Reference Reviews

Reference for Students

Censorship. Edited by Julia Bauder. Detroit, Mich.: Greenhaven Press Thomson Gale, 2007. 1 vol. 275 p. $34.95. ISBN 10: 0-7377-3277-6; ISBN 13: 978-0-7377-3277-1.

Should students be reminded that the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and the press? What does that really mean? While our nation is privileged to have free speech, some disagree over certain types of speech and actions such as desecrating the flag. Each chapter has a brief introduction to the topic. Both sides of controversial issues include: “Should Offensive Speech Be Censored?” “Should High Schools and Universities Censor?” “Should Pornographic and Violent Materials Be Censored?” and “Should Speech That Endangers National Security Be Censored?” Conservatives such as Pat Buchanan are paired with Paul K. McMasters, ombudsman for the First Amendment Center, an agency not listed in the “Organizations to Contact.” This is a continuing current controversy and not likely to be solved in the immediate future, if ever. To read about it here rather than finding information that may or may not be accurate on the Internet provides the starting point. The issue can then be researched to find out if these are the only or best resources available.