As conservative parents compile lists of 'radical and racist' texts, critics warn of censorship.
A rising tide of complaints
Challenges have come from the left, as well. A school district near Seattle, Washington, dropped the 1960 Harper Lee classic To Kill a Mockingbird from its curriculum because of its depiction of race relations and use of racist language. "We are a government, a society that purports to protect freedom of speech, the freedom to access information to make up our own minds, to engage in a broadly liberal education," she says. "And we're now finding that we have a movement to shut down that conversation, to deny those rights, particularly to young people.
Free-speech proponents counter that libraries are meant to serve an entire community of students, not just the ones with the most prudish parents. And although students are not adults, they still have rights - and agency. A dialogue between parents, teachers and librarians is important, but if teenagers seek out information on a topic of interest, they should have access to it.
Levin is quick to note that her group does not approve of such parental conduct and they seek to train their members to behave "respectfully and professional" at school board meetings. Justice agrees, calling her members "joyful warriors", but adds that parents have reason to be angry.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘This Is Us’ actor opens up about abortion: ‘I knew the right thing to do’‘Birth was bearable because I had chosen it,’ she wrote of having her first child a decade after the procedure
Read more »
U.S. Takes Silver in Team Figure Skating – and the Best Could Be Yet to ComeThe team figure skating results may foreshadow a strong showing for Team USA in the upcoming ice dance events.
Read more »
Our landlord is kicking us out because he doesn't want to repair our homeA COUPLE say they are being forced out of their home with their three kids as their landlord is refusing to make repairs. Claire Wanless, 29, and her partner Gary Dormer, 44, say their three-bed Li…
Read more »
Suicide bombing that killed 13 US service members 'not preventable'The suicide bombing in Kabul that killed 13 US service members and over 170 Afghans on August 26 was 'not preventable,' the Pentagon announced on Friday following a probe into the attack.
Read more »