FMS - Fahrenheit 451 discussion

Dear 451 Group Members:
While thinking about today's classroom discussion, I would like for you to ponder as to why various countries, governments, religious groups, and other organizations would want to ban a book in the first place. So the question: What is the purpose of banning/censoring a book?

Are there good reasons to ban a book? Are there bad reasons to ban a book? Explain. Justify your response.

Mr. Harris

There are few reasons to ban a book but one that comes to mind is a book of gross inaccuracies that either works to spread ignorance or is created to give false accounts of reality.

For example--It would be ethical to ban an electronic manual that has incorrect methods of wiring a house that can lead to a fire.

the main reason for some banning this book was it became offence to some people. while some parents read thes book they felt the book was trying to talk about the government. they assumed the book was saying the government wasnt doing us any good. the purpsoe in my opinion for banning the book was to have less trouble for students families. i dont believe there was a well thought out reason for banning this book.

Monica wrote: "There are few reasons to ban a book but one that comes to mind is a book of gross inaccuracies that either works to spread ignorance or is created to give false accounts of reality.

For example..."

Even so I'd still say "banning" a book is still the wrong response. Choosing NOT to use a book, or selecting OTHER books is perfectly ok. Whereas banning is not!

Well in many societies across this large globe books and history alike have been nearly erased from memory. Such as in Germany where until recently the regime of Nazis' was never mentioned in history books taught to children. They were so ashamed of their past, for awhile they thought it better to not teach it in schools. Which many can argue as the quote goes, "If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it." This is just an example of "stories" being banned for what could be interpretted as the greater good of a nation. Just as the Bible has been banned in many a public schools in the nation of the U.S. when it is a fantastic story... :) But somehow leaders believe it is best to avoid controversy because it makes some unconfortable. I dont think anything should be censored. I think people should be free to make up their own minds and choose what they want to believe based on having all resources available to them. While 451 was banned in public schools in the U.S. also along with The Giver if anyone else has read that book, I was fortunate enough to go to a private school that preached religion, but still made readily available the other beliefs of the world, leaving us in the end free to make up our own mind. Very liberating. I also feel that parents attack on 451 because they believed it was criticizing the government is just an excuse for not teaching your children yourself and trusting them to believe in what they want to based on what a parent has taught them and what the world has taught them.