PANORAMA: A Discussion on Book Restrictions
The following represents the views of Charan Bala, Evan Trost, and Alvin Lee, Panorama’s hosts:
Restriction of Literature in School Libraries:
While we condemn inappropriate material in school libraries, we believe that these allegations of sexual material in books in school libraries are vastly overstated. Of the 1,091 most common banned titles, sex-related topics was just the second most common subject, behind books that addressed grief and death. Even amongst books that are being taken off of school library shelves, sex-related topics were not even the most common subject. Then, we find that books with sex-related topics are even less common on our bookshelves. If the restriction of books were solely a matter of restricting sexually explicit content, then we would find that 100% of banned books contain sex-related topics, and there would not be a disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ authors and authors of color being silenced.
Furthermore, we find that the disproportionate restriction of books featuring LGBTQ+ characters or authors is deliberate. While we can not speak to the intent of the Howard County Moms for Liberty chapter, book restrictions have specifically and intentionally targeted the LGBTQ+ community nationwide. Books featuring these characters and the stories of these authors are extremely important for students. For many students of the LGBTQ+ community, school books are often their only sources of representation. Books allow people to see themselves in the characters they read, and we condemn any effort to strip away this necessary source of representation for students.
We believe that students, like adults, have a freedom to read, and protecting access to books in school libraries is a protection of their freedom of speech. Like any freedom, however, there are limits, and if books are deemed inappropriate, we encourage community members to go through the formal challenge process.
However, book restrictions nationwide are not occurring through the concerns of thousands of community members, but rather, a very small number of individuals controlling the legitimacy of vast amounts of books for thousands of students across the country. An investigation by the Washington Post found that 11 people were responsible for 60 percent of book restriction filings nationwide. Books have power: we’ve seen this across our work donating books to carceral-affected individuals. Giving the ability to take away books– and the power they carry– to a small number of individuals is a violation of the freedom of speech of thousands of students and authors.
Critical Race Theory in School Curriculum:
Critical race theory is not equivalent to teaching that slavery forms a large part of our history. Critical race theory is the idea that systems in American society reinforce racism. In HCPSS curriculum, slavery and Jim Crow era segregation are only taught starting in US History classes beginning in 8th grade and ending in 9th grade. The instances of critical race theory being taught may be individual teachers that integrate ideas related to systemic racism into their classes in order to better reflect the events occurring around us today, but there are no classes or curricula in Howard County schools that include critical race theory.
In general, we encourage the teaching of America’s full history. We believe that educating students on our past is necessary to move towards a more compassionate and well-informed future. History is often uncomfortable, and topics like segregation and slavery even more so. However, the teaching of history isn’t to divide, but to unite us in our progress.
