Censorship & Privacy

Censorship & Privacy and Fair Trade & Global Economy add to an existing series about many of the most important issues of our time. The books in the “Our Values” series cover topics relating to how governments work and how society deals with many of our rights and freedoms as well as responsibilities and obligations of individuals in the community.

As each title indicates, there are two main topics in each book which allow a comparison and a contrasting of concepts in a useful juxtaposition. The ideas that are addressed are significant and complex, and part of the point is to show young people that you cannot take everything at face value and that you must think about what is behind the obvious message. Each book is connected to major curriculum requirements and contains a wealth of information. They also support more general concepts in the syllabus and connect to the other books in the series.

As nonfiction works, their language is clear and suitable for the age level. There is a glossary and index as well as either questions to encourage further thought or activities to directly involve students in the concepts.

In Censorship & Privacy, Charlie Ogden starts with censorship, which is followed by privacy and then the connections between the two are made. Most of the information would apply anywhere although there are both historical examples and some from around the world. All of this material is presented clearly, with simple language and in a way that is appropriate and understandable. These concepts have been distilled well and presented nicely. There are two world maps: the first to show how free the media are, and the second to show where privacy laws apply. These are an ideal way to visually summarize the information of the book and are very revealing.

It is vital that children learn to separate fact from the masses of information that surround us, especially that on the Internet as they use it so much. The section on “fake news” is brief and also important. No single source can give young people all of the tools that they require although this one at least gives it a good start.

It seems that both of these books are intended to fill curriculum requirements and do so admirably, if in summary form. Each provides a good introduction to a very complex and important topic. Good additions to any classroom or school library.