Members of the English department all support the right to read. Banned Books week was celebrated from Sept. 23 – 28, and schools, libraries, and bookstores around the world promoted the sponsored week.
Banned Books week highlights importance of freedom from censorship
This past week was Banned Books Week and schools and libraries across America celebrated the freedom to read. Banned Books Week, which falls upon the last week of September, was started in 1982 as a response to an uptick in book challenges in schools, libraries, and bookstores across America. This year’s theme was “Censorship leaves us in the dark—keep the light on!” DCHS librarian Mrs. Tonsoni iterated why the freedom to read books is important. “It’s important to offer a diverse collection of books because we live in a world of diverse people and ideas.”
Delphi Community High School has a particular connection to Banned Books Week. In 2009, three books from the DCHS English curriculum were challenged: The Bluest Eye”by Toni Morrison, In Country by Bobbi Ann Mason and Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher. Concerned parents cited that the books discussed sexual content and had strong language that wasn’t appropriate for high schoolers. However, after much deliberation, the Delphi school board voted to keep the books in the curriculum. The views across the board were clear, and still are. As Mrs. Tonsoni said, “It’s important that teachers are free to teach and discuss uncomfortable and sometimes controversial topics, and it is especially important that students are free to read and learn about them.”