Marshall University does not ban books! The information is provided to let people know what has been banned/challenged elsewhere.
2022
An online petition was directed to the superintendent and board of the Novi (MI) Community School District protesting the inclusion of “sensitive materials topics,” defined as “gender identity, sexuality and ideological activist behavior(s).” Titles included Melissa by Alex Gino, Sparkle Boy by Lesléa Newman, A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara, Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, Nicola Yoon’s short story “Super Human,” the poem “The Cost of Being a Girl” by Denise Frohman, and the poem “If a Princess Tries to Kidnap Your Daughter” by Carlos Andres Gomez. Also at issue was a concern about bullying of people who disagreed with each other. Among public comments at the board meetings, several trustees and district officials spoke on behalf of the district’s efforts
to be more inclusive. The titles apparently have been retained.
2020
The Superintendent of the school district in Oak Park (CA) announced the introduction of gender identity curriculum for elementary schools to parents, to include the books Sparkle By by Leslea Newman, It’s Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr, Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall, Neither by Airlie Anderson, and Jamie is Jamie: A Book About Being Yourself and Playing Your Way by Afsaneh Moradian. The curriculum sparked strong protests from 300 parents, some claiming that the lessons were “unscientific ideology,” others believing that the parents should decide whether to broach the subject, not the schools. Following a review by the district curriculum council and parent-teacher organizations at each of the three elementary schools, the Oak Park Board of Education adopted the program.
On These Pages
A Banned book has been removed from a library, classroom, etc.
A Challenged book has been requested to be removed from a library, classroom, etc.
For additional information contact
Ron Titus, titus@marshall.edu
304-696-6575
Last updated
May 3, 2023