The Horry County School District in South Carolina has officially banned Assassination Classroom after complaints from parents.
This is not an isolated incident but part of a growing trend in which schools and districts across the United States are. is banning comic books and other books due to their content.
The Assassination Classroom series is a combination of science fiction, comedy, and action, revolving around middle school students tasked with assassinating their alien homeroom teacher before he destroys them. Earth.
Although the premise seems dark, the story focuses heavily on themes such as personal development, teamwork, and redemption. It's rated teen (T+), meaning it's not aimed at younger kids, but high school students seem to fit the target audience.
The specific complaint in this case came from Jennifer Hannigan, a mother at Socastee High School. She objected to the depiction of weapons, violence and “girls in underwear jumping on men”.
She also argued that the book discussed “ways of killing people” and suggested that it was too mature for high school minds. progress. While these concerns reflect genuine discomfort, they lack nuance regarding the actual content and context of the series.
The ban cannot be lifted until at least 2029
Hannigan's complaint led to a review of the county's Board of Review, which ultimately voted to remove the manga.
According to district policy, this decision cannot be reevaluated for five years, effectively removing the title from the system until at least 2029. The temporary removal began in October while the review process is ongoing
This isn't the first time Assassination Classroom has faced a ban. Schools in Florida and Wisconsin lifted the order earlier this year, citing similar concerns.
The broader trend of book bans not only targets comic books but also affects novels with LGBTQ+ themes and content deemed “indecent.” For example, Shō Harusono's Sasaki and Miyano, a romance series for men, was banned in Brevard County, Florida, for similar reasons.
Also read: 15 anime series banned in different parts of the world
Are manga discriminated against?
The problem is: Assassination Classroom is one of the most banned manga titles in the United States, and this reflects a worrying trend of censorship in schools.
Its story, while quirky and exaggerated, promotes critical thinking and addresses real-world issues such as bullying, academic pressure, and self-worth. Ironically, the violence Hannigan points out is largely animated rather than graphic compared to other media aimed at the same age group.
The bigger problem is that manga often faces scrutiny in ways that traditional Western books do not. Titles like The Hunger Games or 1984 have violent content but are widely taught in schools.
Meanwhile, manga, as a medium, is still fighting an uphill battle for legitimacy in the Western education system. Many decisions to ban manga stem from a superficial reading of the content, ignoring its artistic and narrative complexity.
With similar laws in Utah, Tennessee, and other states, this won't be the last we hear about this manga ban. The growing trend to limit access to books, especially in schools, raises questions about who gets to decide what is appropriate and for whom.
If you support diverse media access in education, now may be a good time to support groups that support intellectual freedom.
Source: ANN, Otaku USA Magazine
