Banned Books Week: The Dangers of Censoring Free Speech

Banned Books Week: The Dangers of Censoring Free Speech
As we celebrate our freedom to read during Banned Books Week, it's important to remind students that many countries are not afforded this fundamental right. Countries such as North Korea, Eritrea, Russia, China, Turkmenistan, and Burma limit their citizens' right to read materials of their own choosing. Roughly two-thirds of the world's population lives under government-sanctioned internet censorship, according to a 2016 study by Freedom House.

Panem is controlled by an authoritarian government who chooses what its citizens listen to, watch, read, and learn. President Snow decides what is appropriate and acceptable for ALL citizens, whether it is real or not. This is not unlike North Korea, where cell phone use is restricted and only the "political elite" are allowed internet access. The government controls what is printed in the newspapers and other periodicals, as well as what is broadcast over the airwaves. (Source: https://cpj.org/2015/04/10-most-censored-countries.php)

So if we think a fictional world like Panem could never exist in the real world, sadly, it already does. There may not be real-life Hunger Games competitions, but there's no shortage of world leaders willing to poison their dissenters. (See this New York Times article and this report from Amnesty International.)

How does this relate to Banned Books Week?
Challenging books--which involves one person or group advocating for the removal of the book(s) from the library or school/classroom--is a threat to our First Amendment right of freedom of speech. It's the first step in limiting access to information like the government-controlled countries previously mentioned. If the door is opened to allow one person or group to dictate what is appropriate for all, it could have negative ramifications, including other persons or groups demanding the removal of all kinds of books for various reasons. And why stop at books? The floodgates would be opened for censorship of all the information we receive. When this happens, our democracy will cease to exist.

We currently have a president who does not speak out against Neo-Nazis who violently protested in Charlottesville, but speaks out against Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players who exercise their First Amendment right to peacefully protest the racial injustices in our country. Does this remind you of a scene from Catching Fire?

 When a leader encourages violence and/or backlash against a citizen for exercising his freedom of speech, our democracy has already begun to crumble. (sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/24/sports/nfl-trump-anthem-protests.html, http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-race-analysis-20170923-story.html)

Take a stand against censorship: Become a Rebel Reader 

Just as Katniss, Gale, Peeta, Finnick and all the rebels in Panem took a stand against the suppression of information by President Snow, your students can take a stand against censorship by becoming "rebel readers." A rebel reader will celebrate his/her freedom to read and freedom to choose what to read. A rebel reader doesn't allow the government, media outlets, or social media to decide what is "fake news," but will seek the truth him/herself by researching the facts. A rebel reader will step out of his/her comfort zone and read works by new and different authors about people and places and events that are foreign to him/her. A rebel reader will read with an open mind and look at both sides of an issue or viewpoint.

To encourage your students, give them opportunities to practice being a responsible rebel reader. When researching facts, require students to use several trusted and reliable sources. Surround your students with a variety of reading materials; vary the works you read with your students.


Topics of discussion   

• Discuss how the United States differs from other countries when it comes to censorship of the internet and news media outlets. Many students have experienced some form of internet censorship at schools with internet filters; for most, it is very frustrating to come to these roadblocks when searching for information. The difference, however, is that in our country, there are ways around the filters when necessary. But how would students feel if there were no other options?  

• Using the 2016 election as an example, discuss how social media filters (i.e. Facebook ads that target certain users) influenced the results of the election. If voters hadn't been bombarded with damaging articles posing as real news, would the results have been different? Ask your students why they think some people deem articles shared on social media as reliable information? Why aren't a majority of Americans turning to trusted news sites for their information?

• Ask students how they feel about peaceful, silent protests. Do they think NFL players should be fired for taking a knee during the national anthem? Why or why not? If they think it's inappropriate, ask them what alternative protest could they partake in that has the same impact/viewership?

• Compare today's peaceful protests with peaceful protests of the past. For example, revisit my post about Olympic protests. Why are some athletes punished, while others aren't? Does it boil down to race? What must happen for us to move on as a country?

Celebrate our freedom to read

Even if you are not able to fit any "banned book" discussions or activities into your curriculum this week, try to do one thing: give your students time in class to read something of their own choosing.   Let's ensure that our students realize that reading--and the freedom to choose what to read--is a fundamental right in our country that we all value.

If you are in need of materials for Banned Books Week, my previous post showcases my bulletin board display and warning labels bundle, complete with an introductory activity.

You can also visit the American Library Association's site for Banned Books Week here: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks 

Snow Day? Every day is Snow Day in Panem

We have a snow day today, so I couldn't resist making this meme with President Snow. 

While I'm at it, here are some of my favorite images lately (these were not created by me):

from: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2y1m0dfp11r90ok0o1_400.jpg

from: http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/250x250/20476040.jpg

from: https://twitter.com/Yo_Catnip/status/294560193625329664/photo/1

from: https://i.canvasugc.com/ugc/original/e27918e2f4ca715df938b2a68731bebd59a78144.png

from: http://memegenerator.net/instance/23536756

You can find many of these and more on my English Teacher Geek, Classroom Humor, The Hunger Games, and Grammar Errors Pinterest boards. I also have Catching Fire and Mockingjay boards! :)

And don't forget to check out CapitolCouture.pn and The Hunger Games Movie Facebook for the latest "Catching Fire" images. You can find Caesar Flickerman's on Fandango.

Every Day is President's Day in Panem

Every day is President's Day in Panem. Or, at least President Snow would like to be honored each day, it seems.

You can take this opportunity to discuss with your students the purpose of having a day to honor the office of the presidency and how that relates to The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and especially Mockingjay.

CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:3g12934u.jpg

To start the conversation, ask your students:
1. Why do we have a "Presidents Day"? What are its origins? Who declared the holiday and why?
2. How do many Americans celebrate "Presidents Day"?
3. Would "Presidents Day" be celebrated the same way in Panem? Why or why not.
4. In what ways do the citizens of Panem "honor" their current and past leaders? Give examples from the novel(s).
5. Do you think the citizens of the Capitol have respect for and honor President Snow, or do so for another reason? Explain.

What additional questions would you ask your students? Post in the comments below.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by Hunger Games Lessons! Make sure you check out my other blog, Mrs. Orman's Classroom.

If Panem Had Elections...Things That Make Me Go Hmmm...

If Panem had elections... from Hunger Games Lessons

Last week's Presidential debate got me thinking about what Panem would be like if they held Presidential elections, and other government-related questions. Of course, this being a "Things that make me go hmmm..." post, it's a great way to get your students thinking critically about the novel and relating it to the real world.

Classroom Connections
You can prompt your students with the following questions that begin with "If Panem had elections...":
• If Panem had elections...
...would President Snow run for re-election? Why or why not?
...who would run against President Snow? Why would this character make a good candidate?
...who would be elected President? Why?

Have them delve even deeper with these questions:
• If Panem was a democracy, how would life be different for the district citizens? How would it be different for the Capitol citizens?
• Would there still be a Hunger Games each year? Why or why not?
• What should the voting age be? Why?
• Would there be age restrictions for those running for President? If so, why and what minimum age would you set? If not, why not?
• Would each district have their own leaders? What would they be called: governors? Mayors? Or something completely new?

If you would like handouts with graphic organizers and a student/group project for your students relating to the elections, I just posted these in my store tonight: Hunger Games Trilogy Presidential Elections Activity Pack 
  It's 14 pages of activities that encourage critical thinking; students will have to support their opinions with facts. It's also aligned with the ELA Common Core State Standards for grades 6-12. Download the free preview for additional information.

Celebrate the Freedom to Read During Banned Books Week

This week kicks off the ALA's Banned Books Week, which celebrates "our First Amendment freedom to read while drawing attention to the harms that censorship does to our society and our individual freedoms" says Molly Raphael from The Huffington Post. Did you know The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins made the list of challenged books for 2010-2011 according to the American Library Association (ALA)?

It's ironic, isn't it? Censorship and suppressing information is very President Snow-like. Do we want to live in Katniss's world? In Panem, where the government decides what we can read, what we can learn, and who we are allowed to communicate with?

One would think in the year 2011 that censorship would not be an issue, but it is. Attempts to suppress literature and other materials is actually more prevalent than you might think.  The ALA reported that there were 348 challenges to books last year alone. The majority of the challenges are initiated by a parent, directed toward a school and/or school library, and are instigated because of the objection of sexually-explicit material in the book (this refers to books that are labeled as age-appropriate, NOT books that are clearly not appropriate for the age group). For example, The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank is one that was challenged for sexual explicitness and deemed inappropriate for 8th graders in Culpepper, Virginia in January, 2010.

Let's compare reading a book in school to a doctor giving a vaccination shot, which are known to prevent illnesses and disease. Many parents object to giving their children vaccinations. They have that right to make that decision for their own child. But it would be absurd to stop offering vaccinations to everyone because one or more people objected. The benefits are far too great, right? So are the benefits of reading a novel: One book can open up a world of possibilities. One book can help someone cope with their own pain and loss. One book can prevent someone from harming another, or themselves. One book can convince someone that it's OK to be different. One book can inspire. One book can change someone's life. And, chances are, it's a book that someone else wants to prevent you from reading.

In my experience, many people who object to the content have not actually read the book in its entirety. Too often, parts of a novel are extracted and used as evidence of inappropriateness. An entire piece of literature cannot be judged by one passage or quote; the themes and purpose of the novel need to be considered before judging. So to grasp the full meaning, one must read the entire work. In fact, most of the books that are challenged are against the very thing they are accused of promoting. You can read more in my previous blog post about those who challenge The Hunger Games.

This does not mean that I don't believe parents have a right to decide what is appropriate for their child. I believe they do. However, they do not have a right to impose that belief on all children, or all people, for that matter. At our school, if a parent objects to a novel we are teaching, the student is given an alternative substitution that deals with similar themes. The book is not removed from the classroom or from the curriculum.

What is your school's policy? Has The Hunger Games been challenged by any parents? How have you responded? Do you fear it could be challenged? If so, make sure to read my previous post and feel free to contact me if you need additional support.

Here are some FREE "I Read Banned Books" bookmarks 

you can print & distribute. :) Enjoy!

Have YOU Listened to the Hunger Games Fireside Chat?

If you haven't listened to an episode of the Hunger Games Fireside Chat, you're missing out.

Each week, some of the best fans of the series get together and talk about all things Hunger Games, most recently the movie news that ®Lionsgate has been releasing little by little. The podcasts are hosted by Adam Spunberg and Savanna New every Monday night at 9 p.m. Central time, or 10 p.m. Eastern.

This week, however, fans are in for a special treat: a musical edition! One can't help but think perhaps the creators were inspired by Glee. Most likely a topic of interest will be Donald Sutherland's casting of President Snow.  Fans can chat along on Twitter throughout the live broadcast using the hashtag #HGFiresideChat. You may even get a mention on the broadcast.

One of the great things about their live broadcasts is that if you can't listen to them live, you can listen to them anytime via BlogTalkRadio, on their YouTube Channel, or subscribe to their podcasts via iTunes.

Listen to Episode 9, which brings together Hunger Games fans from around the world:

Listen to internet radio with Fireside Chat on Blog Talk Radio

Use the Fireside Chats in your Classroom Curriculum
1. The creators and contributers are always looking for topics of interests to discuss. Have your students create lists of topics they would want discussed on the show. They can submit them to Savanna via Twitter (@MlleNouveau) or post a comment on their BlogTalkRadio site.  

2. Have students with internet access at home participate in the chats on Twitter using the #HGFiresideChat hashtag and have them discuss with the class their experience. Did they learn anything? Did they get a "mention" on the show? Did their questions get answered?

3. Play parts (or all, if time allows) of an episode in class and have students write down responses, questions, or comments during. Require students to have at least three (or more) responses.

4. Prepare a list of your own questions for students to respond to while listening.

5. Have students create their own "Fireside Chat" podcast related to the novel(s). What topics would they talk about?

6. Research the "fireside chat" and its origination with President Roosevelt. What was its purpose? What impact did it have on our nation? 

7. Compare radio broadcasts with televised broadcasts. What are the benefits of a radio broadcast as opposed to a televised one? What are the drawbacks?

You can align these lessons with the Common Core Standards for ELA:
(Anchor) For Writing:
6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating
understanding of the subject under investigation.
8. Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each
source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.
10. Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a
single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
(Anchor) Speaking & Listening:
1. Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners,
building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
2. Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and
orally.
3. Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.
4. Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the
organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
5. Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding
of presentations.
6. Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when
indicated or appropriate.

Do you have additional ideas for using the Hunger Games Fireside Chats in the classroom? Post in a comment below. 

Donald Sutherland is President Snow

Sutherland as Snow from www.Iamthemockingjay.net

Well, ®Lionsgate does it again. They chose someone I hadn't even considered for a role in the upcoming Hunger Games movie, but who seems to fit the the character perfectly.
  Donald Sutherland had not entered my mind as a potential for President Snow. And, just like with Woody Harrelson as Haymitch, I think, Why didn't I consider him?
  I think ®Lionsgate's casting choices are brilliant for "The Hunger Games" movie, due out March 23, 2012.
  And you MUST check out these amazing images of Sutherland as Snow on I AM THE MOCKINGJAY website (shown above). Sam Cushion is the talented artist and website creator. You can also check out his graphic design and photography on Deviant Art, as well. Thanks for sharing your images with us, Sam!