Freedom to Read
Each year the Book and Periodical Council organizes and promotes Freedom to Read week, dedicated to raising awareness of the issues surrounding access to a diverse range of reading materials. As noted in their position statement, "Freedom of expression is a fundamental right of all Canadians, and freedom to read is part of that precious heritage…The freedom to choose what we read does not, however, include the freedom to choose for others." And that is the crux of the matter, that having the freedom to select your own reading materials goes hand in hand with accepting that others have the same freedom, even if their choice in reading materials is not to your taste, or even offensive to you.
While there are many challenges to adult resources, the ones that cause the greatest commotion in the media are those challenges to books for children and teens. The reasons for the challenges are many, but the underlying theme is one of protecting our children from situations that may be inappropriate or uncomfortable, though just who exactly feels uncomfortable or thinks it is inappropriate is up for discussion.
As an educator and a librarian, I fully support each individual paren't's decision on what is appropriate for their child(ren) to read, while also accepting that their decision is for their child(ren) only. In doing so, I also urge each paren't to have that difficult discussion with their child(ren) as to why a certain book, film or magazine does not reflect the values or beliefs of the family. Or, better yet, read or view the material with your child and discuss the values and beliefs espoused by that author. Talk about bias, point of view, stereotypes and values. Engage in the often difficult discussions that these types of materials bring to the forefront. Let your child(ren) ask questions that the material generates for them, you might be surprised at what stands out for your child, as opposed to what stands out for you. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore often complex issues in a safe and supported environment. Children will engage in these conversations with their peers, having discussed it previously with a paren't or caregiver will help them to sort out their feelings and responses in advance.
Each year lists of banned or censored books are published by the Freedom to Read committee. This year is no exception. Some of books on the lists are classics, some extremely popular and others tackle difficult subjects, including The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the entire Harry Potter series and And Tango Makes Three. Take the time to consider if you should explore one or more of the titles on the banned books list. It might make interesting reading with your child, along with the conversations that will support your child's understanding of the content and context of the issues.
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