The Enlightened Prisoner has observed these outsiders with little to justify their thinking that attack School Administrations about banning books they feel "uncomfortable" about, and lesson plans that may address critical issues of our societal history or the emergence of its alternate life styles. I publish the letter to the editor in the Seattle Times on 2-13-22, that best represents my own thinking on the subject and express my appreciation for the words of Margaret Garber.
Schools are for critical thinking: Those who would ban books reveal their own lack of knowledge and insecurities. In seeking to protect children from knowledge, they instead foster ignorance and fear. In seeking to ban books, these few would steal educational opportunity and leave children unprepared to live in our world today. Banning books only serves to make those books more mysterious and desirable. Children are smart and inquisitive. They will find answers for why some people don’t want them to know about some things. School is the best setting to introduce controversial ideas to children. School is where children should learn to look at all issues with a critical mind. They should be encouraged to seek more information for better understanding; to be open to new ideas and new ways of looking at the world; to be willing to listen to others and to discuss their own opinions. Yes, exposure to ideas should come at age-appropriate levels and with age-appropriate methods. Where better than in the schools, where teachers are trained to understand these approaches? The fearful few should never be allowed to limit the learning of our next generation of citizens. The world would only suffer from their ignorance. Margaret Garber, Seattle
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