09/21/2023

School Book Bans Show No Signs of Slowing, New Pen America Report Finds

The number of books removed from school libraries, classrooms has quadrupled

School book bans and restrictions in the U.S. rose 33 percent in the last school year, according to a new report from the free speech group PEN America, continuing what it calls a worrisome effort aimed at the "suppression of stories and ideas." Florida had more bans than any other state.

The organization counts any move that restricts access to a book as a ban, including books removed from classrooms or libraries or both, as well as books temporarily removed while they're being challenged.

If you count only the books that have been permanently removed from school libraries and classrooms, the report's lead author, Kasey Meehan, says the increase is even more alarming. That number has quadrupled — to 1,263 books in the last school year from 333 the year before.

Please select this link to read the complete article from NPR.