Global Courant
A bill in California would impose fines on school districts that ban books.
Introduced and written by Riverside Assemblyman Corey Jackson, the measure does not ban books. However, it would impose a fine if books are prohibited because they contain ‘inclusive and diverse perspectives’.
The bill, AB 1078, was drafted to directly target the local school board’s control over the curriculum and books allowed in schools. The measure was heard in the Senate Education Committee and passed 5-2 on Wednesday.
The bill, AB 1078, which aims directly at local school board control over curricula and books allowed in schools, was heard in the Senate Education Committee and passed 5-2. (Fox news)
Tensions rose during a debate from both sides about banning books at a Wednesday hearing of the California State Senate education committee. (Fox news)
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Tensions ran high during a debate from both sides over banning books at the California State Senate Education Committee hearing.
“Our students of color and our LGBTQ+ students should not be threatened because of their views, and their education should not be denied them,” said Tony Thurmond, superintendent of public education, who spoke in favor of the bill.
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Thurmond continued, “As a former board member, I value local control very much. But local control does not give anyone the right to threaten, bully or mistreat our students.”
An aerial view of the California State Capitol on February 1, 2023 in Sacramento, California. (Justin Sullivan/Justin Sullivan)
This comes after a newly released report found that nearly 1,500 books were banned in the first half of the 2022-2023 school year. According to PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans lists, there were 1,477 copies of individual books banned in the first half of the 2022-2023 school year.
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PEN America recorded more book bans during the fall of 2022 than in any of the previous two semesters.
PEN America also reports that 30% of banned “unique titles” are books about race, racism, or characters of color. They also note that 26% of banned unique titles have LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
PEN America claimed to have tracked book-banning efforts over the past two years, documenting the growth of book-ban advocacy groups, the widespread challenges to books across the country, local-level efforts such as policies and procedures of school districts, and state-level policies.
The book ban issue is prevalent in red states such as Texas, Florida, Missouri, Utah and South Carolina, where it was addressed by local school boards.
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Joshua Q. Nelson is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
Joshua focuses on politics, education policy ranging from the local to federal level, and parental rebellion in education.
He joined Fox News Digital in 2019 and previously graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in political science and is an alum of the Heritage Foundation’s National Journalism Center and Young Leaders Program.
Story tips can be sent to joshua.nelson@fox.com and Joshua can be followed Twitter And LinkedIn.
