Censorship Activity

Your job is to become an expert on the assigned subcategory of censorship. Your home group will research and find answers specific to your subgroup topic. Once an expert, you will share your area of expertise during small group discussions. It’s important that you take your job seriously!  If you have any questions before, during, or after researching, please ask. Resources to help answer these qustions can be found on this blog. 

Censorship Throughout History

• When, where, and how did censorship first begin?
• How has censorship evolved over time? Consider its impact during specific periods in history. Consider making a timeline to share with your group.
• In which type of countries does censorship seem to be most prevalent?
• How is censorship still evident in our world today?

Censorship of Music and Art

• How are music and art censorship similar to that of book censorship?
• Who decides what is censored in the world of music and art?
• How does music and art censorship impact teenagers in 21st century America?
• For what reasons are music and art generally censored?

Reasons for Censoring Books

• What are some specific reasons for why books are banned and challenged?
• How do misunderstandings and ignorance play into book censorship?
• What individuals are usually behind the push for banning books?
• What do the words “offensive” and “obscene” mean? How are they alike, and how are they different? How do these terms relate to censorship of books?

Categories of Book Censorship

• What does it mean to say that books are banned for religious reasons? Provide some examples of books that have been banned due to religion.
• What does it mean to say that books are banned for political reasons? Provide some examples of books that have been banned due to politics.
• What does it mean to say that books are banned for reasons of sexuality? Provide some examples of books that have been banned due to sexuality.
• What does it mean to say that books are banned for social reasons? Provide some examples of books that have been banned for social purposes.

Censorship in Our School

Who is responsible for handling complaints made against a book at Tappan Zee High School? Interview the person(s). Ask them the following questions. 

• What is the process that someone has to go through in order to ban a book from our library shelves?
• Are there any books that are currently banned from this library?
• Are there any books that have been challenged in this school?
• For what reasons or in what situations is it reasonable and acceptable to ban books? (Interview one of your parents or guardians, the school librarian, and a teacher you trust. Compare their responses.)

Censorship in Our World

• What was the court case Island Tree School District vs. Pico (1982) about? What was the verdict, and how did this case impact censorship?
• What is the Patriot Act? Does it violate or support censorship? How? Why would America have an act like this one? 
• What are some famous instances / cases of censoring books in America or in the world?
• In comparison to other countries, how does America rank in censorship of literature?