Tennessee sees surge in books banned in public schools. Here's which ones and why
At least 13 Tennessee counties saw books removed from public school library shelves over the past year, marking the highest number of book removals the state has seen since the passage of the Age Appropriate Materials Act in 2022.
Nearly 1,400 books, consisting of 1,155 unique titles, were either fully removed from school libraries or heavily age-restricted between December 2023 and January.
Classic titles like 'The Color Purple" by Alice Walker, 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card, 'Slaughterhouse Five' by Kurt Vonnegut and other titles joined the growing list of books banned in schools across the state as school administrators try to comply with the new law.
Between 2021 and July 2023, only about 300 books faced similar challenges across the state. Now, in less than half that time, at least 1,389 books were found to be removed or heavily age-restricted statewide over the past year.
This count does not include books pulled from shelves that are currently under review, of which there are hundreds across the state.
The removals are part of sweeping and often chaotic attempts by districts to comply with the Age Appropriate Materials Act, which requires each public school library in the state to publish a list of materials in their collections and periodically review them to make sure they are 'appropriate for the age and maturity levels of the students who may access the materials,' and to remove materials that do not meet the numerous parameters listed in the law.
The law is one of a slew of similar laws that have been passed in the state over the past three years, which have expanded the definitions of book violations under the law and added civil penalties against schools and criminal penalties for book publishers and distributors if they are found to provide books in schools that violate the law.
Twenty-one counties either did not respond to multiple records requests in time for publication, or do not having sufficient means to provide such data.
The top three counties with the highest number of removed books are:
Monroe County: 574
Wilson County: 425
Roane County: 138
Not all of these removals are due to public complaints, either, as schools are now required to periodically review and remove books internally due to potential content violations. For example, Monroe County Schools, which reported the highest number of book removals with 574 titles, removed all of these books in an effort to comply with the law before any complaints were filed against them.
The total number of books removed is likely far higher, as well, as some counties do not keep explicit records of books removed from libraries due to content issues, as long as the books are pulled internally by staff members prior to any public complaints.
For example, in Blount and Moore counties, books that are removed from libraries due to potential content violations, prior to complaints, are not separated from books removed due to normal wear and tear, making it nearly impossible to track the number of books preemptively removed from libraries due to content reasons.
The stark jump in book removals mimic national trends tracked by PEN America, a nonprofit advocacy group focused on free expression and literary access.
Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read program director at PEN America, said the organization tracked over 10,000 book removals over 29 states and 200 public school districts during the 2023-2024 school year — a record high in the four years the organization has tracked such activity.
Still, Meehan said, this number is likely an 'under-count' of the true number of removals, due to the complex laws placed on school administrators across the country resulting in each school district handling the removal process differently and making the removals nearly impossible to track.
'We call it like 'soft censorship,'' she said. 'The idea is that materials are being removed or limited or never purchased at all, without there being a formal challenge, despite a book potentially being a good book that would serve a community.'
This soft censorship is even labeled as an emerging trend in PEN America's 2024 Banned in the USA report, including instances in Texas and California where entire libraries were closed in order to have collections audited rather than face complaints.
Deborah Caldwell-Stone, the director at the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, said the rise in 'soft censorship' is often a result of librarians and school administrators seeking to protect themselves from increasingly harsh punishments and public controversy.
'This culture of fear that they're creating around this issue certainly is contributing to some librarians' decisions to either not order particular books or remove books that are on the shelf to so that they don't risk their jobs or risk a controversy that could cost them their jobs,' she said.
Meehan said removing books for potentially being inappropriate only results in limiting access to literature that is already vetted under states' obscenity laws.
'We can very directly debunk the idea that there is porn in schools, or that there is obscene materials in schools,' she said. 'I think that people are taking issue with certain types of representation and certain types of content. There have always been sensible systems in place for parents to be engaging with educators and administrators and librarians in their district about what their student is reading. But what we see happening, you know, at a large scale, is the viewpoint of one or some impacting what's accessible for all.'
The full list of counties that removed or restricted books are:
Cannon County: 3
Franklin County: 58
Hardin County: 1
Knox County: 48
Lincoln County: 5
Macon: 73
Monroe: 574
Putnam: 2
Roane: 138
Rutherford: 49
Trousdale: 7
Williamson: 5
Wilson: 445
The USA TODAY Network - Tennessee's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners.
Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@gannett.com, by phone at 931-623-9485, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee banned books: See list from Tennessee public schools in 2024
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Yahoo
Tennessee sees surge in books banned in public schools. Here's which ones and why
At least 13 Tennessee counties saw books removed from public school library shelves over the past year, marking the highest number of book removals the state has seen since the passage of the Age Appropriate Materials Act in 2022. Nearly 1,400 books, consisting of 1,155 unique titles, were either fully removed from school libraries or heavily age-restricted between December 2023 and January. Classic titles like 'The Color Purple" by Alice Walker, 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card, 'Slaughterhouse Five' by Kurt Vonnegut and other titles joined the growing list of books banned in schools across the state as school administrators try to comply with the new law. Between 2021 and July 2023, only about 300 books faced similar challenges across the state. Now, in less than half that time, at least 1,389 books were found to be removed or heavily age-restricted statewide over the past year. This count does not include books pulled from shelves that are currently under review, of which there are hundreds across the state. The removals are part of sweeping and often chaotic attempts by districts to comply with the Age Appropriate Materials Act, which requires each public school library in the state to publish a list of materials in their collections and periodically review them to make sure they are 'appropriate for the age and maturity levels of the students who may access the materials,' and to remove materials that do not meet the numerous parameters listed in the law. The law is one of a slew of similar laws that have been passed in the state over the past three years, which have expanded the definitions of book violations under the law and added civil penalties against schools and criminal penalties for book publishers and distributors if they are found to provide books in schools that violate the law. Twenty-one counties either did not respond to multiple records requests in time for publication, or do not having sufficient means to provide such data. The top three counties with the highest number of removed books are: Monroe County: 574 Wilson County: 425 Roane County: 138 Not all of these removals are due to public complaints, either, as schools are now required to periodically review and remove books internally due to potential content violations. For example, Monroe County Schools, which reported the highest number of book removals with 574 titles, removed all of these books in an effort to comply with the law before any complaints were filed against them. The total number of books removed is likely far higher, as well, as some counties do not keep explicit records of books removed from libraries due to content issues, as long as the books are pulled internally by staff members prior to any public complaints. For example, in Blount and Moore counties, books that are removed from libraries due to potential content violations, prior to complaints, are not separated from books removed due to normal wear and tear, making it nearly impossible to track the number of books preemptively removed from libraries due to content reasons. The stark jump in book removals mimic national trends tracked by PEN America, a nonprofit advocacy group focused on free expression and literary access. Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read program director at PEN America, said the organization tracked over 10,000 book removals over 29 states and 200 public school districts during the 2023-2024 school year — a record high in the four years the organization has tracked such activity. Still, Meehan said, this number is likely an 'under-count' of the true number of removals, due to the complex laws placed on school administrators across the country resulting in each school district handling the removal process differently and making the removals nearly impossible to track. 'We call it like 'soft censorship,'' she said. 'The idea is that materials are being removed or limited or never purchased at all, without there being a formal challenge, despite a book potentially being a good book that would serve a community.' This soft censorship is even labeled as an emerging trend in PEN America's 2024 Banned in the USA report, including instances in Texas and California where entire libraries were closed in order to have collections audited rather than face complaints. Deborah Caldwell-Stone, the director at the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, said the rise in 'soft censorship' is often a result of librarians and school administrators seeking to protect themselves from increasingly harsh punishments and public controversy. 'This culture of fear that they're creating around this issue certainly is contributing to some librarians' decisions to either not order particular books or remove books that are on the shelf to so that they don't risk their jobs or risk a controversy that could cost them their jobs,' she said. Meehan said removing books for potentially being inappropriate only results in limiting access to literature that is already vetted under states' obscenity laws. 'We can very directly debunk the idea that there is porn in schools, or that there is obscene materials in schools,' she said. 'I think that people are taking issue with certain types of representation and certain types of content. There have always been sensible systems in place for parents to be engaging with educators and administrators and librarians in their district about what their student is reading. But what we see happening, you know, at a large scale, is the viewpoint of one or some impacting what's accessible for all.' The full list of counties that removed or restricted books are: Cannon County: 3 Franklin County: 58 Hardin County: 1 Knox County: 48 Lincoln County: 5 Macon: 73 Monroe: 574 Putnam: 2 Roane: 138 Rutherford: 49 Trousdale: 7 Williamson: 5 Wilson: 445 The USA TODAY Network - Tennessee's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@ by phone at 931-623-9485, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee banned books: See list from Tennessee public schools in 2024
USA Today
31-01-2025
- USA Today
As ICE rumors and reports swirl, what are you doing about it?
As ICE rumors and reports swirl, what are you doing about it? | Opinion This week, our neighbors are being taken from their workplaces. Not in another state, not in a distant city — right here, on our streets, in our neighborhoods, where people live, work, and build their lives. ICE agents are in Tallahassee. Reports are spreading across social media and through text messages that they are targeting workplaces and rounding up undocumented community members. Let's be clear: Immigrants and migrant people are the backbone of this country. Every major industry depends on their labor. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, in 2022 alone, undocumented workers contributed nearly $100 billion in federal, state, and local taxes—paying into benefits they will never even receive. They are arrested for violent crimes at less than half the rate of native-born Americans. And there is no proof that deportation reduces crime. Immigrants are so much more than just labor—they bring culture, history, and love. They are our friends, our partners, our neighbors, and an essential part of our communities. Yet today, they are being vilified and scapegoated as a tool for authoritarian propaganda. Right now, a violent system built to target and remove entire communities is escalating. Laws may change depending on who is in power. What does not change is our humanity and our moral responsibility to one another. Your deference to law enforcement, your benefit of the doubt for public officials, your silence—these are all choices. Novelist Alice Walker reminds us, "The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." You are only powerless if you choose to do nothing. So what can you do? Support the groups doing the work. Organizations like the Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC) are leading the fight here locally. They organize rallies, share safety information, and connect our community to national efforts. Even a $10 monthly donation helps sustain their work. Talk to your immigrant friends and neighbors. This can feel awkward if you don't have a close relationship, so start by signaling your support — yard signs, buttons, or posters in your office identifying you as a safe person. If you speak directly, use neutral language like, 'I read about ways to help and wanted to share what I learned. Do you think anyone at work might benefit from safety planning?' Let them decide if they want to engage. Your role is to show support, not force it, but be ready and informed on ways to connect them with trusted resources. Make your workplace, school, shelter, or community space a safe zone. Visit the National Immigrant Justice Center (Home | National Immigrant Justice Center) for 'Know Your Rights' materials. Post them in visible areas. ICE should not be allowed in without a warrant—educate others on how to push back. More: Leon County School Board meeting tackles community concerns on ICE raids, grant funding More: FHP assists Homeland Security in Jefferson County illegal immigration raid; 12 detained More: National immigration debate comes to Leon County; protest at commission meeting Hold city and county officials accountable. Show up to civic meetings. Call, email, and demand to know what they are doing to keep our community members safe. Be explicit with what you want to see them do. Demand Tallahassee becomes a sanctuary city for our undocumented community members. Tallahassee, this is our moment. ICE is here, and people are being taken. Will you be powerless or powerful? Taylor Biro is a social worker, community activist and third-generation immigrant. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or Your Turn columns (about 500 words) to letters@ Please include your address for verification purposes only, and if you send a Your Turn, also include a photo and 1-2 line bio of yourself. You can also submit anonymous Zing!s at Submissions are published on a space-available basis. All submissions may be edited for content, clarity and length, and may also be published by any part of the USA TODAY NETWORK.
New York Times
09-12-2024
- New York Times
Man Held in C.E.O. Killing Showed Interest in Pop Science and Self-Improvement on Social Media
The social media accounts that appear to belong to Luigi Mangione, the man the police have identified as a 'strong person of interest' in the killing of Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, seemed to show interest in self-improvement, clean eating and critiques of contemporary technology. In the months leading up to the attack, Mr. Mangione, 26, who was arrested in a McDonald's in Altoona, Pa., on Monday, appeared to maintain accounts on platforms including Facebook, X, Instagram and Goodreads, where he shared quotations, reviewed books he had read and reflected on algorithms, self-help texts and guides to touring Hawaii. His LinkedIn profile lists two degrees, a master's and a bachelor's in computer science completed in four years, from the University of Pennsylvania. An interview with Mr. Mangione on a page on the university's website that is now unavailable described him as having started a video game research and development club after reaching out to classmates via a Facebook group for students in the class of 2020. From there, according to his LinkedIn profile, he went on to work as a data engineer. Mr. Mangione's X account doesn't include much that would mark him out from any other young man working in tech. He frequently reposted content from a handful of well-known figures, many of whom focus on self-improvement or the negative health consequences of modern consumption. They include Andrew Huberman, a Stanford neuroscientist who hosts a popular health and science podcast; Tim Urban, a writer and illustrator with a wide readership in Silicon Valley; Tim Ferriss, an entrepreneur known for his book 'The 4-Hour Workweek'; Michael Pollan, who writes about the hazards of processed foods; and Jonathan Haidt, a sociologist at New York University who has written about the dangers of smartphone use by young people. On the book review website Goodreads, Mr. Mangione appeared to track his reading habits. His selections include science fiction ('Ender's Game'), airport bookstore standbys ('Freakonomics,' 'Outliers') and young adult classics like the 'Harry Potter' and 'Hunger Games' series. In some of his reviews, Mr. Mangione linked to Google Docs where he kept more detailed notes. In one scanned handwritten document, he shared his thoughts on the popular science book 'Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance' by Angela Duckworth. Earlier this year, he left a four-star review for 'Industrial Society and Its Future,' better known as the Unabomber manifesto, by Ted Kaczynski, whom Mr. Mangione described as a 'mathematics prodigy' in his review of the work. 'It's easy to quickly and thoughtless write this off as the manifesto of a lunatic, in order to avoid facing some of the uncomfortable problems it identifies,' Mr. Mangione wrote. 'But it's simply impossible to ignore how prescient many of his predictions about modern society turned out.' He added: 'He was a violent individual — rightfully imprisoned — who maimed innocent people. While these actions tend to be characterized as those of a crazy luddite, however, they are more accurately seen as those of an extreme political revolutionary.' Mr. Mangione highlighted a quotation from the children's book 'The Lorax' by Dr. Seuss, which he also shared this year. (He gave the book five out of five stars.) The selected quotation read: 'Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.' On his 'wants to read' list, Mr. Mangione included a forthcoming title, 'Life & the Lindy Effect' by Paul Skallas, who is known for arguing that the longer a phenomenon has been around, the better its chance of lasting far into the future.
