Back when I was working on the board of the CBLDF I got very used to the idea of material for adults being challenged by people who thought comics were for children. The idea of books aimed at children being challenged just because they had positive black characters was unimaginable. The world's changed.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/comics/2023/04/08/jerry-craft-new-kid-school-trip-book-ban/

@neilhimself We just packed up my wife's classroom library yesterday, maybe 400 novels, based on official guidance from more than one direction. State law here is specific to sexual content but nebulous in nature, and parents are challenging books based on things outside the law, enough that the risks are just too great for our family.

The books could be kept on the shelves if:

a list is provided to parents, opening teachers to attack and lawsuits from previous exposure
the books are reviewed for content, but the language in the law allows for differences in opinion to turn into lawsuits against both the district and the teacher
a permission slip is signed for a student to read a specific book

Under cover of night, Romeo (age 16) and Juliet (age 13) consummate their marriage. Hard not to admit it includes "content involving human reproduction or sexual matters" when the price of failure is a felony. If adopted curriculum (Gatsby, Mockingbird, 1984, Giver, Outsiders), stuff read by most students in US public schools over the last 40 years isn't considered safe anymore, modern young adult fiction doesn't stand a chance. 📚💔

@knapjack @neilhimself

Might I add that the bible, biology books, national geographic, encyclopedias and other books are now in contempt by this standard.

But, this was never about being correct- it was about making people happy. But no one ever was- nor will be.

@lucifargundam @knapjack @neilhimself Here's a crazy thought: how about, if you don't like a book/don't want your child to read a book ... just don't read it/make it available to them... BUT... if the book is required reading for school then you read it with your child, and have a discussion with them about what you find objectionable or concerning