, junior elementary and special education major, read “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein, which has been challenged for sexist themes and for criticizing the forestry industry. Finally, Mirella Cisneros, junior middle grades math major, finished the readings with an excerpt from “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, a text widely read by adolescents and challenged for sexual and racial themes.
According to the American Library Association, there are hundreds of attempts to remove books from U.S. schools and libraries each year. Although often the books remain available, Banned Books Week is an opportunity to oppose censorship and celebrate our freedom to read.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Curriculum Resources Center partnered with Belk Library to celebrate Banned Books Week at College Coffee where members of the Elon community could take a picture with a challenged book and enter a drawing to win a banned book.