Stop Book Bans at ISD in Denton, Texas
Texas Education Agency and Denton ISD Board of Trustees
Students love to learn about new topics, explore different perspectives, and find hope and inspiration in stories. Unfortunately kids across the state of Texas are facing the most widespread book bans in the United States with more than 800 books banned in classrooms and school libraries across at least 20 school districts—including the Denton Independent School District (ISD). It’s unfortunate that some politicians and administrators would rather restrict students’ access to knowledge and stories like All Boys Aren’t Blue rather than support the free expression of ideas.
Many students and community members in Denton want students to have access to books so we’re supporting them to let the Texas Education Agency and Denton ISD Board of Trustees that concerned parents across the country are paying attention to these book bans.
Add your name to tell the Denton ISD that you oppose book banning.
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Banned in the USA, a report from the nonprofit free-expression organization PEN America, shows that our kids’ education is under attack by politicians who want to ban books that talk about topics including racism and same-sex relationships. In its conclusion the organization states: “Book bans have an ignominious history–they have been the tools of heinous regimes from Nazi Germany to apartheid South Africa. Wrestling with how we teach history and tell our stories is part of a lively democratic discourse. But resorting to draconian tactics of banning books, silencing writers, and attempting to erase stories and communities represents an unacceptable attack on First Amendment freedoms fundamental to democracy.”
Book bans in schools are a deeply unpopular part of a national conservative agenda to remove age-appropriate books about diversity, tolerance, self-expression, justice, and love from classrooms, schools, libraries, and even private bookstores.
As high school student Shulamith Armintor told the Denton Record-Chronicle, “through literature and through media, people learn to respect other people because they have something to relate to.”
Please open up a dialogue with students who support free expression, and end the book ban in Denton. Please focus on bringing students together to learn and be themselves rather than censoring diversity.