Megan Gaites

Once again, you are attempting to ban books that you deem inappropriate. It is not up to you to make that determination. No books should be banned ever. Books teach critical thinking, empathy, and a whole host of things to create more well rounded adults. Maus introduced me to the Holocaust as a child and opened up other books to teach me more than what it was, but how it came about, and why it should never happen again. And allows me to recognize the fact that it is happening again here in the US. Roll of Thunder, Hear Me Cry taught me that “separate but equal” as a policy was a crock and further introduced me to the Civil Rights Movement. To Kill a Mockingbird, taught me about empathy in a time and place where empathy towards POC was not heard of, and that the justice system is not always just. 2 of those books have been banned at some point, but they taught me valuable lessons. Banning books creates a stinking block to creating well rounded critical thinkers who can change the world for the better. Its time to STOP banning books.