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South Carolina Leads Nation in Public School Book Bans

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Illustration of a classroom with books being removed

News Summary

South Carolina has become the leading state for public school book bans, recent actions by the Board of Education resulted in the removal of 10 additional titles from school libraries. The controversial measures have raised concerns regarding students’ access to diverse literature as advocacy groups push back against these bans. Critics argue that book bans threaten intellectual freedom and impact students’ enjoyment of reading, with increasing calls for clearer guidelines on book challenges in the educational system.

Columbia, South Carolina – South Carolina has emerged as the nation’s leader in public school book bans, having removed a total of 22 titles from school libraries. The latest action was taken during a recent meeting of the South Carolina Board of Education, where 10 additional books were removed from circulation. The board’s decision comes amid increasing scrutiny and community involvement in the ongoing debate over the appropriateness of certain literature in educational settings.

Of the 22 banned titles, more than half were submitted for review by local resident Elizabeth “Ivie” Szalai. Szalai has been active in challenging books in the Beaufort County School District, having previously attempted to have 97 books removed, which resulted in a year-long review process. Szalai argues that the challenged texts contain explicit sexual descriptions that are not suitable for students in grades K-12. Under South Carolina Regulation 43-170, adopted in 2024, books that depict sexual conduct can be banned from public schools.

The recent board meeting highlighted a significant focus on content regulation, with discussions regarding the standards and processes that govern book challenges. Book challenges can be initiated at the district level, and if unresolved, they can be escalated to the state level. Notably, the Beaufort County School District has not completed its review of Szalai’s current challenges within the specified 90-day timeframe, prompting the state board’s involvement.

In the May meeting, the South Carolina Board of Education faced criticism for its decisions, as only 2 of the 17 board members voted against the proposed book removals. The banned titles from this meeting include:

  • Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
  • Collateral by Ellen Hopkins
  • Identical by Ellen Hopkins
  • Lucky by Alice Sebold
  • Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
  • Last Night at Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
  • Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
  • Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
  • Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
  • Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Prior to the recent removals, 11 titles had already been banned, including works by authors Stephen Chbosky and Sally Rooney. Critics of these bans assert that many of the targeted books are not employed for classroom instruction and are primarily selected for students’ pleasure reading. Advocacy groups, such as Families Against Book Bans (FABB), argue that the focus of frustration should be directed towards the state Board of Education rather than individual complainants like Szalai. FABB advocates for intellectual freedom and seeks to reverse recent book bans through community engagement.

As the conversation around book bans continues, the South Carolina Board of Education has received complaints concerning the vagueness of current regulations. This has led some board members to call for clearer guidelines and policies pertaining to the banning of books. Szalai, however, did not respond to requests for comment regarding the outcome of the May meeting and its impact on her campaigns.

As the debate unfolds, the implications of these bans on student access to diverse literature remain a contentious issue, with ongoing discussions about the balance between protecting students and preserving intellectual freedom in educational environments.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

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Additional Resources

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Author: RISadlog

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