Response to Kauer article on censorship

When the topic of book censorship arises – particularly in response to a parent who does not want their child to read a specific novel in school – a common reaction is to see the parent as somehow “crazy” and/or “close-minded.” Frequently, the assumption is that the parent has some sinister motive for wanting to “protect” their child from great works of literature and, as a result, is allowing the young person’s worldview to remain as narrow as possible.
However, as Suzanne Kauer (2008) explains in her article, “A Battle Reconsidered: Second Thoughts on Book Censorship and Conservative Parents,” parents usually have genuine reasons for their concerns and the best way to address their hesitations about a classroom book is to simply speak with them (p. 57). She notes parents’ concerns are typically limited to their individual children alone – not the entire class (p. 56, 2008). So it’s not as though there are thousands of fanatical crazies out there trying to get every copy of “The Chocolate War” pulled from school shelves. Instead, there are simply cautious parents trying to make decisions in the best interests of their children.
Kauer’s article is meant for teachers and she poses many excellent questions for K-12 educators to consider. For instance, she writes, “Do we choose books because they are what we were taught? Do we just choose what’s available, what the school bought? This may be our reality. But we have a responsibility, nonetheless, to thoroughly interrogate our curriculum and to make sure we know why we are arguing that a few damns and hells are worth reading to get to the heart of Steinbeck, and why little English boys murdering each other on an island is worth discussion” (Kauer, p. 59, 2008).
It is important for any/every teacher to know the answers to Kauer’s questions about the books they teach. It will help them lead classroom discussions about the texts, but to also have discussions with concerned parents as well.

Kauer, S. (January 2008). A battle reconsidered: second thoughts on book censorship and conservative parents. English Journal, 97(3) 56-60.