For the fifth year in a row, NCTE’s leadership is recognized in a federal bicameral resolution supporting the freedom to read books without censorship as well as supporting the freedom of expression of writers.
Introduced by Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii, the resolution coincides with Banned Books Week, taking place this year October 4–10. The annual event is organized by the Banned Books Week Coalition, of which NCTE has been a part for 15 years.
This year’s resolution, which garnered a record number of original cosponsors in the US House of Representatives and Senate, again notes that “the majority of book bans were enacted without following the best practice guidelines for book challenges outlined by the American Library Association, the National Coalition Against Censorship, and the National Council of Teachers of English.” Representative Raskin also recognized NCTE in a press release for its endorsement of the resolution.
“NCTE appreciates that more lawmakers than ever have stepped forward to declare their support for our efforts to counter book bans,” NCTE Executive Director Emily Kirkpatrick said. “We will continue to stand up to protect students’ and teachers’ ability to access and learn from books that make for richer classroom experiences and a lifetime of accessing written and creative works.”
Regarding education specifically, the resolution calls on local governments and school districts to follow recommended practices of literacy and intellectual freedom leaders when addressing challenges to individual books, and to “protect the rights of students to learn and the ability of educators and librarians to teach, including by providing students with the opportunity to read a wide array of books reflecting the full breadth and diversity of viewpoints and perspectives.” The resolution further calls for repealing federal actions that have restricted freedoms to read and learn in public schools based on content.