A former Conservative councillor has sparked outrage after his school removed American author Angie Thomas's bestselling novel "The Hate U Give" from its Year 10 reading list due to concerns about profanity and violence.
The move was widely condemned by authors, educators, and students who argue that the book provides a valuable opportunity for young people to engage with difficult themes and issues. The controversy surrounding "The Hate U Give" has drawn parallels with the Taliban's efforts to ban books in Afghanistan, which has seen internet access shut down in an effort to restrict citizens' access to information deemed "immoral" or challenging to their ideology.
Former Tory councillor James Farquharson objected to the book citing concerns about its language and content. However, many argue that these objections are a thinly veiled attempt to shield students from difficult ideas and promote a narrow, monocultural view of Britain.
Author Stephen Kelman's novel "Pigeon English", which deals with similar themes of social injustice and violence, is also under review at the school. Kelman argues that his book provides a valuable opportunity for young people to engage with complex issues and develop critical thinking skills.
Kelman believes that avoiding difficult content can have unintended consequences, such as desensitizing students to the discomforts of real life. He draws on his own experiences growing up in a diverse and deprived community, which shaped his writing and helped him connect with readers from different backgrounds.
The debate highlights the importance of education in preparing young people for an increasingly complex world. By engaging with difficult ideas and themes, students can develop empathy, resilience, and critical thinking skills that are essential for navigating the challenges of modern life.
As one author noted, "Discomfort and disorder are the world's prevailing forces, and books remain one of the best tools we have at our disposal for preparing young people to navigate them." The removal of challenging texts from school reading lists can have long-term consequences, stunting students' intellectual curiosity and emotional growth.
The move was widely condemned by authors, educators, and students who argue that the book provides a valuable opportunity for young people to engage with difficult themes and issues. The controversy surrounding "The Hate U Give" has drawn parallels with the Taliban's efforts to ban books in Afghanistan, which has seen internet access shut down in an effort to restrict citizens' access to information deemed "immoral" or challenging to their ideology.
Former Tory councillor James Farquharson objected to the book citing concerns about its language and content. However, many argue that these objections are a thinly veiled attempt to shield students from difficult ideas and promote a narrow, monocultural view of Britain.
Author Stephen Kelman's novel "Pigeon English", which deals with similar themes of social injustice and violence, is also under review at the school. Kelman argues that his book provides a valuable opportunity for young people to engage with complex issues and develop critical thinking skills.
Kelman believes that avoiding difficult content can have unintended consequences, such as desensitizing students to the discomforts of real life. He draws on his own experiences growing up in a diverse and deprived community, which shaped his writing and helped him connect with readers from different backgrounds.
The debate highlights the importance of education in preparing young people for an increasingly complex world. By engaging with difficult ideas and themes, students can develop empathy, resilience, and critical thinking skills that are essential for navigating the challenges of modern life.
As one author noted, "Discomfort and disorder are the world's prevailing forces, and books remain one of the best tools we have at our disposal for preparing young people to navigate them." The removal of challenging texts from school reading lists can have long-term consequences, stunting students' intellectual curiosity and emotional growth.
. Like, come on, you want to shelter them from the harsh realities of life? That's not how we're supposed to raise people who are gonna make a difference in this world 
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. What about the importance of literature in exploring social justice and inequality? Don't schools have a duty to help kids develop critical thinking skills and empathy? 
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in these schools, tryna shield kids from hard truths but really just limitin their worldview 
. like, isn't the point of education to prepare 'em for real life? not shelter 'em from it? 
and yeah, I get that some books might be a bit intense, but that's part of why they're so important 
️ we need kids to be able to handle uncomfortable conversations and think critically about social issues.
I'm literally so done with this 
, what's next is they gonna ban all the good books? Like, come on! Angie Thomas's book is a game changer for young people it helps them understand the struggles of the world we live in 
As if avoiding difficult content is gonna make them better equipped to handle real life issues. I mean, have you read Stephen Kelman's book Pigeon English 
it's all about social justice and stuff, like, exactly what they should be reading in school 
Not banning books because of a little profanity or violence, that's just not right 