Caution tape, Cafeteria Food and Banned Books = Tasty Learning

On October 2, 2008 as EHS students crowded their way into the cafeteria they found the usual lunch tables covered in "Caution" and "Warning" tape. Upon each table sat a book along with an index card. The books ranged from student favorites such as Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and James and the Giant Peach to classics like Animal Farm and Of Mice and Men.

Specific to each book, an index card on each table provided details about when, where and why the title had been challenged or banned. Students and teachers alike were astonished and surprised to discover that all of the books had been challenged or banned. Many students were angered, coming to the realization that their peers in other cities across the US had been unable to check out such titles as Dr. Suess's The Lorax or Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.

Book banning is unfortunately "alive and well in the US"; there were 420 reported attempts to remove books in 2007 according to the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom. Providing students this information about some of their favorite books at lunchtime proved a great time to get a peer discussion flowing. Sometimes it is crucial to "take the books out of the library" in order to reach high school students in a new way.