A school district in Florida is looking to extend the state’s book ban to an unexpected genre: dictionaries. According to a list obtained and published by the nonprofit PEN America, the Escambia County school district is leaving no stone unturned.
The district reportedly included five dictionaries, eight encyclopedias, and “The Guinness Book of World Records” in its list. Also, the district has a list of more than 1,600 books that it wants to ban. The district reportedly pulled the books off its library shelves for including descriptions of “sexual conduct.”
According to a statement from PEN America, the books were among the 1,600 titles the district took out of circulation last summer. The decision came after determining the titles could run against Florida’s HB 1069 bill. The bill restricts schools from teaching sexual content.
The district also has a list of books formally challenged on its website. Consequently, the district has restricted several books, including Alice Sebold’s “Lucky.” Also, Kyle Luckoff’s “When Aidan Became a Brother” is a story of a transgender boy and his new role as a big brother.
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Among titles on the list are John T. Alexander’s “Catherine the Great: Life and Legend” and “Speak: The Graphic Novel.” In addition, Carl Hiaasen’s “Hoot” and Anne Frank’s “Diary of a Young Girl” made the list. Also on the list are “Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary,” “The Bible Book,” and “The World Book Encyclopedia of People and Places.”
The list also includes “The Guinness Book of World Records, 2000” and “Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus for Students,” amongst others. Some decommissioned titles include Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Oprah Winfrey, Nicki Minaj, and Thurgood Marshall biographies.
According to reports, the district initially pulled the books during the district’s 2023 summer break. The district started reviewing books last July and hopes to check all books with a formal decision by May 2024. However, the Escambia County School District now defends its decision in a federal lawsuit.
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Following the bans, PEN America joined students, parents, book publishers, and authors in the suit. According to the suit, the plaintiffs argue that the district violated their rights to free speech. Also, they claim the district violated their equal protection rights under the law with its decision.
In a press release ahead of the case’s opening arguments, PEN America’s Florida director, Katie Blankenship, condemned the move. “School libraries are not state propaganda centers,” Blankenship said. “We will not stand by as these political agendas and censorship undermine critical spaces.”
Similarly, Stephana Ferrell, director of research and insight at the Florida Freedom to Read Project, blasted the move. Ferrell said the state’s Department of Education guidance is “irresponsible.” “What’s happening in Escambia is ridiculous, but it is also happening in many other districts to varying degrees,” Ferrell said.
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In addition, she said the Florida Department of Education has the power to fix the issue. However, an Escambia County School District representative said calling the book removals a “ban” is inaccurate. The spokesperson noted that the district has not banned the 1,000+ books referenced.
Contrarily, the spokesperson said the district pulled the books for further review “to ensure compliance with the new legislation.” “To suggest otherwise is disingenuous and counterproductive,” the spokesperson continued.
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