{"ops":[{"insert":"Censorship of books in schools is a growing concern. Pen America has gathered data to help us see how bad the problem is, for those concerned to preserve and advance freedom of thought and freedom of speech. You can read their recent report titled: "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Banned in the US: the growing movement to censor books and schools: "},{"attributes":{"color":"#0563c1","link":"https://pen.org/report/banned-usa-growing-movement-to-censor-books-in-schools/"},"insert":"https://pen.org/report/banned-usa-growing-movement-to-censor-books-in-schools/"},{"insert":"\n \nSome U.S. states have far more severe censorship laws than others. In this article entitled “Florida teachers forced to remove or cover up books to avoid felony charges,” The Guardian (January 24, 2023)” helps illuminate one of the many barriers to advancing critical thinking, with teachers potentially becoming felons for sharing books considered politically incorrect with students:\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"blue","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/24/florida-manatee-county-books-certified-media-specialist?CMP=share_btn_link"},"insert":"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/24/florida-manatee-county-books-certified-media-specialist?CMP=share_btn_link"},{"insert":"\n \nIn Florida schools, according to law, teachers are no longer allowed to use their professional judgment in determining what books to share with students. Instead, a librarian or “certified media specialist” must approve teachers’ books. If teachers violate the guidelines, they may face felony charges. Another blow to the educational process. Still, apparently some teachers are quietly objecting by covering up, or in other words, hiding their books.\n \nBut what if they get caught? Can teachers not be trusted to choose appropriate books for their students? If not, how can they be trusted to teach students at all? Will teachers want to work in an oppressive system, with censorship laws that violate basic tenets of education? What are some important implications for student learning and for their intellectual development if they are not allowed access to material considered threatening to those in power? Will administrators and teachers finally object in mass to this outrage of censorship?\n \n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Dissenters Are Frequently Punished in Human Societies"},{"insert":"\nOf course, throughout history dissenters have often been punished for refusing to go along with unjust laws – for the purpose of changing the laws. The censorship problem mentioned above is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of how harsh these punishments may be. And it is part of a much larger problem coming from sociocentric thought which permeates through human societies.\n \nBecause people are expected to go along with mainstream views, dissenters, or those who simply do not live in accordance with conventional traditions, are often treated harshly. One of the most well-known dissenters in history is Socrates (c. 470–399 BCE), who was put to death by the state for “corrupting” the young by teaching them to think critically about traditions and customs, and for presumably not believing in the gods sanctioned by the “city.” Galileo advanced the notion, put forth by Copernicus, that the sun (rather than the earth) was the center of the universe, which got him in trouble with authorities (1615). He was warned to abandon his view, which he did to save his skin. Later he defended his views (1632) in his most famous work, "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems"},{"insert":". Consequently, he was tried by the Inquisition, found suspect of heresy, forced to recant, and spent the rest of his life under house arrest.\n \nWhen Charles Darwin introduced his conception of evolution, “it was everywhere met with ridicule and abuse” (Macdonald, 1931; 1972, p. vii). In the 70 years between when Darwin published his first book and Macdonald wrote his important work, "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Fifty Years of Free Thought"},{"insert":",\n“the whole scientific world accepted [Darwin’s] conclusion, and his theory of evolution is taught in every school worthy of the name. Amongst the intelligent people of the world, it is almost as well established as the once heretical doctrine that the earth is round. It is well to take a look at the story of privation and suffering of the early apostles of freedom and science who at great risk and through dire privations went up and down the world seeking to emancipate the human mind.” (p. vii)\n \nCritical thinkers realize that human societies tend to punish those who publicly go against mainstream views. Critical thinkers are willing to stand alone in their beliefs and in fact become comfortable holding views that differ, often dramatically, from those of others. People must decide for themselves the price they are willing to pay to publicly dissent against the views of society when it might be dangerous to do so. But in the privacy of their own minds, they give the widest possible play to reason.\n \nIn critical societies, people are encouraged to dissent, to say what they believe, and to discuss and debate in good faith. They value the importance of dissent and expect dissent as a matter of course. But where is such a society?\n \n \n\n\nReference:\n \nMacDonald, G. (1931; 1959). 50 years of free thought. NY: Arno Press, p.vii.\n\n \n{Part of this blog was adapted from: "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Liberating the Mind"},{"insert":" by Linda Elder (Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 2019, pp. 39- 43).}\n"}]}