In 2022, while America is the land of the free, this may not apply across the board. There is a growing trend of book banning designed to prevent ideas and books from being shown to children in school. Some states are banning books that cover race and LBGTQ+ issues, while other states are not allowing teachers to discuss these topics. Some believe that this is part of a larger effort to hold influence over society in general.
What Is Causing the Trend in Book Banning?
One of the primary causes is the polarization in the United States. As the left moves further left and the right moves further right, they become more deeply divided over all issues, including education, women’s rights, and more. In fact, 70% of Americans believe that the United States can’t solve major issues due to this polarization. These issues are spilling over into education.
Laws Regulating Schools
Florida has passed a law that allows parents to sue school boards if they believe their policies violate laws. This includes the new bill that bans the discussion of gender identity and sexuality in schools through the third grade. In Kansas, they passed a law making it a class B misdemeanor for teachers to use materials that depict homosexuality in the classroom, and Arizona allows parents to sue teachers and school districts if they feel that their rights as parents are violated.
Parallels to the Current Trend of Book Banning
As parents demand that they have a say in what books are in schools and libraries, people wonder if there is a parallel. The most recent exist in the Soviet Union and Russia. In 2013, Russia introduced a law that made it illegal to equate gay and straight relationships. China banned the book Tombstone because it showed China’s rulers in a negative light. Although the tactics are similar, it is important to note that the United States is a democracy, which makes it different. The banning in those countries is much more serious. However, banning concepts and books from the classroom is a dangerous trend that could change democracy.