As a profession, we stand firmly against censorship of books and ideas. We oppose people burning books in parking lots, people suggesting “well…couldn’t we find something nicer to read?,” books being taken out of a classroom because they might give readers “ideas” (gasp!), and every other type of overt or covert censorship.
It’s enshrined in our code of ethics; scroll down – it’s #2, just after our focus on service to all.
People who know nothing else about library staffers know this: We share books, we share ideas, and we do it for everyone.
But it’s easy to say that, and it’s a lot harder to make that idea a reality. A school library person needs support from the community, including the administration.
So, our admiration and applause goes out to the teachers who assigned a variety of books to students in South Carolina’s Wando High School – because reading books about people not exactly like you is a great way to learn new ideas and develop empathy for other people.
And we add a burst of applause and admiration to the school’s principal, Sherry Eppelsheimer, for supporting these teachers in the face of some pretty fierce opposition!
We aren’t alone here: the S.C. Association of School Librarians gave Eppelsheimer its Intellectual Freedom Award!
From the Post and Courier newspaper: “Wando High School found itself in the spotlight last summer after English teachers sent students home with a list of summer reading options that included “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas and “All American Boys” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely.
Both books involve police brutality or shootings of civilians, echoing similar stories in the news.
The president of the Charleston-area Fraternal Order of Police chapter, Tri-County Lodge No. 3, went on television news to complain about the books, which he said instilled “almost an indoctrination of distrust of police.””
Yes: it seems so obvious. NOT reading about problems does not make problems go away, or make them better. Of course. But this is the perpetual call of the censor, the people who want to hide from ideas that are new and maybe uncomfortable. When that call comes from otherwise respected members of a community, or people with authority, it can almost sound like it’s a good idea.
So it’s wonderful to see that not only did this principal support her teachers and students, but that the library profession gathered to support her! It’s the best way to overcome bullies, and foolish ideas: We are stronger when we work together!
At the award ceremony, Eppelsheimer was shown a video of thanks from the authors of these books. ““From the bottom of my heart, thank you — not so much for fighting for my book, but for fighting for your students,” Thomas said. “At the end of the end of the day, this is what this is about. This is about making sure that all kids get books where they can see themselves or they can see others, whether or not it makes the adults in their lives uncomfortable.”” Check out the video on their Facebook page!
““Dr. Eppelsheimer is an advocate for teachers and students,” Wando teacher Lucye Magill said in a press release from the district. “One of her main priorities is to make sure that our teachers feel supported in their choice of curriculum. She trusts and respects the instructional decisions of her teachers.”
Both books were recipients of the Coretta Scott King Award, and “The Hate U Give” was a national bestseller before it was adapted for a film released last fall. The American Library Association, which tracks public challenges and bans of books, placed “The Hate U Give” on its top 10 most challenged books in 2017 list.“