School book bans triple in 2023-24

The push comes amid the election of former President Donald Trump, who has railed against “inappropriate” content in schools.

Published Nov. 11, 2024

Naaz Modan Senior Reporter

Education Dive

In her article, “School Book Bans Triple in 2023-24,” Naaz Modan reports on the significant increase in book bans across U.S. schools, as documented by Pen America. During the 2023-24 school year, book bans rose to a record high, with 10,046 individual bans — nearly three times the number recorded the previous year. This surge, Modan explains, reflects broader cultural and political shifts, especially as former President Donald Trump’s policies and rhetoric have influenced educational and curricular approaches in conservative states.

The report from Pen America highlights that the most frequently banned books focus on themes such as race, LGBTQ+ representation, and topics related to sex or sexuality. Florida and Iowa stand out as states with the most book bans in 2023-24, influenced by both state-specific laws and national political discourse. This trend echoes actions taken since Trump’s first presidential term, during which he issued an executive order encouraging “patriotic education” in schools. Trump’s subsequent policies, often echoed in state legislation, have sought to limit discussions around race and gender in school curricula, deeming some content “divisive” or “inappropriate.”

Florida has led the nation in implementing restrictive educational laws, including the well-known “Don’t Say Gay” law, which restricts discussion of LGBTQ+ topics in schools. These laws initially targeted early grades but have since expanded to cover high school curricula as well. In response to an increase in curriculum objections from community members, Florida implemented a law in July 2024 allowing districts to charge fees to individuals challenging six or more books or materials annually, aiming to reduce the number of formal complaints.

Iowa, another state with a high incidence of book bans, recently enacted a law with strong restrictions on LGBTQ+ content in schools. This law has prompted lawsuits from organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Lambda Legal, who argue that it violates the First and 14th Amendments. Although a federal judge initially blocked the curriculum restrictions, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later overturned the injunction. As of late 2024, the ACLU and Lambda Legal have filed to temporarily block the law once again, underscoring the ongoing legal battles over curricular restrictions in conservative states.

The increase in book bans and the legal disputes surrounding curriculum restrictions have brought attention to these issues on a national scale, with experts predicting that the U.S. Supreme Court may eventually rule on the matter. Already, the Supreme Court is considering a related case involving curriculum opt-out policies in Maryland, where Montgomery County Public Schools recently reversed a decision that allowed parents to remove children from classes featuring books on LGBTQ+ experiences. This case has attracted the support of 24 conservative states, many of which have implemented similar restrictions on school content.

Modan’s article sheds light on the evolving landscape of book bans and curricular restrictions, highlighting how they reflect deeper political and cultural divides within the U.S. education system. As book bans increase, the ongoing legal and legislative battles will likely shape the future of school curricula and student access to diverse perspectives.

Original Article

------------------------------

Prepared with the assistance of AI software

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com