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Cancel Book Banning

Angela Martinez

South Texas College

ENGL 1301: Composition I

Professor Villa

October 26, 2022

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For students in schools, banning a book could mean a refusal of their First Amendment

rights. If they continue to ban books from a learning environment, student’s aren’t exposed to

specific topics in school, not being able to gain awareness of the different issues around the

world. Motivating students to be more independent in their reading could make them more aware

of the real world, informing them of a world far beyond the one they actually see everyday.

Books help students develop critical thinking skills by constantly reading books.

One convincing reason to not ban books can positively influence someone's life on a

daily basis by inspiring them, and gaining more knowledge in something they want to learn

about. “When we ban books, we compromise children’s education and development. Books

foster development physically, socially, and emotionally,” says Ash Beckham, an LGBTQ+

advocate, activist and leadership and diversity speaker. Not only do books show us what is

possible, but they help us rethink what we know and therefore what we imagine can be

achievable. The representations that some books may have and situations are different from

anything towards students setting off empathy towards them. By launching kids up to places,

people, and cultures around the world, books help develop an understanding towards others.

Thus can be a getaway for forward acceptance towards life and others.

The benefits of reading a book varies by a lot in mental, and physical health. Reading can

increase one’s vocabulary and comprehension, strengthening the brain. As you are reading

regularly you improve memory function by giving your brain a good workout on a daily basis.

The article Benefits Of Reading Books: How It Can Positively Affect Your Life by Rebecca Joy

stanborough informs that researchers have found a “theory of mind” , a set of skills essential for

building, navigating, and maintaining social relationships. Unlike reading, literary fiction doesn’t

spark that feeling, showing long-term fiction that readers tend to have a better-developed theory
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of mind. The Matthew effect refers to a pattern that accumulates more advantages over time and

leaves those with disadvantages more disadvantaged over time. Students who read books from a

very young age, develop larger vocabularies. That can influence many areas of their life, on

standardized tests to jobs, college admissions and many more. Even helping seniors who read,

being able to still solve math problems maintaining their cognitive functions. Study shows that

by reading 30 minutes a day one can maintain a low blood pressure, heart rate, and psychological

distress. It can be very time consuming for many causing high stress levels, doing 30 minutes of

reading time can easily be incorporated without taking up a large amount of time from

someone’s studies, or busy schedule. One can say that reading at night prepares you for a good

night’s rest. “Doctors suggest reading as part of a regular sleep routine” (Benefits Of Reading

Books: How It Can Positively Affect Your Life). Cognitive function can help reduce mental

stress to the mind, which in return helps many to be in a quiet state of relaxation. Reading too

much can help with depression and anxiety, reducing a lot of tension. Non-fiction books can help

aid strategies that may help symptoms. Whatever books you like is perfectly fine to read, just

about anyone can access libraries that contain so many books one can only imagine. Devoting a

few minutes on a daily basis to an interesting topic of a book is very good. Especially if you are

looking for an escape and just want to relax a while, fantasy and fiction books are very good

when it comes to transporting into another world altogether. However, being able to take

advantage of many physical and psychological benefits of reading await within the pages of a

good book.

The ALA’s Office counted 729 challenges in different areas, one including a public

library. In 2019 there were 377, although the impact of the pandemic, which schools and libraries

shut down, the ALA said they gained 500 books in that time of the year. ALA Patricia Wong
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said: “We support individual parent’s choices concerning their child’s reading and believe that

parents should not have those choices dictated by others.” Many young people need to have

access to a bunch of books by learning different perspectives. When individuals make sure that

books cannot be accessed in libraries, hiding them in drawers, tossing them out, or even taking

them off the shelves. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe tops the ALA’s most challenged book in

their list. Published in 2019 is to be reissued in May recounting Kobabe’s path to gender-identity

as nonbinary and queer, being “banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIAcontaining

sexual explicit images. Many of these books were written by Black or LGBTQ+ authors. This

Book is Gay, by Juno Dawson banned, challenged, relocated and restricted for providing sexual

education and LGBTQIA+ content and many other books like this one. This is a way to help

LGBT youth see that others understand what they go through, creating a window for others to be

accepted.

Literature allows one to view a different perspective, this could help young kids who are

struggling with their gender identity providing support and comfort, and assurance that they are

not alone. Moreover experiences on reading books could spark personal introspection among the

young generations that might result in building acceptance for differences. It is important that the

LGBTQ themed books cause an impact to all kids regardless of their sexual identity. Everyone

should be able to see themselves reflected in quality literature from graphic novels, nonfiction

books etc. There are many LGBTQ+ books for all ages and backgrounds.

Books play a stereotypical role in every student's life, introducing them to a world of

imagination, providing knowledge of the world, improving their reading skills, as well as

boosting memory and intelligence. They function as survival kits, influencing us and leaving an

impact. Books are packed with a lot of information, they even give us life lessons, teaching us
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about hardships, love, fear, and every part of life. Books contain knowledge of the past,

civilization, and cultures around the world. We learn a lot from books, they can help us in

overcoming failures as well as hardships. Books are one of the most creative art forms, every

book transposes us into a different world filled with several characters. A good book may even

change the way we think, talk and analyze things. Helping develop presence of mind and

observing skills, thus illustrating the importance in our life.

References

Healthline Media. (n.d.). Medical Information and Health Advice You Can Trust.

Healthline. Retrieved November 4, 2022, from

https://ahoy-stage.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-reading-books

Time. (n.d.). The perilous fight. Magzter. Retrieved November 4, 2022, from
https://www.magzter.com/stories/News/Time/The-Perilous-Fight
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“Medical Information and Health Advice You Can Trust.” Healthline, Healthline Media,
https://ahoy-stage.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-reading-books.

“To Fight Book Banning, Support Librarians.” The New York Times, The New York
Times, 13 July 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/13/opinion/letters/book-bans-
librarians.html.