Dear Ellen Weaver,

   Across the country and in South Carolina, educators are limited in the classroom through banned books and curriculum that limit teachers' use of culturally responsive teaching. As a current education major in South Carolina, I urge all politicians, parents, and educators to consider the values they want to see within South Carolina schools. 

   Culturally Responsive Teaching is a research-based teaching practice that connects students' cultures, languages, and life experiences with their learning and doing in the classroom. I want to preface that culturally responsive teaching and critical race theory are different education frameworks. I will advocate for culturally responsive teaching, a research-based best practice. Education Week found that by using culturally responsive teaching practices, educators can center the knowledge and understanding of traditionally marginalized communities in classroom instruction. Each student brings a unique background and culture into the classroom community, which is welcomed and celebrated in a culturally responsive classroom. 

   Banned Books are becoming a barrier to culturally responsive teaching practices. Books are banned across the country for a variety of reasons A. Nearly 209 picture book titles have been banned nationwide, with most highlighting LGBTQIA+ topics or topics surrounding race. In an April 2022 study, PEN America found that 26 states have book bans. As documented in a recent journal, books written by authors of color or marginalized backgrounds are also disproportionally targeted for book banning and challenges. 

   Book bans must stop for teachers to be able to use culturally responsive teaching practices and teach the students in front of them by creating windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors for their students through the books in their classroom library. 

   I challenge all parents and educators to continue the fight for classrooms that value all students and celebrate the differences and similarities among its students. We must continue to fight against the curriculum that limits culturally responsive teaching and the books in teachers' classroom libraries. In order to continue this fight, reach out to your local representatives and South Carolina representatives in order to end this censorship.