Why Was 'A Child Called "It"' Banned In Some Schools?

2025-06-14 17:21:34 352

3 Answers

Anna
Anna
2025-06-16 02:01:11
From a literary perspective, the banning of 'A Child Called "It"' reflects society's discomfort with uncomfortable truths. The book doesn't just describe abuse - it forces readers to visualize a mother systematically dehumanizing her child, referring to him as 'It.' That psychological aspect might be why some schools pull it from shelves. They aren't just protecting kids from gore; they're shielding them from contemplating how easily humanity can be stripped away.

The educational counterargument is powerful though. This memoir gives students vocabulary to describe abuse patterns they might otherwise normalize. When Dave's mother makes him vomit so she can force-feed him the vomit, or when she invents 'games' to torture him, these aren't just shock value - they're textbook examples of abusive tactics.

Interestingly, the bans rarely hold because teachers keep fighting for it. Many argue that sanitizing literature does students a disservice, especially when real children endure similar horrors daily. The book's lasting presence in many curricula proves its value outweighs the discomfort.
Ivan
Ivan
2025-06-19 06:50:22
I understand why some schools banned it. The book's graphic depiction of child abuse is extremely intense, showing physical torture, psychological manipulation, and severe neglect in brutal detail. Some educators worry younger readers might find the scenes too disturbing, like when the mother forces the boy to eat feces or burns his arm on a stove. While the story ultimately celebrates survival, the relentless cruelty could potentially traumatize sensitive students. Schools that banned it often cite concerns about triggering abuse victims or normalizing violence. But personally, I think hiding such stories does more harm than good - awareness prevents abuse.
Samuel
Samuel
2025-06-20 18:58:12
Having followed numerous book debates, 'A Child Called "It"' gets banned primarily for its explicit content, but the reasons run deeper. The autobiographical account of Dave Pelzer's abuse presents ethical dilemmas for educators. On one hand, it exposes horrific realities of child abuse that society often ignores. The scenes where Dave starves while his family eats, or gets stabbed by his mother, are necessary to understand abuse dynamics. But schools argue these passages could retraumatize students who've experienced similar situations.

Another concern is the book's perceived lack of redemption. Unlike other banned books that get challenged for political reasons, this one faces opposition because some believe its unrelenting darkness offers no constructive lesson. Critics say it doesn't sufficiently address recovery or healing, focusing overwhelmingly on suffering. Supporters counter that the raw honesty helps readers recognize abuse symptoms in real life.

What fascinates me is how the bans vary by region. Conservative districts often cite 'inappropriate material,' while liberal areas sometimes ban it for potentially retraumatizing marginalized students. The debate showcases how censorship isn't always black and white - even well-intentioned protections can silence important voices.
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