PA Could Pass Law To Stem Book-Banning Tide

PENNSYLVANIA — Banning books from school libraries and curriculum would become considerably more difficult to do if a bill a state lawmaker is preparing to introduce becomes law.

State Rep. Christopher Rabb's forthcoming legislation would require the Pennsylvania Department of Education and school board seeking to ban a book to participate in at least two public hearings on the book in question. The hearings would be moderated by professionals with knowledge on the book and its contents, and would be required before a school board vote to ban the book.

"These book bans are an attempt to censor educators and restrict the information and educational
materials that students can have access to in school," Rabb, a Philadelphia Democrat, wrote in a memo to colleagues.

"In addition, these effectively unilateral decisions made by school boards are extremely harmful to LGBTQ+ youth and students of color given that the subjects discussed in these so-called “inappropriate” and “explicit” books often discuss many serious and real issues impacting these communities."

The legislation is being introduced after a recent study revealed that Pennsylvania has the third-most banned books in the country. More than 450 books are either challenged or banned by 11 school districts across the state.

Rabb noted such bans are unpopular among teachers and students, but school directors continue to ignore their opinions.

"It’s time we establish uniform procedures that school boards follow before they can simply

eliminate access to books for students," Rabb stated.

"Students should not be subjected to restrictive and potentially hostile learning environments because the school board of their assigned school district made decisions about what
books they can and can’t have access to in school."

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