by Marilyn C. Mazur

About the author: Marilyn C. Mazur is an attorney for the National Coalition Against Censorship, an alliance of nonprofit organizations that promotes freedom of expression.

Are [photographer] Jock Sturges’ photographs of nude children on the beach child pornography? Does learning about sex or reading about homosexuality cause young people to experiment with sex in ways they otherwise wouldn’t? Should children be shielded from nudity in art and sex on the Internet? Can words like “masturbation” and “contraception” be banned from classroom discussions? Should parents always have the final say about what minors can read, see, and learn"

These are the issues at the center of many of the censorship wars in late 20th century America. In one sense, it’s part...