is spanish for values. and we value your patience and presence. i'm del walters, "the stream" is next, and check us out at aljazeera.com. >> into i'm lisa fletcher, and you're in the stream the the number of books challenged or banned is on the rise much we look at why, and the intersection with community values. clr >> our digital producer is bringing in all your live feedback. all of us at one point or another read a controversial or

banned back. it's hard to believe that books like "to kill a mocking bird" is on the list. >> i have read all. check out my facebook page, "captain underpants" all the books challenged or banned. jim says: >> what is graphic, what is objectionable, who decides? >> that is the big point, is it being decided in a vacuum. how does a book become off limits.

you may be surprised. books like "captain underpants" and "kite runner". there was a 53% increase in challenged books. and for the same period in 2013. bans are requested by concerned parents to restrict books they find to be inappropriate. before being banned it has to go through a process. objecti objectionable content ranges from sexually explicit material or violence. a complaint can include multiple objections. in response students and the authors are speaking up. >> books are only coercing coerced. >> it doesn't are to do with literacy qualities as much as deepest prejudice and fears. >> do the restrictions protect

students. we have a student among our guests, a college freshman, challenging the removal of two books from his high school's reading list, and carr jol the author of "the earth, my butt and other big round things", she's a parent and a challenged author in the past decade. in denver, jim, who participationed her district to remove "the bluest eye", and christian johnson - a former middle school english teacher supporting age-appropriate scandal, and on skype an eighth grade literacy teacher and objected to her school removing a book from its curricula. >> calls to ban books is not new. what seems to be is the number of books hitting the list. since yours are some of the most controversial, what do you think the reasoning is behind the list

of challenged books increasing. >> well, it's - it's a tough one. when i found out that my books were banned, which is the first year i published my first novel, i was shocked because i write frank novels about teenage experience. every time i hear about a ban it lifts reasons why. it's always hard to know why a particular book is banned when the response from readers is phenomenal that the book saved their lives or helped them through depression or see something from a different perspective. why does this increase now? the national coalition against censorship confronted 53% more challenges. the american library association noticed 500 challenges in 2012. no one knows why. could it be a more conservative climate.

could it be that the economic downturn made more scared. i think it's fear, fear of talking to the children. fear of our children acquiring knowledge. conversations. >> is it fear or something deeper than that. >> well, i think this is very important to make the distinction between book banning and standards in the classroom. this is where i need to make a big point here that i oppose book banning as a teacher and a parent. i oppose the book banning. this is the problem. you polarize your audience into two camps. there's a huge variety of opinion. it's not about book banning but wanting rigorous standards. >> i'm going to jump in and say signing a petition to request

"the bluest sky", that is saying room. >> i would add that it's interfering with a teacher's discretion with a student. a lot of times from my personnel experience a teacher feels victimized and their discretion of educators is infringed upon. don't parents have a say in what their kids are exposed to. >> it's an insular environment. academic environment providing wholistic and presencive channel for you to discuss issues in an academic sense, something a lot of parents don't do or distil things into themes or plots. >> if i may go back to the original question as to why we see an increase in these challenges, we have surveys that indicate and show us valuable information. i think we need to pay attention to it.

that is since 2010 we see the increase in challenges. we have an increase across the nation in the number of students and high schools that will enrol in ap english classes. in the classes is more mature material. >> you have an increase number. they don't believe that it is age appropriate for the high schools. concerns. >> high school is not college. because something has literary merit and may have a reading level that is apt for the students that are advanced doesn't mean that it is matching developmental levels. >> i'll jump in and say the troubling trend within that trend of the increase in challenges, the troubling parts are yes, more books are banned in classes.

the books that are banned are more books written by authors of colour, by authors they address gay and lesbian issues. >> i want to clarify something here, both with caroline and jill. we are talking here, correct me if i'm wrong, about the difference between books being available in the library versus books used for instructional purposes in the classroom, is that would you are getting at. >> we are talking about materials, not the libraries. i stand in favour of having the right to read, and a diverse amount of - type of reading material in the library, public library, the school library. the classroom is a unique environment, and teachers do not have freedom of speech for example. school boards have...

>> do you feel the classes are right - they have the right. >> lynn, you want to jump in. >> teachers are the personnel who have the expertise and the training to determine what is appropriate for the children sitting in front of them. i think basing a ban of a book based on age is ludicrous because children of all ages have different life experiences. they have different maturity levels. these children can meet the needs of every child. we need access to a wide variety of literacy to do that. >> we already have filters for media in schools. what are the foundations for certain ratings, movies appropriate for 10th graders and first graders. a lot is in place.

why not to books and english litter atture. >> as a stupid that took english last year, i developed a close bond with my teacher. the challenge of a public educator is to create public curric u lounge room that meet -- curriculum that meets all students. i argue that ap english is the most challenging course, and has the student set of the most mature and able to handle material. so to ban a book -- >> what about when the teachers' decision is not in line with the sensibilities. >> i think it happens a lot. in my home district it was a partisan school board member

manipulating concerned parents. the irony was that he was forced to resign because he was dating a minor, the demographic that was too immature. >> we'll take a pause. when we come back, is there a place for controversial books in the classroom. if so, how do you introduce them responsibly. we'll find out after the break. primetime news. >> welcome to al jazeera america. >> stories that impact the world, affect the nation and touch your life. >> i'm back. i'm not going anywhere this time. >> only on al jazeera america. real reporting that brings you the world. giving you a real global

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>> start with one issue ad guests on all sides of the debate. and a host willing to ask the tough questions and you'll get... the inside story ray suarez hosts inside story weekdays at 5pm et / 2pm pt only on al jazeera america >> we are back discussing an increasing number of books that are challenged or banned in schools. the community is tweeting. >> here is one:

>>. >> justice robert jackson said if there's one thick star in the constitutional constellation is no official shall viable what is orthodox in matters of opinion. our country operates best when people say think say what they feel. books should not be removed simply because people don't like books. >> we talked about teachers and their ability to choose what is appropriate for students.

what role do parents and communities have. >> parents are worthy and necessary. they have an important place and role. i like the comments of the viewers, that i would like to see this brought back to an intellectual discussion where we look at social science and medical science that shows associations between explicit and violent content and risk of negative income and outcomes. it would be more progressive of us to revise election policies to be in keeping with the new knowledge of neuroscience, psychology, medical science. the american academy of paediatrics, in a recent policy statement urged schools to keep pace with modern media and be

more selective in what they are choosing because of the ability to harm. >> when you say harm. what kind of harm are you talking about? >> we know that explicit content, violent content is linked to a host of negative outcomes, whether it changes beliefs, aggressive behaviour. we have a crisis with team rape. some of this material validates the lij - legitimizes that. we have young people in the school district coming forward, who have been victims of sexual assault, harassment. things like that. who had been traumatised and were shamed and silence. saying that they didn't want to read the books for the content.

i would encourage controversial content in the classroom. we have to protect against harmful content. in terms of introducing literature, is your job as a parent different? i want to mention that the study jill is citing is cited out of context. a major part calls for literacy, for letting children read the books and having conversation and using media to educate children and keem them out of harmful situations. >> it is not out of context. >> may i finish. it's allowing - i completely don't agree, to equate reading a book to feel date raped. what i will say is my role as an author is to tell the hoppest

tories i can tell, to be true to a teenager's experience. and tell stories what a teenager's world is, not what an adult would like it to be. >> and your role as a parent? >> is to know my children. i know the children in my community, hi, how are you, see them at drop off and pick up. i don't know what they are going through and what they need. i know my 9-year-old is an enormous reader and looks at all books and say, "mum, what do you think about this?" and i'll say - this is with content - it might have slavery or violence, we discuss and appropriate. >> caroline races an interesting point. jo was saying there's a difference between having a book in the library verses having it as part of the curricula in the classroom.

sometimes the complicated material need an adult to talk it through with. won't it be better to have the books as part of the curricula where an adult can guide a student through complex, heavy material and give them an opportunity to ask questions and be curious about these subjects. that is an interesting point. the only censorship occurring during a book challenge is the teachers themselves, who were not comfortable reading allowed some of the passages. >> whether it was personal discomfort. whether they felt it was inappropriate or have a host of angry parents. they chose not to discuss and read the graphic passages. the books are read in a vacuum, alone at home, without a parent or a teacher guiding them.

that's the problem. >> i'm going to get community. talking about the students. nat says: >> you are a student. one of the most challenged books it harry potter, and "tango makes three", two male penningins who raise a baby. talk about students crafting their own curriculum and having a voice in books they should or shouldn't be reading. >> that's why i probing out when

there was a censorship motion. it frustrated me that it's a debate between the administration and the community, and the students are not heard or consulted. i would encourage everyone to talk to the students and make -- >> and what about the students that don't want to read. i protect the student's right to read and the student's right not to read. there are many students, because of peer pressure and the way they are treated by the teacher, what about those students. >> dr jill, with regard to the psychology of all of this. where is the line in terms of having kids have a say in this. they are kids. >> we are talk been 17 and 18-year-olds, are they kids much we are talking about older kids. >> and 9-year-old said reading "captain underpants." >> the book jill is working hard

to ban is high school written by a nobel prize winning author. kids - i think of a 4-year-old. let's thing about 17-year-old, and whether they are ready to writers. >> i'm trying to work off a point that young people needs to have a voice. how young are we talking? >> yes should have a voice. if we want them to make critical choices and look at complex issues we need to give them the process. litter atture is a wonderful way to do it exposes people to choices. things that can be talking about. if this choice was made instead, what would have been the outcome. it is a safe place to look at some challenging issues.

and giving children the opportunity to develop the stills they node to analyse and create their own voice and make their own decision. >> we haven't determined at what point a child is capable of making decisions that are challenged or banded. everybody wants what they can't have. some groups use that constant of

>> no doubt about it, inno

>> they express themselves one piece at a time. >> words mean more than what is set down on paper. it takes the human voice to infuse them with meaning. >> that was a clip from a retailer showing customers reading from banned books. no doubt they are an attraction,

and that is something one group is banking on. >> uprise, and they gave us a great video comment. >> i'm just stanley from uprise. we encourage under privileged skills to read by enticing them with banned books. it gives us a great way to attract attention with reading skills, the same teen who couldn't care less who thinks "the catcher in the rye" may banned. >> it goes to the addage all publicity is good publicity. when books are challenged and banned, does that increase the interest among young people. have you seen that. >> "the earth, my butt and other big round things." my novel and others --

>> how do you say that without laughing? >> my 4-year-old things that too >> sorry, continue. >> it ha a hung banning in maryland. i had an email saying "we just shipped 1,000 copies in this distribute." who knows. it can have a chilling effect on the author, thinking that it's horrible to have a book ban, passages cited out of context and a book that wins a major award nod allowed in schools. it can have a bump in sales and a freezing effect on creativity. hard to know. >> what this is about, i think the big issue is not about your personal feelings, it's about the students. what we are talking about is literacy rates. >> excuse me. >> you are saying censoring books is increasing literacy

rates, and it's a good thing. >> i'm actually not saying that. sentence. >> what was that, sorry. >> to increase literacy rates, let's look at what successful states are doing. in massachusetts, if they were a country, they'd be fourth in the world with literacy. what are e -- they doing to be successful? we need to look at what is our purpose, and that is to fulfil knowledge, achievement gaps. what are the knowledge gaps. workforce are they saying they need to be attracted to more sexually explicit material. that's not what we are saying. we are saying they need critical thinking skills. well, let's look again at what massachusetts is doing. they are

promoting classic literature. this has the rich vocabulary that they need to have the skills to be successful. >> i'll be quick. let me get community. gail says: >> we have about 25 seconds left. how do you balance it all, from your perspective? >> how do we balance it all? >> yes. >> every week i get an email saying, "thank you for writing your book." i sought help for myself, i stood up for myself. i write it for people who need an honest book. >> thank you to all of my guests. thank you to the community. until next time, we'll see you online.

>> hello, and welcome to the news hour. i'm stephen cole with your top stories. syria's military objects to al-qaeda linked target in syri syria. in malawi politicians accused of stealing millions while it's people earn $1 a day. >> and i'm julie mcdonald in london with all the news from europe