Hanover schools lead state chapter on banned books

The organization determined the number of books banned in each school division across the country. Between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, Hanover County Public Schools removed 75 books from their schools. This reflects a nationwide trend that has seen a dramatic increase in suspension rates in recent years, the report notes.

“Book contests in American schools are nothing new, but… frankly, the results are shocking,” Jonathan Friedman, director of PEN America’s Free Expression and Education program and lead author of the report, said in a statement. “The banning of books in schools is unprecedented in this country in terms of frequency, intensity and success.”

While the Hanover County school division faces scrutiny for changing a policy that makes it easier to remove books from libraries, officials stand by the decision, saying the goal is not censorship but to protect young children from content and topics the board finds inappropriate.

South Anna Parish School Board President Bob May defended the decision Friday.

“The School Board believes that our libraries provide a wide range of age-appropriate materials. Deselecting these books carries out the will of the School Board, the policy we have approved, and the associated regulation,” May said. “We have no plans to reconsider this policy at this time.”

PEN America describes itself as a century-old, international nonprofit organization of thousands of writers and publishers that aims to protect freedom of expression. The report’s data came from public records obtained from relevant public school divisions across the country.

In its findings, the organization determined that: The highest expulsion rate was seen in the 2023-2024 academic year The numbers have continued to increase in recent years.

The report notes that nearly 16,000 books have been received from approximately 415 public school districts in 43 states since 2021, with nearly 10,000 of those occurring during last year’s school year.

In Hanover County, the book removal rate has far exceeded the 200% annual increase reported nationally.

Hanover County Public Schools through the 2022-2023 school year. He took 19 books from libraries. The following year, another 75 books were banned, an increase of almost 300% on the previous year.

Similarly, the report found that the vast majority of books targeted for removal explored themes such as: “race, racism, sexual orientation and gender identity.”

“This crisis is tragic for young people hungry to understand the world they live in and to see their identities and experiences reflected in books,” said Kasey Meehan, director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read program.

• “Half of a Yellow Sun” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, which discusses the impact of British colonialism on Nigeria;
• Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” about characters living in a futuristic dystopian world under a patriarchal totalitarian government;
• Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s 1969 classic science fiction anti-war novel “Slaughterhouse Five”;
• “Diary of a Freedom Writer” by Erin Grunwell is a nonfiction account of how a teacher and 150 inner-city public school students used writing to implement change in their community;
• “People Are Killing People” by Ellen Hopkins is a young adult novel that explores the roles gun violence and white supremacy play in children’s lives;
• and Casey McQuiston’s young adult novel “Red, White and Royal Blue,” about a romantic relationship between two male characters.

The latest increase in book removals occurred when the appointed Hanover County School Board voted 5-2 in June 2023. rewriting a policy governing library material election that will give him/her sole discretion and authority to remove any book within the section as long as there is a majority vote.

The department’s current policy also allows school administrators to remove books through an internal review process that does not require board approval.

The multi-step review process begins with the school administrator selecting a book for removal. There is then a window of time for teachers, librarians, and principals to submit a reconsideration waiver to the School Board’s Library Materials Committee for further consideration. If no waiver is submitted, the book is automatically removed from circulation.

In recent years the Hanover School Board has relied on: school policy 6-5.2 Making final book removal decisions, citing responsibility for removing books that “contain sexual content” – as defined by Virginia state rules.

“We’re not trying to ban ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ we’re not trying to ban anything,” Steve Ikenberry, who represents the Cold Harbor District, said at the board meeting. June 13, 2023, meeting. “The books we’re talking about have exaggerated graphics.”

But Hanover County Banned Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” in 1966 school board members classify the novel as “obscene.” It remained out of circulation for decades before being reinstated.

To date, the department has removed more than 90 books from schools.

The report stated that 121 books were banned across the state. Only Texas (538) and Wisconsin (408) had banned more.

GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a law in 2022 that requires Virginia schools to notify parents if their children are given books or other materials with sexually explicit content. As a candidate for governor, Youngkin promised to strengthen parents’ involvement in their children’s education.