No to Censorship: Why Honesty Matters in the Classroom

Since 2021, PEN America has documented nearly 16,000 book bans in public schools across the country. That number is shocking and hasn’t been seen since the McCarthy era in the 1950s. As a high school student, I wanted to learn more about how this rise in censorship is affecting classrooms, so I sat down with my AP Language and Composition teacher to talk about it.

She shared that while book bans are happening in many states, we’re lucky that our school hasn’t faced that issue. At our school, English teachers are trusted to choose the books they teach. They also have the freedom to include titles that reflect their own interests or highlight underrepresented voices. My teacher told me she tries her best to include a variety of perspectives and topics in her curriculum so that every student can see themselves in the stories they read, and so that we all have a better understanding of the historic and modern day hardships of all groups, and their beauty as well.

When we talked about censorship more broadly, she said that she feels confident in her teaching and doesn’t feel pressure to avoid certain topics. If something is relevant, important, and true, she believes it should be taught, even if it’s controversial. I really admire that mindset, as it’s the kind of teaching we need more of! After attending Girls State and speaking with students from all over California, I realized that not everyone has teachers who feel free to speak openly in the classroom. Some students shared that their teachers avoid certain issues altogether, even when they matter. That’s why I’m so thankful to my English teacher for not only taking the time to talk with me about this issue during her Smart Period but also for being someone who teaches with honesty, purpose, and care!