Skip to main content
Loading...
TCS libraries encourage discussion on challenged and banned books
  • TCS libraries encourage discussion on challenged and banned books

The Junior and Senior School libraries at Trinity College School took the opportunity to spark discussion on challenged and banned books during Freedom to Read Week, February 19th to 25th. This week was founded by the Book and Periodical Council in 1984 to honour intellectual freedom as enshrined in Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms and to advocate against censorship.

In the Junior School, Ms. Sarah Torrible (teacher librarian) created a display board on which students were invited to share their thoughts on freedom of expression through sticky notes. Books, one student wrote, “open people up to new experiences and help them find out who they are.” Another student noted, “Freedom to read means that though people have different ideas and opinions on what we should or shouldn’t read, we can make that choice ourselves.” Several students pointed out the importance of being able to read about “heavy” or “uncomfortable” topics, and having the chance to learn about experiences or views different from our own. As one student said, “Freedom to read is freedom to learn.”

The Senior School library team – Ms. Shelagh Straughan, Ms. Viola Lyons and Ms. Julie Spencer – organized a number of initiatives to get students thinking about the debate around censorship. Giant word search puzzles were posted on the library board in the classroom block, on which students could fill in responses about banned and challenged books. There were also themed bookmarks and a “guess the shredded book” contest in the library, and a button machine on which students could create a pin in support of freedom of expression.

As well, both libraries created displays of titles from their own collections that have landed on challenged and banned lists in different parts of the world at some point. Many of these books – from The Hunger Games to A Wrinkle in Time – are among students’ favourites.

Learn more about Freedom to Read Week and the importance of freedom of expression at www.freedomtoread.ca.