Recently within our district, multiple books have been pushed to be banned within our middle and high school libraries. Coincidentally, these books are commonly written by minorities, discussing controversial issues within our world today. From police brutality to LGBTQ+ rights, despite personal opinion, these books should remain in our libraries to ensure the allowance of a diverse and inclusive education for all children within our district. The ability of novels to be mirrors, reflecting personal experiences, and doors to explore other cultures, perspectives, and issues is automatically stripped from students when books are banned or require parental permission in our school libraries. All novels are important to society and important for our community to accept so that we can promote tolerance and acceptance instead of censorship and hate.

This petition was created because of the heightened push for a complete ban, or parental permission, put on books within our school libraries. Some of the books pushed for removal or parental permission include “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison, “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson, etc. While these books may not be of individual importance to some, they represent minority stories and issues that are constantly undervalued in our society today. These stories are important for students to have access to and explore for personal or societal value and be able to read and personalize a diverse education. With so many resources for information today, from social media and the internet, having these novels in a safe space like a school library promotes the idea of knowledge being power, and that power being used for the betterment of an individual or a community.

There is already a system in place for parents who do not want their children reading certain content or a certain level of material. Parents can request our professional district librarians, requiring their child to gain permission before taking out a book. This is where restrictions on individual library books should stop. Our district, and our community, should not have the ability to censor a student's access to literature that could help them succeed and understand not only controversial issues, but their own personal identity. Help us promote inclusivity and acceptance with literature, instead of persecution and hate. Please sign this petition to help show your support of keeping all books in our school libraries, without restrictions!