Organizations monitoring the elimination of books from educational institutions are expressing concerns over a recent announcement from the Department of Education (DOE) that labeled these bans as a “hoax.” In this announcement, the DOE also dismissed eleven complaints that had been filed during the Biden administration. Meanwhile, a conservative organization hailed the department’s stance as “welcome news.”
In recent years, groups such as PEN America and the American Library Association have documented thousands of book bans across the nation. The books that have been primarily targeted often address LGBTQ+ or racial topics, including works like Maia Kobabe’s graphic memoir, “Gender Queer,” and Angie Thomas’ novel, “The Hate U Give.” Many of the campaigns for these removals have been spearheaded by organizations such as Moms for Liberty, which advocate for increasing parental input concerning book selections in schools. Nonetheless, states like Iowa and Florida have introduced laws that limit the content of library books and expand the authority of parents and community members to challenge book availability.
In response to these removals, the Biden administration had criticized the actions and appointed a coordinator to handle related grievances. However, the recent administration under Trump has reversed these policies, disbanding the coordinator’s position and deeming the complaints as baseless.
Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the DOE, commented that the department is initiating steps to “restore the fundamental rights of parents to direct their children’s education.” The announcement was titled: “U.S. Department of Education Ends Biden’s Book Ban Hoax.” This choice of language has been met with criticism. Kasey Meehan, head of PEN America’s Freedom to Read program, characterized it as “alarming and dismissive” of the experiences of students, educators, and librarians who have felt the effects of censorship in educational settings.
Additionally, the library association criticized the announcement as part of a “cruel and headlong effort to terminate protections from discrimination for LGBTQIA+ students and students of color.” They emphasized, “Book bans are real.” They suggest reaching out to students who are unable to access essential literary works required for college or parents whose children cannot borrow a book about gay penguins titled “And Tango Makes Three.” Moreover, they pointed to school librarians who have faced job losses for championing reading freedom, stating, “While a parent has the right to guide their own children’s reading, their beliefs and prejudices should not dictate what another parent chooses for their own children.”
Nicole Neily, president of Parents Defending Education, voiced her approval of the department’s decision to cease investigations into what she referred to as “so-called ‘book-banners.’” She argued that for years, parents have expressed a desire to be informed about the availability of sexually explicit materials to young children, and claimed they faced media and political backlash for these concerns.
