US Education Department Ends ‘Hoax’ Investigations into Book Bans
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Loading... - Farida Reda
- 29 Jan 2025
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The U.S. Department of Education's recent decision to terminate investigations into book bans has ignited significant backlash from advocacy and civil liberties groups. The Office for Civil Rights announced on Friday that it had dismissed 11 complaints related to book bans and would no longer employ a "book ban coordinator" to investigate local school districts and parental concerns.
This move comes amid a growing trend of attempts to ban or remove books from school libraries and classrooms across the country, particularly targeting works by or about people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. According to free speech organizations, these efforts have intensified in recent years, with PEN America reporting over 10,000 public school book bans during the 2023-2024 school year.
In its official press release, the Department of Education referred to the book ban investigation initiative as a “hoax,” asserting that school districts and parents have established “commonsense processes” to evaluate and remove age-inappropriate materials. This characterization has drawn sharp criticism from various organizations.
The American Library Association (ALA), which views book banning as a form of censorship, documented 4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship and recorded 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials, and resources in 2023. In response to the Education Department's actions, the ALA stated, “In their cruel and headlong effort to terminate protections from discrimination for LGBTQIA+ students and students of color, the Department of Education advances the demonstrably false claim that book bans are not real. Book bans are real.”
The coalition group Authors Against Book Bans condemned the Trump administration's decision to eliminate the position of book ban coordinator, labeling it “grossly un-American” and “in direct conflict with freedom of speech.” Their statement emphasized solidarity with families, students, and educators who exercise free speech through literature, noting that 71% of Americans oppose book bans. They warned that book bans do not protect children and represent a dangerous step toward tyranny.
As the debate over book bans continues, the Education Department's dismissal of investigations raises concerns about the implications for free expression and the rights of marginalized communities in educational settings. Advocacy groups are likely to intensify their efforts to combat censorship and promote access to diverse literature in schools.
