Without Explanation, AZ School District Removes The Kite Runner From English Curriculum
The Arizona school district removed Khaled Hosseini's novel after 5 years on the English curriculum, raising questions about the motivations behind the decision.
NCAC Criticizes Politically Motivated Removal of ‘Jacob’s New Dress’ From North Carolina Lesson Plan
The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and 6 other organizations committed to defending the right to read are urging a North Carolina school district to reinstate a children’s book in a 1st grade anti-bullying lesson plan after it was removed following pressure from local Republican lawmakers concerned about its gender-nonconforming themes.
Minnesota High School Cancels Play After Photos Leak of Students Dressed in KKK Costumes
The decision to cancel the play was understandable, given the controversy around the photo, but was it the best decision that could have been made?
Watch What You #Tweet: Youth Free Expression Film Contest Finalists
NCAC is pleased to announce our twelve finalists for our 2016 Youth Free Expression Film Contest: Watch What You #Tweet: How Free Should Social Media Be? Our panel of judges will carefully evaluate these films and announce the first, second, and third-place winners in mid-April.
NCAC Urges Rejection of ‘Anti-Science’ Legislation In Oklahoma; Bill Passed by OK State Senate
S.B. 393 is the latest in a string of similar “anti-science bills” introduced in states around the country. One such bill was rejected by South Dakota’s House Education Committee last month.
Free Speech Groups Defend Graphic Novel Censored in Oklahoma Over ‘Adult Themes’
NCAC highlights that Stuck in the Middle is praised for its realistic, un-sanitized depiction of difficult situations that characterize the harder truths of teenage life.
NCAC Protests Oregon School’s Unwarranted Removal of Eleanor & Park
NCAC’s letter to the school district reprimands the school for violating its own book challenge review process, and emphasizes the value of Rowell’s novel.
NCAC Protests the Removal of American Diversity Posters over Alleged “anti-Trump” bias
NCAC is urging a Maryland school district to allow its teachers to display a series of posters promoting diversity and inclusion in America after administrators ordered their removal over concerns of political bias.
NCAC Defends the Glass Castle over Concerns of ‘Disturbing’ Content; UPDATE: Review Committee Votes in Favor of Keeping the Book
A formal complaint was lodged by a local parent who was offended by the presence of profanity in the book, which includes passages that reference sexual assault.
NCAC Objects to Bill Threatening to Undermine Science Education Standards in South Dakota; UPDATE: Bill Defeated in the House Education Committee
The bill removes the restraints on teachers that prevent them from straying from professionally-developed science standards adopted by state educators.
Chicago High School’s Civil Rights Day Attacked for ‘Indoctrinating’ Students
A group of parents claim the New Trier High School's Seminar Day does not include a fair balance of perspective.
North Carolina School Releases Statement to Parents About Potentially Inappropriate Books
Terms such as "inappropriate" are vague and over-inclusive, potentially leading to the exclusion of works of undeniable pedagogical value.
South Dakota Bill Deemed by Critics to Threaten Education in Evolution and Climate Change
According to the bill, “no teacher may be prohibited from helping students understand, analyze, critique, or review in an objective scientific manner the strengths and weaknesses of scientific information.”
NJ School Wins Courage in Theater Award For Reversing Censorship of ‘Ragtime’ Performance
The language, NCAC argues, reflects a historical reality and its inclusion will help to educate students about the ugly reality of racism.
NCAC Issues Rebuttal to Supporters of Virginia ‘Sexually Explicit’ Book Regulation; UPDATE: Bill Vetoed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe
NCAC and other free speech groups write to the VA Board of Education in advance of a January 26th meeting to discuss the proposal.
NCAC & FIRE Respond to Fordham’s Feeble Justification for Denying Club Status to pro-Palestine Group; UPDATE: SJP Students File Lawsuit Against Fordham
The University have justified the decision based on the group’s “political goals” and support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, which they say are contrary to Fordham’s “mission and values.”
NCAC Condemns Decision to Remove Student Painting from U.S. Capitol Building; UPDATE: Rep. Clay Files Lawsuit Against Architect of the Capitol
Rep. Clay, in a statement issued by his office in St. Louis, said the painting's removal has “sent a chilling message to young Americans that their voices are not respected, their views are not valued, and their freedom of expression is no longer protected in the U.S. Capitol.”
NCAC Objects to Bill Requiring Parental Notification Prior to Teaching of Sex Ed. Materials; UPDATE: NH Gov Signs Bill Into Law
The letter questions the bills breadth, which may end up flagging valuable works of literature that include sexual scenes.
NCAC Releases Statement in Support of Rep. Clay’s Decision to Re-Display Controversial Painting; UPDATE: NCAC Addresses Justification for Removal
The statement reprimands Representative Hunter, who removed the painting from the U.S, Capitol, for his disregard of the First Amendment.
Missouri Congressman Defends Student Painting Attacked for Animal Depiction of Police; UPDATE: Without Permission, Rep. Lawmaker Removes Painting
Representative Clay has stood in support of artistic free expression in the face of criticisms that the painting contains an anti-police message.
NCAC Criticizes Indiana High School for Removing Pro-Life Artwork
NCAC’s letter informs Carmel Clay Schools that the pro-life poster represents non-disruptive political speech that is protected under the First Amendment.
Introducing CENSORPEDIA, NCAC’s Crowdsourced Wiki for Censorship Incidents
Censorpedia currently contains over 1200 individual incidents collected over the years and contributed by students, NCAC staff and volunteers, artists and, potentially, YOU!
Free Speech Groups Stand by Embattled Publisher
The National Coalition Against Censorship's statement on the 'Bad Little Children’s Books' controversy.
NCAC co-Sponsors New Report on Threats to Student Press Freedoms
The report is co-authored with the American Association of University Professors, the Student Press Law Center and the College Media Association.
NCAC Defends Place of The Perks of Being a Wallflower In Iowa Classrooms; UPDATE: Committee Votes in Favor of Keeping the Book
NCAC has written in defense of Chbosky's oft-challenged novel, which Iowa parents claimed was 'obscene.'
NCAC Criticizes WA Daycare Program’s Ban on Books With ‘Frightening Images’
NCAC's letter expresses concern that the "frightening images" stipulation is over broad and may end up excluding valuable literature.
Iowa Parents Argue The Perks of Being A Wallflower Potentially Harmful for Students
A review committee has been convened to discuss the future of the book in the Dubuque Community school curriculum.
NCAC Defends Textbook Against Accusations of ‘Islamic Indoctrination’
NCAC's letter underlines the mistake of conflating religious education with religious indoctrination.
NCAC Protests New Effort to Label Books ‘Sexually Explicit’ in Virginia Schools
The proposed regulation is the latest of several similar efforts NCAC has opposed in Virginia.
The Ideas That Unite Us
A post-election letter from NCAC’s Executive Director.
Arkansas Lawmakers Threaten to Cut University’s Funding Over Student Anthem Protest
Their decision to defund the University over the protest would amount to the government engaging in viewpoint discrimination.
NCAC’s Top 16 Free Speech Defenders (& Offenders) in 2016
Facebook, nude art and conservative lawmakers are just a few elements of NCAC's top offenders/defenders of free speech list. But who made the no 1 spots?
Oklahoma Library System Embroiled in Issue Over Placement of LGBT Books
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.
Washington State Daycare Program Prohibits Kids’ Access to ‘Frightening’ Books
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.
After Censorship Request, Author Cancels Reading on Columbia U. Radio
Author Laurie Stone was abruptly asked to censor her reading because it did not match the university's values.
NCAC to Virginia School District: Drop Prior Restraint Policy for Student Journalism
NCAC has written a letter recommending a Virginia school district to repeal a policy that permits principals to exercise prior review of school newspapers.
Library Pub. Suggests YA Novel with Bi Character Inappropriate for Young Readers; UPDATE: Response from VOYA
VOYA dismissed critics of its recommendation. But why are VOYA readers rightly concerned?
KRRP’s Annual Recap of Top Book Censorship Cases
For Banned Books Week, the Kids' Right to Read Project has released its annual recap of book censorship cases. Labeling books "sexually explicit", the teaching of Islam in schools and sanitizing slavery, it's all here in the form of a handy, printable flyer.
NCAC to Florida School: Drop Student Requirement for Parent Permission to Protest
NCAC has written to a Florida school protesting a rule requiring parental permission prior to student protest on the grounds it infringes student free expression.
YA Author Coe Booth on Reading to Find Commonality in the Other
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.