Monica Chavez BROWNSVILLE-Since 2021 some school districts in Texas have been banning certain books in public school libraries— leading to push back from advocates.
The work of an organization has reversed House Bill 900 through research and reporting across the U.S.
“We live in a pluralistic society with different people who have different experiences than us, and being able to have that available and be able to make sure that our students are prepared to enter that pluralistic society is important and vital to their education and vital to an informed citizenry.” Baeta said.
On Jan. 17 a Federal Appeals court rejected an attempt to reinstate a Texas law that banned sexually explicit books from public school libraries.
House Bill 900, a law signed by Governor Greg Abbot last June, mandated that booksellers evaluate and rate books for sexual content before selling them to primary and secondary schools.
The bill was blocked as it violated the first amendment’s protection against compelled speech.
On the front line of the battle against book bans is pen America, a global nonprofit organization that promotes free expression and human rights through literature. Both in the U.S. And around the world.
Pen America program manager on freedom to read in America, Sabrina Baeta says its main task is to inform.
“We do research and reporting around the state of book bans in Texas, but across the country as well. Being able to talk to educators, librarians, legislators as well about how book banning may be impacting them and what strategies they can use to be able to stop it and why it’s important.” Baeta Said.
Amid the controversy over book bans, a candidate for Missouri secretary of state Valentina Gomez went viral on social media by publicly burning two books in early February: an L.G.B.T.Q. guide for teens and a sex education manual.
Gomez said on her Instagram, and I quote: “When I’m secretary of state, I will burn all books that are grooming, indoctrinating, and sexualizing our children.”
Baeta says censorious legislation continues to be a facet of political campaigns.
“It is so distinctly un-American to burn books in any context. In any situation, and to use that as a political stunt to gain votes to me as a free expression advocate, is very harrowing. It was extremely damaging to both the students who were witnessing this, but the people whose lives are represented in those books that were being burned.” Baeta Said.
Brownsville library branch manager, Brenda Treviño says the B.I.S.D. district has no need for no issues with book bans and speaks about the importance of personal choice.
