censorship

Library workers in K-12 schools are bound by federal laws that those in public libraries might not be. Because school library histories are part of a student’s educational record, parents can see them.

Art Smith, the parent of a nonbinary child, said the Independence School District’s removal of a book including a non-binary character makes it hard for kids like his to feel welcome. Other parents say the book isn’t age-appropriate.

The district said the decision was about parents having enough information to choose what is appropriate for their children. But the one board member who voted to keep the book in libraries called the move "dangerous."

Are there books that contain ideas so crucial to understanding the world that it's actually dangerous not to read them? We reached out to Kansas City's biggest book-readers and change-makers to find out what titles they'd put on such a list. Here's what they said.

A Derby resident said she filed her challenge to illustrate the consequences of censorship. The Bible is used as a textbook in Derby High School’s “Bible as Literature” course, a one-semester elective.

"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie was challenged by the grandparent of a Derby ninth-grader. A district committee decided to no longer allow teachers to use the novel in lessons and to remove it from the library at Derby North Middle School.

Muchas de las objeciones recientes se refieren a libros que tratan de temas raciales o LGBTQ — impulsadas por los padres que están apelando directamente a las juntas escolares.

Many of the recent objections are to books that deal with race or LGBTQ issues — driven by parents who are appealing directly to school boards.

Book challenges are up about 60% over the past year. Free speech advocates say many books are being challenged by parents and community members under the guise that they’re promoting critical race theory.

The list of books includes several well-known novels, including “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood, “Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison, “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky.

A lawsuit alleged the New Century Adult Detention Center had refused to deliver dozens of mailings to inmates, in violation of their First Amendment rights.

The lawsuit says that at least 58 items have been rejected, including HRDC’s Prison Legal News and Criminal Legal News, monthly publications that cover criminal justice and prison issues.