Book bans harm communities. Books are critical tools for understanding complex issues. Young people deserve to see themselves reflected in books. Limiting young people’s access to books does not protect them from life’s unique and challenging aspects. Take a stand against book bans and defend the right to read in your community.
ASEO Member Representative Chris Rabb has introduced House Bill 1374 (see below), which:
– Requires school boards to establish an educational resource material review committee that goes through a thorough review of the materials as facilitated by experts familiar with the content of the disputed material, prior to a motion being made by an elected school board to remove such material;
– Requires that the elected school board member who seeks to ban a book sign an attestation that they have checked out and read the entire book they seek to ban within the past 12 months; and
– Prohibits school districts from banning books because they discuss topics such as race and LGBTQ+ issues.