Fri Sep 13 16:56:00 UTC 2024: ## Book Bans Threaten Future Generations: Kansas City Star Editorial
**KANSAS CITY, Mo.** — A growing trend of book bans in Missouri and Kansas is leaving students unprepared for higher education and civic engagement, according to an editorial published in The Kansas City Star. The editorial, penned by opinion editor Yvette Walker, argues that restricting access to books, including classics like “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “The Handmaid’s Tale,” is hindering students’ ability to develop critical thinking skills and engage with complex issues.
Walker points to a study that revealed a significant decline in college sophomores’ ability to comprehend and engage with longer, complex texts since the 1990s. This decline, she argues, is linked to the increasing prevalence of book bans, a trend exacerbated by the pandemic and online learning.
In Missouri, the number of challenged books has skyrocketed from 5 in 2014 to 126 in 2023. Similarly, Kansas saw a jump from just one challenged book in 2014 to 63 in 2023. The editorial highlights the absurdity of some banned books, including graphic novels, classic adaptations, and works about artists and the Holocaust.
Walker concludes by urging readers to resist further attempts to censor what children read. She stresses the importance of equipping future generations with the critical thinking skills necessary for a democratic society, skills that are nurtured through exposure to a wide range of literature, including challenging and complex texts.
First Piper 