Book

What schools ban and why / R. Murray Thomas.

Thomas, R. Murray (Robert Murray), 1921- (Author).

Summary:

This book seeks to describe the various things banned in schools, the reasons behind attempts to ban such things, the types of people who approve of censoring those things and the types who do not, the outcome of representative cases of censorship, and suggestions for school personnel about how to cope with bans. Each chapter addresses the same sequence of topics: a particular type of ban's domain and historical background; representative cases of the ban's application; ban supporters and their methods; ban critics and their methods; and ways of resolving conflicts over the ban.

Record details

ISBN: 9780313352980 (alk. paper)
ISBN: 0313352984 (alk. paper)
Physical Description: vii, 282 p. ; 25 cm.
Publisher: Westport, Conn. : Praeger, 2008.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references (p. [259]-276 and index.

Formatted Contents Note:

Forbidden environments ; The book's purpose ; A framework for interpreting bans ; Conclusion -- Books ; Illustrative cases ; Who challenges books? ; Suggestions for school practice -- Computers and the Internet ; Schools' computer prohibitions ; Suggestions for school practice -- Movies, television, and photographs ; Typical controversies ; Suggestions for school practice -- Garb ; Significant societal conditions ; Features of the garb debate ; Illustrative cases ; Suggestions for school practice -- Food and drink ; The adversaries ; Illustrative cases ; Suggestions for school practice -- Speech ; The evolution of speech policies ; The influence of personal values ; Word-meaning problems ; Political considerations ; Schools' speech codes ; Suggestions for school practice -- Bullying and sexual annoyances ; Bullying ; Hazing ; Sexual annoyances ; Suggestions for school practice -- Music ; Religious music ; Morally offensive lyrics ; Suggestions for school practice -- Vandalism ; Forms of vandalism ; Treating vandals ; Suggestions for school practice -- Drugs, alcohol, and tobacco ; Illegal drugs ; Prescription and over-the-counter products ; Alcohol ; Tobacco ; Suggestions for school practice -- Weapons ; The Columbine effect ; New school rules ; Illustrative cases ; Controversial decisions ; Suggestions for school practice -- People ; Troublesome intruders ; Troublesome staff members ; Troublesome students ; Suggestions for school practice -- Ceremonies and performances ; Religious ; Profane/vulgar ; Political ; Criminal ; Suggestions for school practice -- Displays ; Promoting a religion ; Fostering illegal, immoral, or antisocial behavior ; Advocating a political position ; Suggestions for school practice -- A likely future ; Speculation about the years ahead.