Why Are Schools Pushing Inappropriate Books While Banning Classics?

ARTICLE #4 OF "ASK THE QUESTIONS"

-OPINION-

Why are schools pushing inappropriate books while banning the classics? It’s a question that should be asked loud and clear, and the answer is frustratingly simple: schools are putting woke ideologies ahead of common sense and the intellectual well-being of students. We’ve all seen it happen—the rise of books that promote explicit content, radical gender theories, and political messaging being shoved into the hands of kids. At the same time, classic works of literature that have shaped generations of thinkers are being pulled from shelves, deemed "too offensive" or "too controversial" for students. How did we get to a place where sexually explicit novels about sexual identity are considered acceptable reading material for children in elementary schools, while timeless books about history, freedom, and human morality are banned?

Take Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, for example. This memoir, which has been put on required reading lists in some schools, is filled to the brim with graphic depictions of sexual acts, gender exploration, and personal journeys of sexual discovery. We’re talking about explicit material—stuff that most adults would think twice about reading, let alone handing over to a 13-year-old. Yet in the name of "social justice” and “awareness,” this book is being promoted in classrooms, with educators arguing that it's an important exploration of gender identity. But here’s the thing: kids, especially those in middle school, aren’t equipped to process complex issues about sexuality, gender fluidity, and identity. These are adults topics, not things kids should be expected to understand in their early teens, or in some cases, even younger, as yes—this novel, Gender Queer, has been in some elementary curriculums.

Now, let’s be clear: I’m not advocating for banning books. Everyone should have the freedom to read whatever they choose. But there’s a difference between giving people the freedom to explore ideas and forcing them to consume material that isn’t appropriate for their age or emotional maturity. And that’s exactly what’s happening in schools today. Books like Gender Queer are being pushed onto kids as required reading, while other books—classics that explore human nature, history, and society—are being pulled from libraries for the slightest offences, not being permitted for kids in higher grades such as in high school to even read it on their own terms; not being even being required of them to read.

Take To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, for example. This book, one of the most important works of American literature (and literature as a whole for that matter), is being banned in some places and schools because it uses offensive language—racial slurs, to be specific. But those words are part of the historical context of the book. How will kids ever learn if this side of history and society are being shielded from them or watered-down? The story is about a small-town lawyer named Atticus Finch, who defends an innocent black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman. It’s about racism, injustice, and standing up for what’s right even when it’s difficult. Are those not important conversations to have in a classroom?

Then, there’s George Orwell’s 1984, which has been challenged in schools for being “too dark” and “too bleak.” Sure, 1984 is a tough read. It’s about the dangers of totalitarianism, government surveillance, and the manipulation of truth. It reminds us of how important fighting for free speech is, which, now is obviously being very much targeted. But, it’s also one of the most important political novels ever written. Are we really going to deprive older students of learning about these fundamental issues? If we’re going to raise kids who understand their rights, the importance of free speech, and the dangers of government overreach, then 1984 is exactly the kind of book they need to read. Yet, it’s being pushed out of classrooms in favour of books that preach progressive ideologies without the same intellectual depth.

And why? Because books like 1984, To Kill A Mockingbird, Brave New World, and Wise Blood don’t fit the woke narrative. They challenge students to think critically about society, history, and human nature. They encourage conversations about freedom, justice, and personal responsibility. But the current education system doesn’t want kids to engage in those tough, open-ended discussions. They’d rather push politically correct, ideologically-driven material that aligns with the latest cultural trends, even if that means introducing explicit sexual content to children who aren’t even close to being old enough to understand it yet. And, I’m not saying these classic books are appropriate for all ages, either. Just like how I don’t think that Gender Queer should be taught to elementary students, I also don’t think To Kill A Mockingbird or 1984 would be all too appropriate, either. But, they certainly are for high schoolers, and they provide way more meaning and educational value rather than these terrible books students are now required to read to fit a political agenda.

But look, I’m all for freedom of speech. Banning books is never the answer. But there has to be a line when it comes to what we expect children to engage with in the classroom. Some of these books, like Gender Queer, simply shouldn’t be forced onto young readers. Kids are still trying to figure out who they are, where they fit in, and what their values are. And instead of letting them explore these questions in a natural, age-appropriate way, we’re exposing them to content that’s far too mature and making up their minds about their values for them; teaching them that one opinion is inherently wrong and harmful, and the other isn’t. It’s shameful.

The problem isn’t just about these books existing; it’s about the way schools are forcing them onto kids as required reading. And it’s not just about sexuality and gender—it’s the overall agenda behind these choices. Books like Gender Queer are not just about the personal journeys of self-discovery; they’re about promoting a very specific ideological agenda. We shouldn’t be pushing kids to conform to any one ideology, especially not one they aren’t equipped to understand since, hate to break it to you, kids in elementary aren’t mature enough to understand what being gay or transgender is no matter how much you try to convince yourself of it. It will just confuse them. Literature should open young minds, not close them with forced political messaging.

It’s not just about protecting kids from explicit material either, it’s about giving them the space to grow intellectually and emotionally at a pace that’s right for them. We’re pushing kids into adult territory before they’re even ready to understand the complexity of those issues. It’s wrong to ask 12-year-olds to navigate the intricacies of gender identity or the politics of sexual exploration when they should be focused on things like learning about the world’s history, understanding basic human rights and laws, doing other academics in school, and developing critical thinking skills.

Some schools are waking up to this reality, though. Not every school unfortunately, but some. In certain districts, books like Gender Queer have been removed from required reading lists, and some classic works are slowly making their way back into classrooms, like, the most recent example of this I’ve personally seen is Animal Farm by George Orwell being put back into the Grade 12 curriculum. But, this battle is far from over, and we can’t afford to let the voices pushing woke ideologies (even just forced ideologies in general) in education win. It’s one thing to allow students to explore different ideas in their own time, but it’s another to push those ideas onto them before they’re ready to handle them, and make them feel like they can’t disagree with you without feeling like a bad person.

In the end, the solution is simple: let’s stop forcing kids to read books with political agendas or explicit content in schools. Let them read the books that encourage them to think critically about the world in an age appropriate context. Let them engage with literature that challenges them to understand the complexities of human nature, history, and morality. 1984 and To Kill A Mockingbird aren’t just important books—they’re necessary. We should be encouraging students to read these works, not banning them because they make us uncomfortable. And instead of shoving books like Gender Queer down their throats, let’s give kids the opportunity to grow intellectually in a way that respects their age, emotional development, and personal values. And again, no, we shouldn’t ban books. But we also shouldn’t be forcing kids into ideological spaces they’re not ready for. Let’s get back to real education—the kind that prepares kids for the world, rather than pushing them into the latest cultural fad. That’s the kind of education kids deserve.