Tennessee librarians speak out against Chattanooga school board member's attempt to ban books (2024)

Meghan Mangrum|Nashville Tennessean

As a Chattanooga school board debated who has the authority to approve, or remove, books in school libraries this week, Tennessee librarians are speaking out.

Representatives from theTennessee Association of School Librarians, theTennessee Library Associationand Friends of the Tennessee Libraries are calling out recent censorship attempts by Hamilton County school board Rhonda Thurman.

Thurman, a long-time board member, expressed concerns in an op-ed earlier this monthover the use of curse words and references to sex and violence depicted in library books found in Hamilton County schools.

"The volume of what I have been sent is mind-numbing. I am still in disbelief this insanity is allowed in our school libraries and classrooms," Thurman said in the opinion article, the Chattanooga Times Free Press first reported.

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Thurman referenced four books: "More Than We Can Tell" by Brigid Kemmerer, "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas, "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway and "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas and called for them to be removed.

But Tennessee librariansargue students' "freedom to read and unfettered access to information"is protected by theirFirst Amendment rights.

"Every book is not for every reader but every child should have access to books they may want to read. School librarians strive to know learners and assist them in finding books that fit their needs and interests. Ready access to a wide variety of reading materials increases the chances that learners will become readers and choose to read," read a statement from the groups released Thursday.

"A parent/guardian has the right to determine what’s best for their child and only their child. Therefore, the reconsideration processes already in place should be strictly followed.

"...We oppose censorship within school libraries on the grounds that it is unconstitutional and contrary to the professional ethics of librarianship, and challenge and removal processes are already in place at the local school district level."

The Hamilton County Board of Education discussedthe district's policy for reconsideringliteracy materials at a board meeting Thursday.

Thurman said the books were first brought to her attention by a parent member of the Hamilton County chapter of Moms for Liberty, a national conservative parent advocacy group, according to the Times Free Press.

The debate comes as the state grapples with how to address topics like race, racism, sexuality and other social issues in schools in light of recent legislation passed this spring seeking to ban schools fromteaching critical race theory and certain LGBTQ topics.

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"The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas madethe list of themost challenged books of 2020, but the best-selling young adult novel was also made into a full-length movie in 2018.

The book has even been the focus ofHamilton County book clubs and was highlighted by the school district as a "Book of the Week" in January 2019.

Representatives from Chattanooga's Moms for Social Justicespoke out at Thursday's school board meeting, "fightingfor diverse literature" in local schools.

"What we are seeing in our county is a small faction of predominantly conservative parents targeting books that are mostly written by authors of color," Taylor Lyons, one of the founders of the group.

"They are calling these books into questionbecause they depict life experiences thatare a reality for millions of students across our country and that makes them uncomfortable and we understand because it makes us uncomfortable too. Important books such as thesemake usfeel uncomfortable because they teach us important things about ourselves and society."

Edna Varner, a retired Hamilton County educator and long-time public education advocate in Chattanooga, also spoke during Thursday’s school board meeting on behalf of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County chapter of the NAACP.

She pointed out that the district already has policies allowing parents to opt their children out of books or parts of curriculum they find objectionable and encouraged members of the public to help support schools instead of going to board meetings "month after month to complain."

“There are plenty of ways we can come together without month aftermonth of complaining when you have important work to do," she said.

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Meghan Mangrum covers education for the USA TODAY Network—Tennessee. Contact her at mmangrum@tennessean.com.Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.

Tennessee librarians speak out against Chattanooga school board member's attempt to ban books (2024)

FAQs

What is the Tennessee law book ban? ›

— A new Tennessee law that specifically bans books with sexually explicit imagery went into effect on Monday. It changes the state's existing restrictions on materials allowed in schools, explicitly barring materials that contain nudity sexual excitement, sexual conduct or excess violence.

Why are books being banned from school libraries? ›

Racial Issues: About and/or encouraging racism towards one or more group of people. Encouragement of "Damaging" Lifestyles: Content of book encourages lifestyle choices that are not of the norm or could be considered dangerous or damaging. This could include drug use, co-habitation without marriage, or homosexuality.

What are some arguments for banning certain books in schools? ›

Those advocating a ban complain typically that the book in question contains graphic violence, expresses disrespect for parents and family, is sexually explicit, exalts evil, lacks literary merit, is unsuitable for a particular age group, or includes offensive language.

Is banning books in schools unconstitutional? ›

Is book banning unconstitutional? Yes, book banning can violate the First Amendment rights of students and others who have a right to receive information and ideas contained in those books.

What is the new reading law in Tennessee? ›

The third-grade retention law was implemented during the 2022-2023 school year and aimed to ensure third-grade students have proficient reading skills before moving on to the fourth grade.

What qualifies as a banned book? ›

The following were the top three reasons cited for challenging materials as reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom: the material was considered to be "sexually explicit" the material contained "offensive language" the materials was "unsuited to any age group"

Why was Charlotte's Web banned? ›

Some school districts aimed to ban the book from schools because they believed the book has unsuitable topics for children to read about. One major complaints was that the story portrayed talking animals that can communicate and act just like humans.

What is the number 1 banned book in schools? ›

This is the list of the most banned books in the first part of the 2022-2023 school year, according to the PEN America Index of School Book Bans. Gender Queer: A Memoir remained at the top of the list, as it was in the 2021-2022 school year, joined this time by Flamer.

Why was Captain Underpants banned? ›

He later achieved international recognition with his "Captain Underpants" series, which was adapted as a film. The "Captain Underpants" books are among the American Library Association's list of the top 100 most banned and challenged books from the past decade, due to complaints from parents about violent imagery.

Who decides if books are banned in schools? ›

Local boards of education are responsible for removing books that might not be appropriate for the students. The Supreme Court has not ruled on how Boards of Education choose books to place in a library. However, once a book is in a library, school boards may remove it only under certain circumstances.

What can we do to eliminate the banning of books? ›

Here's what you can do to fight censorship, keep books available in libraries, and promote the freedom to read! Stay informed. If you hear of a challenge at your local library, support your librarian and free and open access to library materials by contacting the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF).

Why shouldn't we ban books? ›

Challenging content is critical for intellectual growth. There's a reason these books are a part of high school curriculums. The books challenged are commonly read in honors and upperclassman English classes; this is no coincidence. These books push students out of their comfort zones to make them grow as people.

What is the school library law in Tennessee? ›

The Senate on Thursday, March 6, approved HB 843, which amends the Tennessee Age Appropriate Materials Act of 2022. The law required all school districts to maintain a list of all the books in their school libraries and establish a process by which the lists will be maintained.

What graphic novel was banned in Tennessee? ›

ATHENS, Tenn. — A Tennessee school district has voted to ban a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about the Holocaust due to “inappropriate language” and an illustration of a nude woman, according to minutes from a board meeting.

What is the textbook Transparency Act Tennessee? ›

1513, the Textbook Transparency Act, all publishers of textbooks or instructional materials approved by the state board for local adoption shall make available the textbooks or instructional materials on the state textbook depository's website.

What are the obscenity laws in Tennessee? ›

(a)(1) It is unlawful to knowingly produce, send or cause to be sent, or bring or cause to be brought, into this state for sale, distribution, exhibition or display, or in this state to prepare for distribution, publish, print, exhibit, distribute, or offer to distribute, or to possess with intent to distribute or to ...

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