Takeaways & Article

 On March 22, 2022, the Washington Posted published an article titled, Schools nationwide are quietly removing books from their libraries (the link is included at the bottom of my blog--it's a great read). This article imminently caught my attention, and as I read the piece, I noticed how it highlighted and confirmed a lot of our points from class discussions. One main takeaway from class is that representation is essential in a child's psychological growth and wellbeing; Natanson writes that Psychologists, academics, and librarians "see value in introducing children to books that contain challenging material, including of the sexual kind, provided it is done with appropriate context, care, and tact" (5). Natanson makes a point of introducing how professionals see that the books being censored are positive novels for young individuals to read. However, parents who are often not professionals in this field are the ones arguing for the censorship of books. The article shares that the books that are being banned can "if handled right, can allow kids to explore the human condition in a safe way" (5). I found this statement and idea of the "human condition" to be so powerful; novels allow students access to raw, unfiltered, and real human life, which in return allow students to learn as students and people. I think it's an important concept to keep in mind when questioning texts...does this text enhance a student's understanding of the human condition? This idea is continued and advanced as the article discusses the story of Samantha Hall. 

Samantha Hall is a librarian in n Pennsylvania’s Lancaster and Lebanon counties. She centers the focus of the article as she noticed eight novels slowly disappear from her school's library shelves, "the books included titles such as “In My Mosque,” which instructs children about Islam; “A Place Inside of Me,” which explores a Black student’s reckoning with a police shooting; and “When Aidan Became a Brother,” whose main character is a transgender boy" (1). It is clear these novels enhance a student's understanding of the human condition--and the school did not like that. These eight novels only sparked a small movement in Pennsylvania. According to librarian Hull, over the course of the 2021-2022 school year, "there have been formal challenges of six books across the 22 school districts in Lebanon and Lancaster counties. Meanwhile, at least 24 books have been pulled temporarily or permanently from the shelves by officials, without public announcement or explanation — including the children’s books" (4). These novels aren't even receiving formal complaints or announcements, they are being pulled secretly with no explanation. Hull later makes a very bold, but also true statement sharing that if book banning continues “there will be absolutely no progress for our society" (4). This idea of no progress in society is true and also relates to the idea of a lack of understanding of the human condition. Hull's statement and claim of "no progress in society" note how there has been no real change in curriculum or reading material in the past decades. Students are still reading "classic" novels which focus on white authors and white characters. It is this lack of change that causes Hull to fear and warn others of "no progress in society".  And this idea of no progress or change in our society is terrifying, if literature and novels can improve society... then let it. 

What happened in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster and Lebanon counties is known as 'backdoor book removal' and librarians and experts are unable to estimate how often this is happening because of its level of privacy and secrecy. A librarian in Kansas states that this backdoor book removal is due to "overworked administrators — weary from managing the pandemic and from turmoil over diversity, equity and inclusion programs — seek to quash further controversy before it can begin (7). This backdoor book removal is happening across the nation and children are the ones being harmed. 

This article reinstates everything we have discussed this past semester--how young students are the ones hurting by their parent's assumptions and administrators' fears. It also re-affirms the importance and power of literature and novels. 

The link to the article -- https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/03/22/school-librarian-book-bans-challenges/ 


    




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why Ban Bronx Masquerade?

As I was reading Nikki Grimes’ Bronx Masquerade, I could not figure out why this book was banned. While I am vehemently against the idea of banning books as a whole, usually I can at least identify why some parties want to censor certain stories. I understand why The Color Purple was banned by conservative forces for its depiction of sexual assault and homosexuality even if I believe that those things have no right to be censored by interest groups with no connection to those experiences. Bronx Masquerade perplexed me, however, as most of its more mature themes are in the background. It did not linger on some of these heavy topics in a way that I thought could lend some to censor it. The bulk of the story explores the writings of Mr. Ward’s students. While many have tragic backgrounds that deal with heavy topics, they are all referenced and referred to in the past tense. None of these darker ideas are lingered on or shown in the present like in The Color Purple. For example, one of the...
Read more

Charlotte is Dead and Why That is Real

 Here is the first passage I read from my copy of George . It is the last statement of the FAQ (AOTAWTS). (It should be understood that Alex is talking explicitly as the author.) It is the last page of my copy before the About the Author section. I recommend reading all of this section. " I'm so glad I understand transgender people now. Okay. This isn't a question, but I'm adding it here anyway. George is only one story. It is the story of a white, middle-class transgender girl growing up near New York City, written by a white, middle-class genderqueer person who grew up on Staten Island, New York. Every transgender story is different, just as we are all different. Race, money, disability, and other realities further impact these differences . I will add that you don't need to understand someone to respect them, so while I'm glad you have a greater insight into Melissa's experience, I hope you also learned from Mom, Kelly, Scott, Jeff, Rick, Ms. Udell, amd...
Read more

Two Main Insights for CRT Dialogue

1. Banning books is a way to push the white supremacist agenda, as seen through the case in York, PA when they banned 270+ books about black and brown experiences. This was also demonstrated through the specific banning of The Hate U Give for reasons such as youth activism and revolution.  2. Keeping books on separate shelves makes people feel invalidated about their life experiences, whether that includes their sex, gender, race, or sexuality. This is especially prevalent for young minds that are not fully developed, because if they see themselves as "other," they will begin to believe it. 
Read more