Since the height of the pandemic, families of schoolchildren witnessed first-hand the effects of inadequate instruction as students went remote. As a result, parents set aside any previous reservations to ensure their children were getting the best education possible, and one way they’re achieving this goal is by targeting books they deem inappropriate.
For nearly two years now, K12 school libraries have become a primary target for parent advocacy groups that seek to remove book titles that contain material not suitable for young children. Last fall, the anti-censorship organization PEN America found that there are at least 50 political advocacy groups that are driving this movement, including Moms for Liberty, US Parents Involved in Education, No Left Turn in Education among others. Even high-profile public figures are voicing their opinions.
On Friday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced she had replaced her director of early childhood education for using a teacher training book that she argued taught “woke concepts” while including language about inclusion and structural racism,” NPR reports.
“The education of Alabama’s children is my top priority as governor, and there is absolutely no room to distract or take away from this mission,” Ivey said in a statement. “Let me be crystal clear: Woke concepts that have zero to do with a proper education and that are divisive at the core have no place in Alabama classrooms at any age level, let alone with our youngest learners.”
As far as book bans go, what exactly do parents find controversial? A new report from the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom suggests that the number of reported challenges to books doubled in 2022 totaling 2,571 censors, a 38% increase compared to 2021.
“These numbers… are evidence of a growing, well-organized conservative political movement whose goals include removing books addressing race, history, gender identity, sexuality and reproductive health from America’s school libraries that do not meet their approval,” a quote featured in the report reads.
This year’s report also reveals the 13 most challenged book titles among K12 and higher education in 2022. To no surprise, the book that suffered the most from censorship efforts directly mentions LGBTQ content.
Here’s a look at the list:
- Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer: Reasons for censorship include “LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit.”
- George M Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue: Reasons for censorship include “LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit.”
- Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye: Reasons for censorship include “rape, incest, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI content.”
- Mike Curato’s Flamer: Reasons for censorship include “LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit.”
- John Green’s Looking for Alaska: Reasons for censorship include “claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content.”
- Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Reasons for censorship include “claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, rape, drugs, profanity.”
- Jonathan Evison’s Lawn Boy: Reasons for censorship include “LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit.”
- Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian: Reasons for censorship include “claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity.”
- Ashley Hope Perez’s Out of Darkness: Reasons for censorship include “claimed to be sexually explicit.”
- Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Mist and Fury: Reason for censorship includes “claimed to be sexually explicit.”
- Ellen Hopkins’ Crank: Reasons for censorship include “claimed to be sexually explicit, drugs.”
- Jesse Andrews’ Me and Earl and the Dying Girl: Reasons for censorship include “claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity.”
- Juno Dawson’s This Book is Gay: Reasons for censorship include “LGBTQIA+ content, sex education, claimed to be sexually explicit.”
More from DA: ‘A perfect storm brewing’: A review of teacher pay in America
