There are remedial steps that can be taken by educators though. First, school administrators should acknowledge that limiting access to the complete range of learning materials sends wrong signals to students. Second,
“school boards must recognize the gravity of their censorship decisions on the educational and creative development of children. In removing access to media such as YouTube, students are not afforded the opportunity to learn through these rich, media-based learning resources. By forbidding the use of iPods, students can no longer create, share and use educational resources like Podcasts. Lastly, by banning literature such as Harry Potter, students are unable to experience pop culture (and in this case what is sure to become a classic series) to its full extent.” (Tedesco, 2009, p. 55)
In conclusion, although cases such as Pico and Hazelwood have granted and reinforced fundamental constitutional freedoms of American citizens, they have not always been applied in similar cases subsequently. The Circuit Courts were especially guilty of this charge in MiamiDade and Virgil cases. Hence, the judges and juries will have to keep in mind that
“freedom of literature is the lifeblood of a democratic state. Exposing the nation’s children to different and sometimes uncomfortable viewpoints is what stimulates them towards success. It encourages critical thinking instead of blind obedience. Without it, society would be in a far worse place…If librarians and teachers let this censoring continue we’ll abdicate our responsibility to provide the critical online search techniques that students need when they are unsupervised at home, in college, and throughout their lives.” (Brenyo, 2011, p.544)
Works Cited:
Beem, Kate. “Caught in the Middle: School District Leaders Play Referee without a Rules Book during Debates over Religion and Personal Values.” School Administrator Oct. 2006: 16+.
Boston, Rob. “Fanning the Flames: The “Golden Age” of American Book Burning.” The Humanist July-Aug. 2008: 36+.
Brenyo, Michael. “Chalk Talk – [Censored]: Book Banning in the Us Education System.” Journal of Law and Education 40.3 (2011): 541+.
Holmes, Erin. “A Debate to Fill a Room Guests Speak for 5 Hours, Then Board Oks Disputed Books.” Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) 26 May 2006: 1.
“Not Wild about Harry: FOF’s Dobson Attacks Popular Potter Series.” Church & State Sept. 2007: 17+.
“Schools’ Censorship Growing, Says Group; Poor Civic Education Blamed.” The Washington Times 19 Sept. 2007: A05.
Stewart, Douglas E. “Going Back in Time: How the Kansas Board of Education’s Removal of Evolution from the State Curriculum Violates the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.” The Review of Litigation 20.2 (2007): 549+.
Tedesco, Stephen. “School Censorship and the Null Curriculum.” Our Schools, Our Selves Summer 2009: 55+.
Jenco, Melissa, “We, the Students . First Amendment Issues Still a Struggle in High Schools.” Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) 18 June 2008: 1.