Children's Books discussion
Banned Books: discussions, lists
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Discussion of censorship, equity, and other concerns.
Iowa - Alta Community Library may have to remove from its shelves books that mention sex and LGBTQ topics because of a new state law that restricts those topics from being discussed in schools. The Alta library is one of eight libraries in the state that are shared by a school district and city residents. The library and the Alta-Aurelia Community School District are navigating the new restrictions stemming from SF 496, which bans all material that depicts sexual content and mentions of gender identity (for students up to sixth grade).
Those topics are banned in school libraries.
But they’re not banned in the city library. The Alta Library Board believes it’s a parent’s responsibility to police what their child reads, its director says. Censoring or removing material isn’t a consideration.
Alta Library Director Tirzah Price said the library has an obligation to ensure open access to literature that some legislators find objectionable.
“The school wants to make sure that they are following the law,” Price said in an interview on Wednesday. “We also want to make sure that we are ensuring open and equal access to all of the members of our communities, and so we’re just trying to navigate how we can do that.”
Later this month, Price and Alta-Aurelia Supt. Denny Olhausen are expected to discuss their plan for the upcoming school year, which begins July 1. Olhausen was unavailable to comment on what materials would be removed.
It is still unclear which books in the shared library are banned. It is also unclear if the books can be moved to another section or if they have to be completely removed from the library. It’s also unclear whether high schoolers can access the material depicting sex — they can access material mentioning LGBTQ. Religious material that mentions sex or sexual orientation is the only exception.
Alta’s elected state legislators voted for the law. Sen. Lynn Evans, the former superintendent of Alta-Aurelia, said the matter should be discussed only between students and their parents. Evans voted for the bill.
Price said she wants to work out a solution that will maximize the public’s access and ensure the school district complies with SF 496. The district and the city are operating the library under a 20-year sharing agreement both parties want to continue. When the bill was drafted and passed, legislators were not thinking of the handful of public libraries that also serve schools, Price claimed.
Price intends to hold firm on maintaining open access, even for high schoolers, who she believes have legitimate reasons for reading literature that could contain sexual content.
https://www.stormlake.com/articles/al...
More from South Carolina:A number of childrens books that some residents in York county deem inappropriate will stay where they are in public libraries. This coming from a statement by the York County Library. The board met Thursday to hear appeals of Linda Fisher of Rock Hill, who along with others have asked the library to move certain books to the adult section. Outside the library, over 70 people showed up with signs on both sides of the issues…The York County Library said they will keep the books where they are and that as a public library they do not serve the same role as School Libraries when it comes to the education of children…The York County library says it’s the responsibility of the parent, not the community, to decide what they want their children to read or to have access to take home.
https://www.wrhi.com/2023/06/york-cou...
More good news from Maine- A proposed rating system for books in Maine schools has been shot down by House Democrats in Augusta, according to the Press Herald.
The bill would have established a rating system in school libraries in response to repeated challenges over books some parents believe are age inappropriate.
https://wgme.com/news/local/house-vot...
After LGBTQ+ content was censored from social studies curriculum, Temecula Valley school board fires superintendent as teachers protest over curriculum banhttps://abc7.com/temecula-valley-unif...
In spite of anti-censorship factions winning in South Carolina, the conservative censors are determined to push through their ideology in one of those "parental rights" bills. (Which, by the way, is NOT on the agenda at the Rhode Island State House).https://wpde.com/news/local/sc-bill-w...
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So what happens not if but rather when students are discussing sexuality related topics and gossiping at school?
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So now, in British Columbia, if you are a nine year old girl with short hair and are doing shot put at school, some bigoted and stupid moron will yell at you and demand to see a certificate about being a "born" a girl. Glad the individual has been named that Josef Tesar and his are being soundly and massively shamed (and that the police are also involved).
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Major kudos to Mount Allison University of Sackville, New Brunswick, and to say that I am totally PROUD of being a Mount A alumnus is an understatement.
Manybooks wrote: "https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/britis...So now, in British Columbia, if you are a nine year old girl with short hair and are doing shot pu..."
Wow! That is horrific! How traumatizing and embarrassing for the child. Jealous granddad in action? Oldest niece is cisgender and wears her hair short. Now she's a teenager but when she was younger she was pretty androgynous. She would have been incredibly hurt by this man's insensitivity. He ruined that little girl's fun experience doing something she obviously enjoyed. I bet she doesn't do it again. She'll feel more pressure to look a certain way and do certain activities if bigots like that are allowed to get away with it.
He should be banned from the school premises and all future meets AND charged with a hate crime.
Back to the booksAn opinion piece from the Washington Post
The Complete Maus
As more schools target ‘Maus,’ Art Spiegelman’s fears are deepening
A new fracas involving a school board in Missouri will test this premise. The controversy revolves around Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel about the Holocaust, and it indicates that those seeking to censor books seem oddly unconstrained by the principle that they are supposed to avoid restricting important, challenging historical material.
“It’s a real warning sign of a country that’s yearning for a return of authoritarianism,” Spiegelman said.
The board in Nixa, a small city south of Springfield, will debate the fate of “Maus” this month. The Springfield News-Leader reports that board employees flagged it in a review in keeping with a Missouri law making it illegal to provide minors with sexually explicit material.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...
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So now, in British Columbia, if you are a nine year old girl with short hair and..."
Yes, banned from school premises with extreme prejudice (not just him but also his wife, as she was seemingly with him and did nothing to stop him). Notice how he keeps backtracking but still insists that a "certificate" was necessary (and yes, Josef Tesar should be facing criminal charges).
Good news in Ludlow, Mass. (My dad says that's out west near Springfield and we almost moved out there!)School officials in Ludlow declined to take up a controversial book policy for a vote.
At a crucial moment during Tuesday night’s meeting, the member who introduced the policy was met with silence after he made a motion to vote. Without a second member in support of a vote, the policy will not be adopted and is effectively scrapped for now.
The policy, introduced by member Joao Dias, aimed at giving the School Committee final approval for what books appear on the shelves of the school district’s libraries. Currently, the school district’s superintendent makes the final decision on what books are purchased, a common practice across the state.
An attempt to table a vote on Tuesday failed after Ron Saloio, a supporter of Dias’s library proposal, suggested the committee take more time to study the policy. Three members voted against the motion to table a vote and, ultimately, Dias’s motion to vote on the actual policy failed to garner a second member to support it — a necessary step that effectively killed the proposal.
Chairman Jeffery Laing, the member who sets the agenda, stated he would not be interested in revisiting the proposal during his tenure as head of the board and stated the current policy will remain in place.
“Our community has been through enough with this library proposal,” Laing wrote in a statement. “I am asking the parents to exercise the current ‘Parents Rights’ library policy that they fought for just a few years back.”
https://www.masslive.com/education/20...
Hanover County, Virginia went and banned 17 books and updated their library policy."The Hanover County School Board passed a new book ban policy, granting itself full discretion to decide whether or not to remove certain books from school libraries. Board members approved the new school library policy in a 5-2 vote during Tuesday night's meeting.
The new library materials policy — which has been known as a “book ban” policy throughout the community — replaces the school district’s existing five-point policy for what books are allowed to be in classrooms and school libraries, and instead replaces it with a 10-page list of requirements for how books will be added to or removed from schools.
Under the new policy, a parent or guardian of a student, a school employee or any Hanover County resident can file a challenge over material that is in a school library or classroom.
Books challenges would first be viewed on a school level before potentially being moved to a newly created “Library Materials Committee” and then to the school board.
The policy states that “materials may be removed if they are determined not to be age appropriate for the intended audience [obscene or vulgar, etc.- The policy does not contain definitions.]
Under the proposed policy, the day-to-day work for researching and approving books is placed on individual school staff. School staff are also the first step for removing books from a school.
Under new changes to the proposal, librarians will no longer be able to seek help or input from teachers or other librarians when deciding if books are appropriate for their library. Instead, approval of all books in school libraries must receive approval from the school principal.
Likewise, classroom teachers will now be required to provide their school principal with a constantly updated list of all books and magazines located in their classroom library.
If a book is challenged in an individual school, the principal will also be responsible for appointing and overseeing approval committee of administrators, teachers, librarians and community members to review the challenge.
One of the biggest changes to the proposed policy is the creation of the “Library Materials Committee.” According to the policy, the Library Materials Committee — or just LMC — would consist of one Hanover County resident from each of the seven magisterial districts, as well as the Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Leadership, who will serve nonvoting member.
The Library Materials Committee’s primary responsibly appears to be reviewing book appeals that have already been completed by individual schools.
The members of this committee will be appointed by the School Board and while they serve for one-year terms, they will not have no term limits. It is not clear when this committed will be appointed.
While the new policy does require the involvement of librarians, teachers, principals and communities members to work, ultimately, the school board has the final say in what books will be on library and classroom shelves in Hanover schools.
Not only does the new policy give the Hanover School Board final say in whether or not to remove a book during an appeals process, but the board can also add or removes books from schools without input from parents, teachers or any other authority.
The board unanimously voted to remove 19 books at last night’s meeting. Here are the books that were banned unanimously:
YA books + adult books
A Court of Mist and Fury
A Court of Silver Flames
All Boys Aren’t Blue
Choke
Flamer
Haunted
Identical
Let’s Talk About It
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Red Hood
This Book is Gay
Sold
Tilt
Tricks
Infandous
Previously, the board received a list from an unnamed organization that proposed removing over 100 books from schools for reasons ranging from mention of “alternative sexuality” to “nudity” and “sexual assault.” Eighteen of the 19 now-removed books appeared on this list. It is not clear if the school board elected to remove these 19 books because of the list, or if the school will seek to remove any other books on this list in the future.
https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/...
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An opinion piece from the Washington Post
The Complete Maus
As more schools target ‘Maus,’ Art Spiegelman’s fears are deepening
A new fracas involving a school boa..."
I cannot believe that with the moves to ban Maus, Anne Frank's Diary, the fact that some jurisdictions actually want Holocaust Denial being taught at school, why there would be ANYONE who is Jewish (or of any ethnic diversity) even considering voting Republican and for monsters like Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis and company flabbergasts me totally.
Manybooks wrote: "Yes, banned from school premises with extreme prejudice (not just him but also his wife, as she was seemingly with him and did nothing to stop him). Notice how he keeps backtracking but still insists that a "certificate" was necessary (and yes, Josef Tesar should be facing criminal charges."And at 9 years old, boys and girls are pretty much identical with girls actually having the advantage because they're growing and maturing! My nephew is 10 and looks like a girl! I already warned him that next year the girls will be bigger than him. So if this child WAS a trans boy, she would still be at a disadvantage so what does it matter? Shouldn't we be teaching kids to stop this boys vs. girls nonsense anyway? Teach kids to love and accept one another for who they are and let bigots like Mr. Tesar rot in jail for harassing a child.
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I agree, but let's face it, bigoted monsters like Josef Tesar sadly have a lot of support, and many of their supporters claim they are actually "protecting" children and so-called morality.
Not such great news coming from politicians but librarians, teachers and students are fighting back."An Ohio bill would direct a task force to create K-12 academic standards in social studies, with a specific model mention in the bill, called the “American Birthright.” The model, developed by a Trump-aligned, right-wing group called The Civics Alliance, promotes patriotism and Christian history in America, while seeking to prevent the “subornation of civics education to political recruitment tools,” according to documents on the model.
Bill sponsor state Rep. Don Jones, R-Freeport, listed as an American Birthright policymaker in the model documents, said the Civics Alliance doesn’t provide a specific curriculum along with its model.
The model, and the bill itself, has been criticized by the American Historical Association as unnecessary and focused on the wrong group creating social studies standards. The group said that unlike when the standards are developed by the state agencies and education experts, this model would “hobble” students.
...
The curriculum itself, however, wouldn’t be up to the state, Jones said.
“That’s going to be up to the local school boards to decide that curriculum that meets those standards,” Jones said. “This isn’t a pre-packaged deal that we’re trying to ram through.”The curriculum itself, however, wouldn’t be up to the state, Jones said.
Democrats are promoting a different social studies bill, House Bill 171, which would require the Ohio State Board of Education to update the state social studies standards to include “age and grade-appropriate instruction in the migration journeys, experiences and societal contributions of a range of communities in Ohio and the United States.”
That bill was referred to House Primary and Secondary Education at the end of May, and has yet to receive a hearing."
https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/0...
As if going after social studies wasn't enough, Florida is now targeting AP psychology, without the result they hoped for."Florida Schools Question Content on Gender and Sexuality in A.P. Psychology
Several Florida school districts had raised concerns about the A.P. Psychology course, noting that its content may violate new state laws limiting how issues of gender and sexuality are taught. The class has existed for decades and is among the country’s most popular A.P. courses, along with English and U.S. History. This year, more than 28,000 Florida students took the A.P. Psychology exam.
The College Board, which runs the A.P. program and the SAT, said on Thursday that gender and sexual orientation were foundational to the college-level study of psychology, and that it would not remove such content.
A.P. Psychology includes a unit on “gender and sexual orientation,” which asks students to “describe how sex and gender influence socialization and other aspects of development.”
In its Thursday statement, the board said: “We don’t know if the state of Florida will ban this course. To A.P. teachers in Florida, we are heartbroken by the possibility of Florida students being denied the opportunity to participate in this or any other A.P. course.”
The American Psychological Association said on Thursday that it supported the board’s decision not to change the course’s content."
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/15/us...
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law a bill that bans explicit (view spoiler) books from schools.House Bill 900, the “parent empowerment” bill, is now the codified READER Act — Restricting Explicit and Adult-Designated Educational Resources Act — the law means that school librarians have to follow new standards when it comes to purchasing materials for their library.
The new READER Act has two main components, both of which must be in place and ready to go January 1, 2024:
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission will now be creating a manual to outline materials standards, and it will need to be approved by the State Board of Education. While the Texas State Library and Archives Commission is comprised primarily of library and information professionals, their need to report to the State Board of Education is of significant concern. The Board is appointed by the governor, giving the governor influence in whether or not the manual defines appropriate and inappropriate materials to his liking.
The READER Act also mandates that book vendors rate the content of the books they sell and compile it into a document for review by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). TEA then has the ability to create a “do not buy” list from vendors who do not comply or meet the standards outlined by the READER Act. TEA has been complicit and encouraging of book bans across the state by “encouraging” parents to give input into what books they believe are not appropriate for students to access. TEA’s guidelines for materials put school board members in charge of deciding collections, not the librarians or educators in the schools. The Commissioner of Education is appointed by the governor, giving the governor powerful influence in the TEA.
In effect, Governor Greg Abbott just gave himself license to decide which books can be purchased for collections and from whom.
Schools will be responsible for biannual audits of their materials and submit their reports to the state starting in 2025.
There are not explanations for what counts for “sexually explicit,” nor are there guidelines for what materials would or would not be deemed appropriate for minors. This is being left up to the state agencies above to figure out, and indeed, take input from the governor.
The READER Act is a work from Representative Jared Patterson and Senator Angela Paxton. Patterson has been notorious pro-censorship, helped his campaign to ban books from schools and libraries with a letter to school superintendents signed by dozens of other state Republican lawmakers. The letter asked them not to purchase any material from vendors who sell Gender Queer, which would in effect make purchasing any book in the state impossible.
More is to come from Abbott as this legislative session wraps up, including his plans to open up state educatioaal funding to a voucher program. This would allow anyone to send their children to private schools. The same kind of private schools offering a so-called Christian education in the vein of the Institute of Biblical Life Principles. Public funds would further fuel these schools of indoctrination as parents drop complaints in the name of “parental rights” at schools then scoop up taxpayer money to send their kids to schools that teach the “facts” they want their children to learn.
https://bookriot.com/texas-readers-act/
Tensions rise during LGBTQ+ book ban discussion at Rio Rancho, New Mexico LibraryOne member of a conservative group known as Mass Resistance was seen speaking out for the book bans.
"He was the only person that spoke to ban books. My concern is that this group and that individual, specifically, has threatened librarians, has threatened our system for that," said Rep. Cates.
According to the website of Mass Resistance, the group identifies itself as an organization that promotes pro-family activism. (anti-LGBTQ+ books)
Rep. Cates feels like they're overstepping their boundaries on how parents should parent their kids and even points to the current policies in place by the library.
"We have a system in place where you can add or ask to remove books. There is already a system in place where if you're under 18, there is identification and parent notification, parent approval, and checking out books," said Rep. Cates.
Mass Resistance issued this statement:
"New Mexico MassResistance is not seeking to ban books, but ban pornography. Obscene materials depicting explicit sexual acts should not be available to children in public libraries and schools.
"New Mexico MassResistance activists have never disrupted any public meeting, but LGBT activists have harassed and bullied our members."
https://www.koat.com/article/amazon-w...
In VirginiaSchool districts struggle to implement new laws on sexually explicit books
"Although a new Virginia law requires schools to inform parents when sexually explicit materials are used in the classroom, some districts are using that law as the basis to go further and remove certain books from schools altogether.
Book ban requests across the state often have cited the Virginia law, which was signed last year by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The law requires schools to ensure parents are notified of any instructional material that includes sexually explicit content and allows them to request alternative materials for their children.
But Virginia Republican state Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, who introduced the bill last year, said the law was never intended to be a pretext for book bans in school libraries and on classroom shelves.
“This is not about books,” Dunnavant said. “This is not about censoring. This is about collaboration and what’s in the best interest of a child. And so, I was sorry to hear … that in some cases someone is using this bill in the wrong way.”
But some Virginia school boards, like that of Hanover County Public Schools, are still nailing down the specifics of their own policies amid calls for bans while others ban books at the say-so of one parent.
https://www.virginiamercury.com/2023/...
A Black teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina is suing the charter school he used to work at after he claims he was fired after parents allegedly complained about him teaching a fictional book involving a racially profiled Black teen Dear Martin.Markayle Gray, a former English teacher at Charlotte Secondary School, claims in a civil lawsuit that was filed on Wednesday that he was terminated from his position as a 7th and 8th-grade teacher on Feb. 2 following backlash from parents over his teaching of the 2017 young adult novel "Dear Martin."
Gray contends that he got permission from the school to teach the book, however in January white parents complained about that book claiming it "was divisive and injected what they regarded as unwelcome political views on systemic racial inequality into their children's classroom," according to the lawsuit.
"Dear Martin" has been banned in other school districts, including one in Augusta, Georgia, over similar complaints.
Davis claimed that ahead of Black History Month, Gray had a "very intentional conversation" with principal Keisha Rock about what would be an "appropriate curriculum" and that she "specifically said to Mr. Gray that ["Dear Martin"] would be a good book to teach."
Davis said that Gray assigned the book for students to read in January and intended to include it in his lessons during Black History Month in February.
School denies it but won't specify why the teacher was terminated.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/black-teach...
In contrast to that bigot Vicki whatshername, another Florida high school English teacher makes a stand over book bans, erasure of LGBTQ+ studentsAt Southeast High, her older child asked her to sponsor a Rainbow Alliance, and she felt honored to craft a space for LGBTQ+ students.
She had always tried to conform. But her kids — they were completely themselves.
She taught English to juniors, in the regular curriculum and the International Baccalaureate program — about 150 students each year, most minorities, and all eligible for free lunch.
Many didn’t have parents. Others already were parents.
She loved showing them how literature can transform the way they see the world — and themselves. She didn’t mind the long hours, taking papers home to grade, worrying about her kids all weekend.
After school, her classroom was always crowded. Students came for help with homework, for advice, to confide in her.
“I have two children,” she told everyone. “But more than 1,000 kiddos.”
Many called her “Mom.” So did the young teachers she mentored.
“Everyone feels safe with her,” said Melissa Garanton, who taught English across the hall.
On Wednesdays, dozens of Rainbow Alliance members came to watch movies, talk about their feelings and families. They made stickers that said, “Coexist.” Passed out rubber rainbow wristbands.
Every year, at least five students came out to her.
Some wanted to rehearse how to tell their parents. Others wanted to introduce different names or pronouns. Most just wanted someone to accept them.
When classes started in August, Ms. Felton told her LGBTQ+ club that they could no longer confide in her. She could be forced to share their secrets.
In October, the Rainbow Alliance dissolved.
Everyone was afraid to come to the meetings.
....
Books about young Black and brown people, texts where her students could see and celebrate themselves. She had more than 900 books in her classroom but no list of what could stay. Teaching a forbidden book was a third-degree felony.
“No cop is going to want to enforce that,” her husband told her.
But it wasn’t worth risking five years in jail.
Over the holiday break, Ms. Felton got a tattoo on her right forearm, a black feather with the words: “Sometimes there is nothing you can do.”
When she went back to school in January, she brought empty boxes and started trying to figure out which novels could get her arrested.
“Just keep the books,” her students kept saying. “We won’t rat you out.”
“How much protection do we need?” one boy asked.
Another wanted to know, “Why do they want us to be ignorant?”
She had always seen her job as preparing kids for the world, not protecting them from it.
In February, Ms. Felton started wearing T-shirts with rainbows and banned books, a different symbol of dissent every day.
Her students carried boxes of books to her car.
In the back of the classroom, they caught her crying beside the empty shelves.
...
Then came the problem with pronouns. Both of Ms. Felton’s children use “they,” and so do some of her students. The Legislature decided to regulate pronouns in classrooms — and told teachers they could be fired for using “a pronoun that does not correspond” to someone’s assigned sex at birth.
Ms. Felton couldn’t hurt her children like that. She had supported her older child when they changed their name to Indigo, and she had understood when they wanted to go to Minneapolis for college, to become a comic book artist. “Florida no longer felt safe,” Indigo, 21, told their mom.
Her younger child, Emma, 18, has extreme anxiety and prefers being at home. But they had gotten into New College and had arranged to have a dorm room — and roommate — in the fall. “They were so excited to go, which was enormous,” Ms. Felton said.
Then the governor fired the college president, appointed a new slate of trustees and proclaimed an end of “wokeness” at the state’s most liberal public school.
“I’m done,” Emma told their mom. “I would not be welcome there.”
Instead of going to college, Emma wants to learn how to train guide dogs.
“The governor’s policies are messing with my whole d*** family,” Ms. Felton said. “He’s making us feel like our kids are less worthy of respect.”
Then, in April, Florida broadly expanded its rules against teaching students about gender identity and sexual orientation to include middle and high schoolers — just like Ms. Felton knew would happen.
How can you teach teenagers literature, she agonized, if you can’t talk about race, gender or sexual identity?
How do you convince people who are being silenced that their voices still matter?
How can you manage a classroom when every day you fear getting fired or arrested?
The pay, too, bothered her. She calculated she was making about $24 an hour.
She started gaining weight. Couldn’t sleep. By spring, she was taking antidepressants. Her doctor asked, “Have you considered another profession?”
One week Ms. Felton had a panic attack in class, and the school nurse had to wheel her to an ambulance. The next week, her blood pressure spiked so high she had to go to urgent care.
She had planned to keep teaching for another five, even 10 years. She loved her principal, colleagues, all the students. “Even the ones who made me crazy.”
But now, she knew she had to leave.
“I can’t do this anymore,” she told her husband. “I just can’t.”
By May, 10 of the 100 teachers at her school had decided not to come back. Ms. Felton downloaded an app, to count down the days.
She waited until exams were over to tell her students. Some bawled. Many understood.
“You should never be forced to be someone you’re not,” Ms. Felton told them. “If you feel strongly enough about something, you should speak up.”
{She spoke up at a recent school board meeting]
She told the board she’s worried so many of her colleagues are quitting. “There is nothing the district can do to keep teachers,” she said. “As fast as you hire new staff, the seasoned ones will walk away. This needs to change.”
She spoke slowly, with perfect diction, looked directly at each of the three men and three women on the dais.
Some blinked. Two stared at their laps.
“It will take true leadership at the state level and a change in the culture of hate and division that has permeated Florida and this country,” she said. She stopped, glanced down at her paper, then back up at the board, as she listed the reasons she couldn’t stay.
“And finally, the attempts to erase LGBTQ …” her voice caught. “The attempts to erase LGBTQ kids and adults — including my own children — from our schools and communities.”
...
No one clapped. No one thanked her or even looked at her.
Ms. Felton, for the record, said she isn’t giving up.
She wants to take time to read the box of notes her students wrote to her over the years, especially these last hard months. To remind herself why she became a teacher, and that she did make a difference.
She plans to become an advocate, to fight harder for LGBTQ+ rights — for her kids and Florida’s future.
Now that she doesn’t have to watch what she says, she can finally say what she thinks.
https://www.tampabay.com/narratives/2...
Hoboken, New Jersey's Banned Book event going on as scheduled in spite of controversy.Hoboken library’s ‘banned book’ event still happening this weekend despite controversy
Jun 15, 2023, 8:32amUpdated 9h ago
By: Ali Reid and Lanette Espy
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Hoboken Public Library’s “banned books read-a-thon” event is still set to happen this weekend even though it received backlash on social media.
Saturday's event at Church Square Park will include different people reading books that have been banned in certain libraries across the region.
A number of the banned books will be read, and adults will be able to win books through a raffle after the event.
The library will kick off the event with a Drag Queen Story Hour that will feature Harmonica Sunbeam. They say Harmonica will read stories and sing several songs.
Mayor Bhalla says he will read at the event Saturday along with others who will read age-appropriate books. The board president also stated the books that will be read will not include any instances of s__ acts.
Hoboken library’s “banned books read-a-thon” event is set for 11 a.m.
https://newjersey.news12.com/hoboken-...
Anybody near Fort Wayne? The Fort Wayne, Indiana Urban League is handing out banned books for free to local youth.It’s part of the “Freedom to Learn” campaign. Together with the National Urban League, the branch in Fort Wayne has a goal to pass out at least 500 books that have been banned in schools.
“Access to truthful history, diverse books and critical ideas for students and educators are crucial to the nation’s history as a multicultural democracy,” FWUL said in the release.
The first 100 books will be passed out at McMillen Park during the Juneteenth Macknificent Freedom Fest on Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The League said books will also be available at the following times:
Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the FWUL office; 2135 S. Hanna Street as
inventory allows.
Provided to FWUL STEM Camp participants July 10 – July 20.
Provided during FWUL tutoring sessions with local youth.
Provided during free reading hours (to be determined).
The organization hopes to surpass the goal of providing 500 books.
You can support the campaign, and the League as a whole, through donations
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
The Bluest Eye
etc.
Upsetting news in rural North Idaho community librariesWith a new chair, rural North Idaho’s Community Library Network is now in the hands of a far-right majority
After seating two new members and electing a new chair Thursday morning, control of the Community Library Network in North Idaho has shifted to a new a majority with plans to restrict books from children.
The Community Library Network serves seven libraries in Kootenai County outside of Coeur d’Alene, and part of Shoshone County.
A message on the website now reads: “Due to an upcoming change of board members in the Community Library Network, the "explicit" [quotes mine] books for minors found in our local libraries will likely be reclassifed to Adult. Due to those pending changes, this site will be down while revisions are made.”
Since December 2021, the library network has received 13 forms from citizens requesting certain library materials be reconsidered, executive director Alexa Eccles said. One item, a children’s book about racial injustice called “Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story About Racial Injustice was appealed to the board in May. The board determined to keep the book classified in the juvenile fiction collection.
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/202...
Along with banning books for youth, Texas is limiting direct communication between students and lawmakers. Students are naturally upset and pushing back. (Dear lawmakers: These kids will be voting you out of office very, very soon!)The latest move by Texas politicians is hidden in plain sight under an existing 2021 ban that targets the teaching of “inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive” groups. The law, HB 3979, also prohibits schools and teachers from requiring or awarding credit for “direct communication” between students and their local, state, or federal politicians.
States across the country have implemented a series of highly restrictive education laws in recent years, but Texas is the first state to pass legislation banning students from communicating with elected officials. The bill prohibits requiring or giving class credit for “[p]olitical activism, lobbying, or efforts to persuade members of the legislative or executive branch at the federal, state, or local level to take specific actions by direct communication.” Texas students say the law changes how young people engage in civics in school and how they view it outside of the educational setting.
Many teens across Texas feel their opinions are rarely represented. With laws like HB 3979, some fear their perspectives will be disregarded entirely.
“If these politicians don’t hear what the students feel, they’re gonna pass laws that influence our lives so greatly without even having our voice be represented,” said Katie Chou, a high schooler at Plano West Senior High School in Dallas.
Texas is one of 38 states that mandates a civics course, but some students say that the new law prevents students from engaging in the Democratic process.
“It’s really a form of oppression and a form of trying to control us … When they’re trying to stifle what we’re trying to say, it’s a clear message to me that they don’t want us engaging in that sort of democratic process,” said Woodlands, Texas, high schooler Kendall Cooper.
Some students are also worried they will lose touch with lawmakers altogether as a result of the ban.
[The feeling from students is they know lawmakers want to prevent youth activism since] High schoolers have historically led influential social justice efforts that wouldn’t be possible without interactions with elected officials.
Several Texas teens have led lobbying and organizing efforts for state legislation. But HB 3979 is likely to change how these actions take place in the future, if they do at all.
Freelance journalist, high school student and activist writes about the about the issue for Prism.
https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2023/...
https://prismreports.org/2023/05/26/t...
Aesop’s Queer Library Returns, Spotlights Banned Books by LGBTQ AuthorsThe activation will take over stores in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto from June 20 to 25.
Aesop is bringing back Queer Library for Pride Month — this time, with a mission to combat book bans and classroom censorship bills.
The initiative will take over three Aesop outposts in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto from June 20 to 25, allowing visitors to to browse and take home books by LGBTQ authors, which have been banned or challenged across North America, free of charge.
“It’s important that people have access to representation — not just so they can see themselves in these stories, but also because education ultimately creates empathy and understanding,” said Catherine O’Dea, general manager of global sustainability and growth at Aesop.
This year, Aesop purchased more than 1,200 banned or challenged books from independent, queer-owned bookstores for Queer Library, which will also offer visitors a selection of titles donated by Penguin Random House.
“We want to amplify storytelling and create meaningful moments that can transcend what you’d expect a beauty or skin care brand to do; it’s a meeting of the moment,” O’Dea said.
To further this mission, The Aesop Foundation has pledged $100,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation to support the fight for freedom of speech.
“Person by person and story by story, we hope to create a powerful and meaningful movement,” O’Dea said.
In previous years, Queer Library has focused on works by Black, indigenous and people of color authors and transgender authors, who are also facing mounting legislation that could impact access to health care, student athletics, the military and more.
https://wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/...
Mod
Just wait for Texas, Florida and other such states to round up "undesirable" students (and most definitely those against book banning and vocal about it) and out them into re-education (concentration) camps.
I'm pretty sure rounding up politically active "woke" students is illegal and the ACLU would fight it. However, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (which is sadly coming true), Professor Umbridge banned student clubs and anything that wasn't Ministry approved. I can see that happening in real life. The right-wing extremist governors of these states seem to be taking cues from Dolores Umbridge and if they weren't hysterical about the use of the word "witch", they could you know read the books and find out what happens to her and the Cornelius Fudge ministry! See also Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two for the dystopian reality in which many people live. (Anyone have another illegal time turner to fix things?)
Again in South Carolina, SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – Community members are concerned about what kids should or should not read. Many spoke out at Thursday night’s board of trustees meeting for the Spartanburg County Libraries.Several books were brought up, all LGBTQ+ literature. Some argued books like these are needed, while others said it’s sending an inappropriate message to children.
The public comment portion of the meeting was filled with differing opinions.
“When it comes to the books we’re hearing from folks in the board meetings, it’s clearly gender related, LGBT, in that vein,” said Todd Stephens, Spartanburg County librarian.
Queer Heroes: Meet 53 LGBTQ Heroes From Past and Present!
Pride (author?)
Stephens, said the correct course of action when someone has a complaint, is to fill out a form. Then the book in question will be reviewed by library staff members to see if the concerns are realistic.
“You’re either going to keep it, you’re going to move or it’s bad information, it’s confusing information, dated information. Then, we will remove it,” he said.
Stephens said the last book removed was two weeks ago, about autism. He said someone had concerns about misinformation and the library realized the book was out of date.
If someone does submit a form, Stephens said they will not know the outcome of the request. He said the library is working on a policy where people will be notified.
https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news/...
Mod
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/britis...
More fighting over LGBTQ+ books in schools - on Long Island of all places. However, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic was intended for adults and it is graphic but obviously the librarian felt their students would want to read it.
"The school superintendent issued a statement, saying in part, "a district committee convenes to review the book in question. The committee then makes a recommendation to the superintendent regarding that book's placement in the library."
"The Wantagh Union Free School District did not give a timetable for a decision on the fate of the book."
https://longisland.news12.com/battle-...
Really, DeSantis has gone too far (he reportedly suggested Confederate history be honored instead of Black history- um what?????!!!) and Floridians are fighting back. A new group, "Woke and Ready" (WAR) takes stand against Florida book bans"Under the leadership of Palm Beach County Black Caucus President Richard Ryles, the group came together in what it's calling an act of civil disobedience, standing against book bans, the so-called "Stop Woke Act" and what they feel is an attack on African American history and education.
"Our protest is to stop the limitless opportunity for the removal of books," Ryles said. "We believe the Legislature and these laws legislate untruth and unequal education and is written to center whiteness over Black and other marginalized groups.
They presented a list of classic books like "The Great Gatsby," "The Canterbury Tales," Shakespeare and more and said those books should all be removed if others are going to be restricted.
"They may not even mention race, but even the lack of any racial characters in those works shows there is a neglect of Black children," Leah Gaines with the Coalition for Black Student Achievement said of the books.
"The importance of this is to show how ridiculous the banning of books is and that a whole full-rounded education is necessary for all of our children," Lynn Hubbard with the NAACP added.
https://www.wptv.com/news/education/p...
Mod
Fine, if I were a teacher in Florida, I would teach Confederate History as akin to National Socialism and would equate ALL the Confederate generals with individuals like Adolf Hitler and company.
Manybooks wrote: "Fine, if I were a teacher in Florida, I would teach Confederate History as akin to National Socialism and would equate ALL the Confederate generals with individuals like Adolf Hitler and company.."
It's not quite the same thing nor is it simplistic. I studied the Civil War in 8th grade and in college. It's complicated and I think Confederate history should be taught as part of the Civil War but not INSTEAD OF Black history. It should also not be glorified like it was in the post-Reconstruction Era and for heaven's sake people, the South will not "rise again" and Gone With the Wind is the worst perpetrator of myths about the old South. They should also teach how the Union was not such a good guy! Not one of the soldiers' letters I've read mentioned freeing the slaves and many Union Generals were just as bad as Confederates.
True history, people, not myths and lies!
Crossing Ebenezer Creek should be required fiction reading for students AND teachers.
Tonya Bolden has a lot of great novels I suppose are not allowed in Florida schools but should be required reading. Students and teachers could learn a lot. She has some non-fiction books to supplement the novels too.
Mod
Fine, if I were a teacher in Florida, I would teach Confederate History as akin to National Socialism and would equate ALL the Confederate generals with individuals like Adolf Hi..."
In history and in particular regarding warfare there are hardly ever just good guys and bad guys. And frankly, warfare should never be glorified.
Mod
There is a German saying that babies are not born bigoted, that children learn how to be nasty and bigoted from their parents, from adults and "adult" culture, and with regard to gender issues, that is unfortunately so so so true.
Politicians are drunk on power and catering to their suburban fundamentalist Christian constituents will get them reelected again and again. It's only a small vocal minority that want book banned. My mom said when your children are born, you have expectations, hopes and dreams and when that child is not who you thought they were, you go through a mourning period. I'm not so sure that's universally true though. I wouldn't bat an eyelash if nephew #2 eventually comes out as non-binary or trans. He identifies as a boy but he's not a typical "all boy" boy. My mom thinks my brother and SIL would be sad but supportive. My dad would be devastated though. He doesn't understand gender is a social construct and it's fluid. He would love his grandchild but be disappointed he didn't have a GrandSON.
Today's news is brought to you from Miami in the aftermath of banning Amanda Gorman's poetry.Amanda Gorman
American poet and activist
After a controversial decision by a Miami Lakes public school to bar elementary students from reading three books and the poem read at President Biden’s inauguration, the Miami-Dade School Board wants to require schools to alert board members and district staff when a complaint results in the reassignment or removal of a title.
In many districts, including Miami-Dade, when a book or title is challenged, only a school-level review committee is required to determine whether a book should remain on shelves. It does not require objections or decisions be known to district-level staff or board members.
The proposal, brought by board member Steve Gallon III, seeks to change that. The updates, according to Gallon, would improve transparency around certain decisions.
“As a board member, I was somewhat miffed to learn about an issue through the media that created a public firestorm and a national embarrassment and debacle,” Gallon said at a school board committee meeting Wednesday. “Are we still wading in the waters of ambiguity and allowing a Pandora’s Box to continue to open without us as a board taking some action regarding this issue?”
...
Many board members reiterated that no one made a mistake, staff followed district policy and that the proposed revisions to the policy weren’t meant to lambaste district employees for the decisions that led to the public outcry. Rather, they said, they wanted to improve transparency and communication within the district.
The proposal also requires the district to provide “related training” to staff who address title challenges, such as a rubric or guideline when determining if a title is appropriate. Those policy provisions, Gallon argued, were not implemented properly, and he referenced the “woefully deficient” form and the confusion surrounding what is considered appropriate.
“This whole issue of age appropriateness, are we talking about readability, are we talking about understanding, are we talking about content? What are we talking about?,” Gallon asked fellow board members.
https://news.yahoo.com/school-bars-el...
From New York MagazineWhat the Right-Wing's Censors Really Want
They all dream of the same world, a place without progress or challenge.
They want children who act like robots who can be programmed to perform a specific routine. The right-wing push to hide inconvenient realities from students could have real and lasting consequences. Without an education, it may be difficult to discern truth from fiction. Propaganda can thrive and obscure facts like the reality of systemic racism.
The right seeks to erase reality where it can. It derives comfort from falsehoods. The world it seeks is a narrow one devoid of complexity.
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/...
Mod
This is good news, but this should be a FEDERAL law. And honestly, that "school worker" who cut that poor kid's hair should have been jailed for aggravated assault and ethnic hatred (and have her or his name made public over and over again).
Manybooks wrote: "https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windso...This is good news, but this should be a FEDERAL law. And honestly, that "school worker" who cut that poor kid..."
Good for Michigan! Now they need to give the teachers and their kids books like I Love My Hair!, My Hair is a Garden, and Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut because sadly I've heard stories like that happening over and over again to Indigenous kids and Black kids. If they tried to make it a Federal law, the right-wing would wank about being government control, etc. etc.
More news coming through today. The POSITIVE news about people fighting back against censorship. "After considering considering closing the library due to book removal disputes, the Llano County, TX lawsuit now lands in federal court.
[A]panel of judges in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit heard arguments in a case challenging the removal of books from the public library system
.
The challenge began in April 2021 after seven citizens of Llano County challenged the Llano County Commissioners Court for removing books deemed sexually explicit from the county library and ending access to them through the online e-book and audiobook system.
“Starting in August 2021, Defendants — public officials who control which books are available in the County’s public libraries — have perpetuated a systematic campaign to eradicate books containing ideas or messages that they disagree with from the County’s library collection,” the seven citizens claim.
U.S. District Judge Robert Pittman of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas in Austin, previously issued an order that the removed books must be returned and made accessible. This came after plaintiffs argued that the restriction of books happened “without prior notice and without any opportunity for appeal” and that the actions were a violation of their 14th Amendment right to due process.
After the federal judge ordered the removed books returned to library shelves, the county commissioners considered whether or not to pull funding and close the library altogether. They ultimately decided to keep the library open, with Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham saying they would “try this in the courts, not through social media or through news media.”
On June 7, the lawsuit was taken up in New Orleans, where three judges examined the arguments from both sides in the affair.
Attorneys in the Little v. Llano County civil lawsuit centered their arguments on librarians’ motives for removing books according to their “weeding” process.
“The plaintiffs, to be sure, would prefer for the books to be returned to the library shelves. But the First Amendment does not give library patrons a right to demand that books be stored in a particular location in the library, so long as the books remain available to the plaintiffs who are suing,” said attorney Jonathan Mitchell, who is representing the county officials, per the Texas Tribune.
“As long as the plaintiffs remain capable of accessing and obtaining each of these 17 books, and no one disputes that they are, they cannot possibly show that there is an ongoing violation of their constitutional rights.”
https://thetexan.news/library-book-re...
Nation split on whether to allow book bans, UMass Amherst/WCVB poll findsTwenty-eight percent of respondents said they strongly support removing books with discussions of sexual orientation that draw objections, while 31% strongly oppose that policy. Meanwhile, 13% strongly supported the removal of books that draw objections over racial content while 39% strongly oppose the measure.
The UMass-Amherst/WCVB national poll is based on a survey of 1,133 people between May 31 and June 8. The margin of error is 3.4%.
https://www.wcvb.com/article/umass-am...
Are LGBT book bans discriminatory? Michigan’s civil rights agency wants AG opinion.The Michigan Department of Civil Rights is seeking a clarifying opinion from Attorney General Dana Nessel as to whether book bans specifically targeting LGBTQ subjects are discriminatory in nature.
https://www.mlive.com/politics/2023/0...
Dover, New Hampshire council denounces 'unconstitutional' attempts to ban books from libraries" the City Council is condemning any attempts at “unconstitutional” book censorship at Dover's public and school libraries.
A resolution denouncing attempts to censor optional Dover library reading materials was passed by the City Council on June 14. There have been several recent requests for school leaders to reconsider books offered to Dover students.
The resolution, co-sponsored by City Councilors Robert Hinkel and Deborah Thibodeaux, states in part that “censorship of ideas on the basis of partisan, political or ideological beliefs is antidemocratic, unconstitutional, and denounced in the City of Dover.”
“The books that they are trying to ban also take the opinion that one person or one group of people should arbitrate for everyone in the city what is to be done,” Thibodeaux said.
“City resources, to include City funds and the time of the City’s professional staff, may not be used for the purpose of censoring library materials on the basis of political, partisan or ideological beliefs,” the resolution adds.
Hinkel said the Dover resolution does not seek to infringe upon parents’ rights to restrict themes or topics that they deem inappropriate for their own children.
“But what those parents cannot do is tell other people’s children what they can and cannot read,” he said. “The Constitution protects that explicitly and this resolution just reaffirms that commitment to freedom of information and makes sure that it holds firm here in Dover, as well.”
....
Councilor Debra Hackett said that many authors of the books under fire in the city have been awarded the Caldecott Medal for their work. The books themselves, she added, have been vetted by thoroughly trained librarians.
“If you’re trying to censor, anything that you’re going to do to remove the book is a ban. It amazes me the extent that some individuals go to not use the word ban, but it is,” she said. “None of these books are used for instructional purposes, at all. It’s all a matter of choice for parents to say whether their child should read the book or should not.”
Passed 7-1 vote. One dissenter, one absent.
https://www.fosters.com/story/news/lo...
The measure was not without opposition and the usual ridiculous arguments ensued.
Book Riot's weekly censorship roundup reports a few things I missed.Central York, PA votes TOMORROW! This is the 7th version of their Book banning bill! "It stems from the pulling of two books- "Push" by Sapphire and "A Court of Mist and Fury" by Sarah J. Mass- from the high school library after a challenge form was submitted to the district. Current Republican school board candidate Faith Casale said via email she submitted that request."
https://www.fox43.com/article/news/lo...
Elmhurst Public Schools (IL) avoided a vote to eliminate use of passages from American Street from 9th grade classroom study. This school has been under nonstop attack from “Elmhurst Parents for Integrity in Curriculum” and their cohort for years.
Laramie County School District No.1 (WY) got to hear from book crisis actors about how schools aren’t doing enough to stop children from accessing books that “sexualize” them.
In good news, Sacramento Public Library (CA) has created a sanctuary library called the Lavender Library.
Greenville County Public Library (SC) was tasked with reviewing 24 books being challenged by the county GOP. Instead of doing that, they decided to implement a wide range of changes to collection policies, INCLUDING BANNING THE WORD BANNED IN BOOK DISPLAYS.
Pennridge Schools (PA) are being sued by a local over the discovery they’ve been quietly banning books by checking them out over and over and over again to restrict access to students.
Eighty-six books that were donated to Spotsylvania’s Smith Station Elementary School [VA] in May have not yet been approved by the School Board and are under review, division spokeswoman Tara Mergener said Tuesday.
The board president suggested burning books he disagrees with!
INCLUDING popular books by
Mo Willems
Raina Telgemeier
Jeff Kinney (Wimpy Kid)
The Adventures of Captain Underpants
and The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #1-4: A Graphix Collection: Full-Color Edition
Someone who wants to be on the school board for United 4 SCASD was caught breaking into the high school to take pictures of books in the library.
A board member of the ImagineIF Public Library (MT) who has been vocal about removing Gender Queer from the library and filed a complaint to do so is…now on the state’s library commission.
75% of the funding is being withheld from Samuels Public Library (VA), where a group has been claiming there is p__ in the library.
“I was very disappointed that this year’s summer reading logo has the rainbow colors as the background,” reads the June 6 email, which was provided to the Weekly with the sender’s name redacted. “The rainbow colors have predominantly been used recently as representing the LGBTQ community and their Pride flag…WHAT does that even have to do with summer reading, especially for the children?” This is over a sticker at the Monterey County Public Library in California.
Great news in Boston!: , a donor to the Boston Public Library (MA) has given a $1 million grant to enhance its LGBTQ+ collections, resources, and services.
https://bookriot.com/how-much-have-bo...
Mod
Glad to hear all the good news above. I looked up the Lavender Library, since I used to live near Sacramento. What I found is that it's a private library, not part of the SPL, it's volunteer-run and community-supported and was founded in 1997. So, I'm not sure of the source for what you found saying it's part of the public library and somewhat new? I think it's so awesome that this private library has been going strong for so many years. Here's a letter from the Board President from May 30, 2023 which says, "As an independent, completely volunteer-run-and-operated non-profit, we exist because of people power."
https://www.lavenderlibrary.com/blog/...
Here's the story of how the library was created:
https://www.lavenderlibrary.com/about
Children's Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Out of the Blue (other topics)The Princess in Black and the Prince in Pink (other topics)
My Rainbow (other topics)
Butt or Face? Volume 3: Super Gross Butts (other topics)
The Day the Books Disappeared (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Jodi Picoult (other topics)Sarah J. Maas (other topics)
Ellen Hopkins (other topics)
Jodi Picoult (other topics)
Scott Stuart (other topics)
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Caivano said only a court can determine whether books in school libraries warrant removal due to obscenity.
“Books cannot be removed from school library shelves just simply because someone finds the ideas in the books offensive,” she said. “In other words, the motivation for a book’s removal must be the central factor in determining constitutionality. Simply because there are some loud voices in the public, or even board members who disagree with the content, the books cannot be constitutionally removed from school library shelves.”
A committee created by the schools superintendent has been reviewing the matter and will soon make recommendations to the Roxbury School Board Policy and Governance Committee, said Roxbury School Board President Leo Coakley. Any proposed policy for dealing with controversial books will be open for public comment before being voted on by the board, he stressed.
“Regarding the books in question,” she told the board. “If a court decides they are obscene, they will be removed from the high school. If this board decides to remove the books without the court’s consideration, we are inviting litigation from the New Jersey attorney general, the American Civil Liberties Union, students, parents and others whose civil liberties will have been violated.”
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/roxbury...
The National Coalition Against Censorship wrote to the Roxbury Public Schools Board of Education in Succasunna, New Jersey, to commend its rejection of a motion to remove nine challenged books before they could be reviewed by a reconsideration committee. Additionally, NCAC recommended two changes to board policy that would increase public transparency in future book challenges.
Read NCAC’s full letter to the Roxbury Public Schools Board of Education here:
https://ncac.org/wp-content/uploads/2...
https://ncac.org/news/ncac-commends-n...