"Whenever I hear that we should not teach people what makes them uncomfortable, it sends shivers down my spine."  I heard these words from a native German, one of the many guides I employed while I was leading a student trip to Central Europe this past spring.  We were in Berlin at the time, visiting various sites of memory, getting firsthand looks at the many ways that the nation of Germany was trying to never forget the atrocities of its past.

    Our guided had a good point.  At the moment, many people in different parts of the U.S. are seeking to ban certain books from being used in the classroom or local library or, alternately, attempting to prevent teachers from talking about anything that makes students "uncomfortable" upon hearing it.  Although I understand the wisdom of assigning or making available age appropriate texts in the classroom or community library, I also believe that, by its very nature, teaching should make people uncomfortable.  Teaching should challenge people, should jar their categories, should make them rethink their positions, should cause them to look more closely at why they believe what they believe.  While teaching can be a way of affirming or solidifying belief, it is also a way of creating conditions that allow people to consider, even change, belief.  To consider and change for the better of the student and the community in which he or she participates.

    As to book bans, well, one doesn't need to look farther than Nazi Germany to see where those can eventually land.  Discernment in material, yes, elimination of material, no:  ultimately, we're better off knowing than not.