Banned Books limit on right, Banned Book Week founder dies

Ariel Boehnlein
For You Editor

On April 12, 2009, Judith King, the founder of banned books week died from stomach cancer. Since 1982, King has been a strong advocate for "Intellectual Freedom." She believed that students shouldn't be told what not to read. Another librarian, Gretchen Knief, agreed, saying, "Ideas don't die because a book is forbidden reading."

The fact that any school/organization says that a book is "banned" is completely appalling, but because they are in a position of power, they are allowed their list. People that ban books are putting a lock on information. Students need to be exposed to differing opinions for that is the only way they will be able to form their own opinions.

And while banning books is not Constitutionally wrong, it does represent the power over students' rights that schools do posses. While students have their First Amendment Rights in school, they are limited. This is further represented in the fact that students are being told what they are and are not allowed to read.

Our school, with our wonderful librarians, celebrates Banned Books Week by pulling every banned book from other schools' lists and encouraging students to not only read them, but to talk about them. This is an excellent way to encourage discussion and the flow of different opinions, something that the First Amendment encourages.