The letter questions the bills breadth, which may end up flagging valuable works of literature that include sexual scenes.
The statement argues that “the suppression of noxious ideas does not defeat them; only vigorous disagreement can counter toxic speech effectively.”
In a follow up letter, NCAC stresses the district that banned TKAM/ Huck Finn needs an innocent-until-proven-guilty approach to book challenges.
Censorpedia currently contains over 1200 individual incidents collected over the years and contributed by students, NCAC staff and volunteers, artists and, potentially, YOU!
In his statement, the author of 'Bad Little Children’s Books' has asked ABRAMS not to print another edition of the book, because it has been so widely misunderstood and misconstrued.
The National Coalition Against Censorship's statement on the 'Bad Little Children’s Books' controversy.
The incident is particularly egregious because Accomack County Public Schools has already temporarily removed these universally acclaimed works.
NCAC has written in defense of Chbosky's oft-challenged novel, which Iowa parents claimed was 'obscene.'
NCAC's letter expresses concern that the "frightening images" stipulation is over broad and may end up excluding valuable literature.
A review committee has been convened to discuss the future of the book in the Dubuque Community school curriculum.
"Young readers need challenging books to help them become empathetic, caring, knowledgeable, thoughtful, and mature adults," Bertin and Davis state. "They’ll tell you that themselves, if you just ask them."
Oklahoma LGBT activists are calling into question a local library policy that limits the placement of LGBT-themed books to sections that hold books on sensitive topics such as drug use, incarceration and sexual abuse.
A daycare requirement to prevent young student's access to "frightening" materials may come at the cost of librarian's literary expertise in choosing student reading.
VOYA dismissed critics of its recommendation. But why are VOYA readers rightly concerned?
NCAC's Executive Director and Millie Davis from NCTE explore why books are challenged in schools and libraries and the common responses to these challenges in a comparison between two surveys.
NCAC spoke to YA author Coe Booth about the recent controversy in Chesterfield, of which her book was at the center, and why reading diverse books can help establish a sense of commonality.
Signed by 6 free speech organizations, NCAC's statement reminds OSF of the meaning behind a banned books showcase, that more speech is always better than less.
TTYL and sequel TTFN by Lauren Myracle were described by Fla. parents as telling kids "to party, drink, cuss, and do other obscene things.”
The bookstore owner was slammed for her "distinct lack of empathy for the experiences of people of color."
The drafted legislation would allow copyright owners to avoid costly federal lawsuits when protecting intellectual property.
Renae Roscart, 15, considers parents who argued for the reading list removal to be "pretending that sexual assault and alcoholism isn’t something that youths encounter."
The Chesterfield County Public School summer reading list contained books that were "pornographic" and contained "vile, vile, nasty language," one mother complained.
A Michigan school board voted last night to keep The Bluest Eye in its AP curriculum.
Parents in Michigan are very upset about a Toni Morrison novel being taught in an AP English class.
A school in Pennsylvania removed an award-winning novel in response to parent's complaints.
Another year, another challenge to Looking for Alaska. This time, a parent in conservative Marion County, Kentucky, is challenging its use in a 12th grade classroom.
NCAC welcomes the news that Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe has vetoed HB516, which would have required parental notification whenever "sexually explicit material" was being taught in the state's public schools.
An award-winning graphic novel was removed from high school libraries in Florida after the parent of a third-grader complained. The district thankfully reversed its decision.
Students are speaking out against legislation that would require parental notification of the teaching of "sexually explicit content" in public schools.
A bill that would require Virginia public schools to notify parents about 'sexually explicit content' should be vetoed by the governor, a coalition of literary and free speech groups argue.
Author Catherine Ross speaks to NCAC about schools and free speech: "In many communities across the country, the adults who would like to censor student expression are much louder and more influential that the adults who hope that schools will allow students to learn how to exercise their rights."
A Virginia bill that would require public schools to notify parents of "sexually explicit content" poses a profound threat to public education and First Amendment principles.
In Florida, a seemingly minor change to a policy regarding how schools handle book challenges could have far-reaching implications.
A parent of an elementary school student complained about a graphic novel in the school library. Is that any reason to restrict the book in the same district's high school libraries?
A local TV news outlet is whipping up a frenzy in Florida schools over an award-winning graphic novel.
Scholastic's decision to cease distribution of a controversial children's book raises some fundamental questions about free speech and self-censorship.
Two new bills are designed to empower ideologically-driven activists to shape what is taught in Florida's classrooms.
From NCAC's gala, author Lois Lowry discusses her conversation with a young reader who was bothered by the 'inappropriate' things in one of her books.
"I love that child... she's the one I write for."
The reasons a private school in Pennsylvania offered for not teaching 'Huck Finn' are precisely the reasons it should be taught.
