The BAN: Books
According to PEN America, a literature advocacy group co-founded in the 1920s by none other than Robert Frost, 2,532 individual books have been banned nationwide. Their study tracks book banning using public data from districts and schools, new sources, public records requests or FOIA requests and through publicly available school board minutes.
While there is clear justification for the banning of some titles – such as Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf or William Powell’s The Anarchist Cookbook – far too many times literature is taken away from schools for reasons that defy comprehension. Take, for example, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, banned in Missouri as recently as 2022.
“It is awful,” said LACES English teacher Mr. Adam Tan. “It censors voices that discuss important topics about racism that have been censored historically.”
The idea behind banning books is good but not well thought-out. It is impossible for someone to represent which books shouldn’t or should be banned considering the non-mainstream demographics of people that aren’t always represented in the rigorous process that is deciding whether or not a book is beneficial to students or harmful.
“Books are windows into other people’s´ lives, cultures, perspectives and ideas.” said Ms. Melissa Shelton. “It limits people from opportunities where they can learn and grow.”
The BAN: UGG Boots
In Pennsylvania, local paper Pottstown Mercury recounted a ban in 2021 at Pottstown High School over a long-time favorite of girls across the country: UGG boots. Here’s the kicker – the boots were banned in support of another banning.
The story: Pottstown prohibited cell phones from 7:55 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., when phones were to be kept in students’ lockers. However, these Pottstown Trojans were using a horse of a different color when it came to sneaking a look at their phones. Namely, UGG boots. Students would hide their phones in the popular boot, giving the administration no choice but to pull the plug on UGGs.
Points for creativity, but here at LACES our student population is far too fashionable to be forced into wearing UGGs five days a week. Hopefully LACES will not end up following in the footsteps of Pottstown and lose the privilege to wear everyone’s beloved fashionable yet comfy UGGs.
The BAN: Backpacks
A 2018 CBS News report sheds light on another brutal, bothersome ban. After a spate of school shootings, Dalhart Intermediate school in Dallas, Texas decided to do away with the accessory that defines students most. Is there anything that says ‘school” more than packing your backpack every morning?
Despite their importance, backpacks and any type of bags were completely prohibited on campus. According to Dalhart Intermediate Principal Misty Heiskell, the school used a committee to ultimately decide to support the ban. The committee decided that backpacks threatened the safety of the school. Schools in Ohio and Illinois followed suit in banning backpacks citing similar safety concerns
The true bummer behind this ban is not the banning of backpacks. It’s living in a world where we even have to consider senseless violence before back-to-school shopping.
The BAN: Hoodies
During Winter, every LACES student loves their hoodies. Varying from simple yet sweet to extravagantly designed. Such a clothing item should be appreciated much more than expected. Hoodies seem too essential to ban from school until it actually happens at several schools in Pittsburgh and Worcester, Massachusetts.
An article from Business Insider explains the travesty that happened to thousands of Massachusetts students. Hoodies are not allowed on campus during school hours. Hoodies are to be kept in their students’ lockers. Unlike the other bans, this one is a lot harder to work around. Be grateful, LACES students and teachers could not do without their ¨Essentials¨ hoodies.
