Catcher In The Rye Censorship

“When you have strict censorship, young students cannot receive a full education. Their view of the world is imbalanced. There can be no true discussion of the issues” (Ai Weiwei). Censorship regulates and sets standards for children’s literature. Restriction on literature such as “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, prevents exposure to all types of literature which neutralizes society’s plan for increasing the all around rates of reading in students. Increasing these rates will benefit students with improvement on comprehension, interpretation, and depiction. Censorship is an infringement of the first amendment through the interference of students intellectual freedom. One’s availability to diverse literature, the ability to grow intellectually, the rights to the first amendment, and the opportunity to uncover misconceptions are jeopardized at the cost of censorship. Censorship limits the variety of text available to students in school. The censorship of literature puts students at a major disadvantage due to the lack of diverse topics and genres available. Teachers are held responsible and limited with censored topics permitted to be
taught. As many different types of topics and genres are necessary for students to grow intellectually, students miss crucial learning opportunities inside and outside of school. The reflection of a student's awareness will show outside of school, positive or negative. By having the learning opportunity, adolescents can take away key lessons that can guide them in life. According to The Adolescent Brain, “The brain filters out about 99% of the information coming from the senses. Two factors strongly influence whether the brain pays attention to a piece of information: If the information has meaning and If the information causes an emotional response” (Wolfe, Pat). Text that is censored for reasons of controversy, rough content, etc are the genres in literature that are most beneficial to adolescents. Limiting the variety and options on literature available to students prevents exposure and depreciates diversity. Censorship is an infringement on the first amendment and interferes with the intellectual freedom of students. According to the First Amendment, “Congress Shall Make No Law Respecting an Establishment of Religion, or Prohibiting the Free Exercise Thereof; or Abridging the Freedom of Speech, or of the Press; or the Right of the People Peaceably to Assemble, and To Petition the Government for a Redress of Grievances.” Students that have the desire to expose themselves to a variety of literature should have that opportunity to do so without the interference of their First Amendment rights. According to Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, “Censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime . . .” Exposure to censored literature based on ranges of controversy can be a great way to expose students to this aspect as it will prepare for near future life. One may state that exposure to riskay genres will be negatively influential. Does one consider the moral lessons that teens can take away these genres?
The Catcher in the Rye should not be censored in schools.
It is more beneficial for students to have teachers present, rather than solo at home, to explain and clear up any misconceptions which will help to fulfill their learning potentials. Teenagers are already being greatly exposed to these subjects or aspects of alcohol, sex, or profanity and they cannot be entirely protected from daily life concepts. According to Yevgeny Yevtushenko, “When truth is replaced by silence, the silence is a lie.” By having the opportunity to draw lessons away from explicit text, students are encouraged through the learning experience at a faraway standpoint instead of students having to learn by firsthand experience. Censored literature offers great learning opportunities and is more beneficial to students to have the option than to
not. The decision to censor The Catcher in the Rye is not reasonable and cannot be justified. Students deserve the opportunity to expose themselves and experience diversity in literature as first amendment confirms this. As well as exposure, many life lessons and morals can be taken away from most controversial literature, specifically The Catcher in the Rye. Censorship on literature prevents exposure to all types of literature as well as intellectual freedom. One’s availability to diverse literature, the ability to grow intellectually, the rights to the first amendment, and the opportunity to uncover misconceptions are jeopardized at the cost of censorship.