Pages tagged "school board"
Katy ISD has Banned 34 Books Since August 2024
Katy ISD added 14 titles to their list of "removed" (ie: banned) books last week- bringing the total books banned since August 2024 to thirty four. This month's additions include widely read, and lauded, works like Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
The majority of affected titles continue to correspond with a list of 676 titles provided to public school districts throughout Texas, by extremist, pro-censorship group- Citizens Defending Freedom- following a visit from CDF affiliated Remnant Alliance "pastors" to Katy ISD's April 2024 board meeting.
This means, that a group that has been labeled "anti-government" by the SPLC- that has been embraced by sitting Katy ISD school board trustees- is driving the demands to censor and ban books in Katy ISD, not Katy ISD parents, residents or students.
Read MoreKaty ISD Board Proposes "Gender Fluidity" Book Ban
The Katy ISD School Board plans to discuss an EFB Local Policy revision on Monday, August 19, that will entirely prohibit library books in elementary school and junior high, that they believe "adopt, support or promote gender fluidity" and to require parental opt in, for high school students. The Board could vote on proposed changes as soon as Monday, August 26.
The proposed policy revision also includes a section that appears to target vendors and "fundraising partners" (likely Scholastic Book Fairs) by requiring them to adhere to Katy ISD's local board approved library policies- even if they are likely discriminatory and unconstitutional. Remember, those driving these ideological book bans, strongly prefer vendors with a Christian Nationalist bent like SkyTree Books. More on SkyTree Books by our co-founder Frank Strong, here.
Read MoreEveryLibrary and Texas Freedom to Read Project Candidate Survey
For the first time, Texas Freedom to Read Project has paired with EveryLibrary to survey Texas school board candidates about their positions on school book bans, the freedom to read, and the value of libraries and public schools in Texas. Surveys were sent to candidates for the May elections in the 150 largest school districts in Texas, as well as State Board of Education candidates. 60 replied; 22 filled out the survey completely.
The survey reveals some deep divisions in the ways Texans approach restrictions on instructional materials and library books. But it also reflects a general consensus about the importance of libraries and librarians, a recognition that parental rights do not extend to limiting choices for all students, and a wariness towards certain methods and approaches to removing books from Texas schools.
Read MoreTexas Public School Board Election Basics: For Book Lovers
School board elections are often decided by less than 5% of registered voters in a district. If every single Texan who supports the freedom to read in Texas and opposes book bans showed up to vote, we could easily out vote the extremists responsible for the current tidal wave of bans.
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