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Book Banning

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Book Banning
In a country founded on freedom and the right to exercise that freedom, most Americans are unaware that books are banned in certain areas and or schools across the United States. Book banning is the censorship and removal of written materials due to objections from a group or individual person, based on personal views, of material and content. Book banning has been a part of society since before books first started being mass produced and distributed. Between the years 2000 and 2009 over 5,000 book banning challenges were reported to the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). Over 1,500 were challenged due to sexual explicitness. Over 2,500 were initiated by a parent or guardian and nearly 2,000 were initiated by a school (ALA.org. Banned and Challenged Books. Frequently Challenged Books). However, it seems that in any situation on the topic of book banning only explains the reasons behind the removal of the material. But, the rules and guidelines for banning written materials has never been formally established.
According to a 2011 Journal of Law and Education from the Jefferson Law Book Company there had been more than 250 attempts at book banning by school districts in the previous four years in 31 states in the U.S. Due to lack of resistance and reduced media awareness more that 85% of book banning goes unreported. (Brenyo, Michael. 40 J.L. & Educ. 541. Introduction) Every year, OIF, gathers the names of the top 10 books that were most frequently challenged in that year and publishes it on their website. (ALA.org. Banned and Challenged Books. Frequently Challenged Books). These lists describe the various objections to certain books for a variety of different reasons. There is no explanation on what makes a book safe from being banned or condemns it. In 2012 out of 464 challenged books reported to OIF the top

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