News

Sexually explicit library books subject of Congressional hearing

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023

via Washington Examiner (District of Columbia)

(The Center Square) – The books being made available to children in public schools and libraries was the topic of a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, with an Illinois law thrust into the spotlight.

Book Bans

Clarence Page: When is a book ban not a ‘ban’? Officials dance around censorship efforts

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023

via Press Herald (Maine)

The number of reported challenges is up by more than 40% over last year; meanwhile, one state is pushing back by signing what might be the nation's first ban on bans.

Parent Involvement, Book Bans

Sen. John Kennedy gets last word by reading explicit school books at censorship hearing

Tuesday, September 12th, 2023

via The Washington Times, LLC (District of Columbia)

Senate Democrats decrying school boards and parents for censorship got more than they bargained for when Sen. John Kennedy began reading aloud from a couple of the 'banned books.'

Book Bans

Carroll County schools consider book ban after parental concern

Tuesday, September 12th, 2023

via WBAL-TV 11 (Maryland)

Carroll County schools are looking into more than 50 books that some parents believe should be banned. The books have already been pulled from school libraries.

Parent Involvement, Book Bans, School Board – General

In Washington, GOP senators grill Alexi Giannoulias over Illinois anti-book-ban law

Tuesday, September 12th, 2023

via Chicago Tribune (Illinois)

Republican U.S. senators grilled Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias over a state law he championed that aims to deter book bans.

Book Bans, School Board – General

Book ban defenders use sex scenes to make their point at Senate hearing

Tuesday, September 12th, 2023

via The Kansas City Star (Kansas)

A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on book bans took a racy turn Tuesday, as Republican senators and a witness read scenes of various sexual content into the congressional record to defend the banning of multiple titles from U.S. schools. Max Eden, a research fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, kicked off the 'Book Bans:...

Book Bans, School Board – General

Indiana tops tax revenue target in August

Tuesday, September 12th, 2023

via NWI Times (Indiana)

The state of Indiana exceeded its August tax revenue target by $50.8 million, or 1.7%, according to data released Monday by the State Budget Agency.

LGBTQ+, Book Bans, School Board – General

Author David Levithan’s new queer YA romance revisits ‘Two Boys Kissing’ characters

Tuesday, September 12th, 2023

via 8 News NOW (Nevada)

New York Times bestselling author David Levithan's latest young adult romance novel "Ryan and Avery" revisits characters from the novelist's beloved 2013 book "Two Boys Kissing" (Photos courtesy of Penguin Random House)

Book Bans

Senate hearing focuses on book bans in schools and libraries

Tuesday, September 12th, 2023

via The Dallas Morning News, Inc. (Texas)

The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on book bans Tuesday morning, following a school year where Texas led the nation in number of books banned.

Book Bans

Meet the parents who say their rights are ignored by the ‘parental rights’ movement

Monday, September 11th, 2023

via home - louisiana illuminator (Louisiana)

Right-wing groups have emerged as a potent political force in the latest chapter of the decades-old 'parental rights' movement.

Parent Involvement, Racism, Book Bans, School Board – General

War on drugs tainted how schools treat Black kids, former UGA prof says

Monday, September 11th, 2023

via AJC (Georgia)

In her new book, former University of Georgia education professor Bettina Love argues the war on drugs became a war on Black people and schools became battlefields.

Book Bans

Meet the parents who say their rights are ignored by the ‘parental rights’ movement ⋆ Michigan Advance

Monday, September 11th, 2023

via Michigan Advance (Michigan)

While right-wing groups like Moms for Liberty have emerged as a potent political force in the latest chapter of the decades-old 'parental rights' movement, parents of LGBTQ+ children and children of…

Parent Involvement, Racism, Book Bans, School Board – General

As Republicans compete in New Hampshire, ‘parental rights’ come to the fore

Sunday, September 10th, 2023

via The Boston Globe (Massachusetts)

Parental rights — a term used as shorthand largely by conservative groups that oppose how public schools approach race, sexuality, and gender identity — is the latest culture war being waged in New…

Parent Involvement, Book Bans, School Board – General

When are book bans unconstitutional?

Sunday, September 10th, 2023

via Sun Journal (Maine)

A free speech expert defines censorship and applies that lesson to current political struggles in the US to ban books from public schools and libraries.

Book Bans

Conservative book ban push fuels library exodus from national association that stands up for books

Saturday, September 9th, 2023

via The Billings Gazette (Montana)

More libraries are cutting ties with the American Library Association as the professional group stands up for books some say children shouldn't have access to because of their content.

LGBTQ+, Book Bans, School Board – General, Racism

Growing banned books movement takes aim at ALA library group

Saturday, September 9th, 2023

via Casper Star-Tribune (Wyoming)

More libraries are cutting ties with the American Library Association as the professional group stands up for books some say children shouldn't have access to because of their content. A local library system in Wyoming was among the first to leave the ALA. The Missouri State Library, Missouri State Library, Texas State Library and Archives Commission and the libraries in Midland, Texas, have followed suit in recent weeks. Lawmakers in at least nine other states demand similar action. ALA officials deny having political agenda, saying parents should simply have the freedom to decide what books their children read.

Book Bans

ACLU-SC responds to challenged books in Berkeley County

Saturday, September 9th, 2023

via The Post and Courier (South Carolina)

In response to a public records request filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina (ACLU-SC), the Berkeley County School District has released a list of 93 books

Book Bans

As Detroit schools’ reading scores are on the upswing, educators …

Saturday, September 9th, 2023

via Michigan Advance (Michigan)

September is Black Reading Month, which comes at a time when Detroit schools have notched modest test score increases in student literacy.  The Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) reported last week that it has 'largely recovered from the pandemic in Grades 3-8 ELA, outpacing statewide performance gains.' The district said proficiency levels improved in […]

Book Bans, School Board – General

Palm Beach County schools change book ban rules on gender identity

Saturday, September 9th, 2023

via Palm Beach Post (Florida)

The so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law prohibits instruction on sexual orientation. The state attorney general says it doesn't apply to school libraries.

Parent Involvement, Book Bans, School Board – General