As we reflect on the anniversary of the ratification of the Constitution (September 17), we would do well to remember the precarious nature of the liberties enumerated therein, particularly the First Amendment, which has come under attack recently in schools and libraries throughout the nation.
“Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…” Freedom of speech includes the right to read, write and share ideas and opinions without fear of penalty, yet teachers and librarians across the country are being penalized for presenting ideas and opinions that others may not agree with. According to the American Library Association, there were more than 1,200 attempts to ban books in 2022, the highest number reported since the organization began compiling data more than 20 years ago.
Close to home, the Maryland Association of School Librarians reports that 50 book titles have been preemptively removed from school library bookshelves in Carroll County, and the library supervisor has been reassigned to a different post. New, stringent rules for selecting books have been instituted there, and school librarians were informed that they will be held “accountable” should any title deemed “inappropriate” appear in their library collection.
These draconian measures are not taking place in a vacuum. They are part of a large, well-orchestrated political agenda that includes the dismantling of the public school system. A recent Washington Post article details the legal campaign launched by certain well-funded, ultra-conservative groups aimed at defunding public education on the grounds that public schools are “indoctrinating” children in defiance of parental rights. Certainly, the rights of parents are important, but they apply only to the individual parents’ right to restrict the reading choices of their own children; not my children, and not yours.
It’s ironic that the groups behind these efforts often have the words “liberty” or “freedom” in their names. However, the blatant and unconstitutional censorship of reading materials in public arenas sounds to me more like fascism, not freedom.
Mary Pellicano
Retired librarian, Talbot County Free Library Trustee
Easton
Tammy Valley says
I couldn’t agree more. Well said.
Darrell Parsons says
I agree wholeheartedly!
Rev Julia Hart says
Thank you Mary.
Democracy is on the line, and it will be on the ballot next Fall.
It is undemocratic when one parent, or group of parents can march into a public school and remove a book or books they have deemed inappropriate. They have every right to not allow their children to read them.
But they do not have the right or power to determine what other parents and grandparents will or will not allow their children to read.
Maybe copies of The Holy Bible should be removed. Some of the stories and persons’ actions within, give cause to raise an eyebrow.
Example: Read the story of David and Bathsheba.
N.M.Rogge says
I could not agree more and we should all take heed! Banning books is un-American!
Reed Fawell 3 says
Who is censoring who? Most people today are afraid to say what is on their mind for fear they will be mobbed or cancelled. Librarians have not that right to determine what what somebody else’s child or children will read. Parents have that right exclusively.
Mickey Terrone says
Mr. Fawell, librarians don’t dictate to children which school library books students will read. Text books are approved by public school administrators at the state level. Schools and school librarians provide additional reading materials that enhance students’ perspective on all areas of learning.
Individual parents can prevent their own children from reading books as they deem proper, but they must not prevent other parents from allowing or encouraging their children to read those same books.
With respect to people fearing they will be mobbed or cancelled (and receiving death threats), numerous Republican legislators have received death threats against themselves and their families for speaking out against Trump’s agenda or not voting to support him or refusing to support the Big Lie. Domestic terrorism is the single greatest threat to our freedom today, yet I don’t know of any Democrat who received any death threat for opposing Biden or Obama.
Chip Heartfield says
I am puzzled why we should only be up in arms about conservatives attempting to ban books? The left has succeeded in banning classics such as Huck Finn and Of Mice and Men and has demanded substantive phrasing changes in the books of Roald Dahl and others. This is happening in California, New Jersey, Massachusetts and elsewhere. And sometimes, books are not “banned” but rather moved to stacks more suitable for middle- or high-schoolers – this distinction is often omitted by the outraged. In any event, I think this liberal writer says it well; let’s be equally diligent about what both sides are up to and find common ground rather than allow the politics of left and right to poison literature for our kids: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2020/05/08/book-banning-is-a-bipartisan-game/
Eric Ploeg says
“Draconian measures”? First of all, the “ban” is simply a list of books deemed not appropriate for the Carroll County SCHOOL libraries. There are probably 20 million or more published books – fiction, non fiction, instructional, biographies, self-help, history, etc., etc. But now there’s a need to offer books such as “All The Things We Do In The Dark” or “Tricks” (challenged for drug use and being sexually explicit) or “Damsel” (Warning: This book features rape, sexual assault, abuse, and degradation, and discussion of suicide)?
Books such as “Gender Queer”, “2 Boys Kissing” are among the most controversial to be offered in school or public libraries. In a previous Facebook discussion on this topic, I replied to someone with a similar position by posting just ONE page from “Gender Queer” in my response. Within 15 minutes, FB flagged me – for inappropriate material. Lets be sensible. If one must have these books, they’re free to order personal copies. New or used?
There’s no need to be alarmed. No one is trying to ban Orwell or Steinbeck or Salinger or Twain.
Mary Pellicano says
“Draconian”: adj., excessively harsh or severe. I would say the preemptive removal of 50 books without review or process, as well as summarily reassigning the library supervisor and threatening librarians with liability is rather excessive. “Ban”: v., officially or legally prohibit. Copies of 50 different book titles were physically removed from school library shelves and boxed up, not added to a “list.” Students were officially prohibited from checking them out. I call that a ban.
“There are probably 20 million published books…” True, but how many of them contain characters that represent marginalized youth who may be struggling with their sexuality or gender identity? How many can help bullied students feel a little less alone in a dangerous world? How many of these 20 million titles promote inclusivity and tolerance for people who are different? The vast majority of books that are challenged or banned these days are written by or about members of the LBGTQ+ community, Black people, Indigenous people or people of color. Books on their own are just paper and ink. This is about representation and identity, and students, particularly the most vulnerable, deserve to see themselves represented in the reading material available to them–freely and openly, without having to “order personal copies.”
There is every reason to be alarmed.
As for Orwell, Steinbeck, Salinger and Twain–they’ve all been challenged or banned plenty of times:
https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/decade1999
Wilson Dean says
I couldn’t agree more with this article. As difficult as it may be to face views with which we may not necessarily agree, book banning only leads to narrow minds and an inability to think critically. The book banners are clearly the ones trying to indoctrinate our children today.