Schooling by the Books

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Book bans are the removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary material that are objectionable by standards applied by the censor. In this course we will explore the origins and history of censorship in American schools, with a particular focus on literary works. We will explore the power of literature in students’ academic, social and emotional development and literate lives and consider the ways in which book bans and censorship limit or shape this development. As we engage with and read a selection of banned picture, graphic, YA, and adult books (both historical and contemporary), students will consider key questions such as: What reasons, espoused and implicit, lead to book bannings? How have these motivations been shaped by contemporary fears, hopes, and ideologies? Who are the censors, and what voices are being silenced? How does book banning influence the agency and professionalism of teachers? What are the outcomes–intended or otherwise–on students’ and teachers’ lived experience in schools?