Below is a sponsored message from one of our community partners EverydayAdvocacy.org
When a Pennsylvania school board pulled over 300 books from school bookshelves, a student
group calling themselves the Panther Anti-Racist Union took note. All the banned books were by
or about people of color or of non-traditional gender, even including a student PowerPoint on
helping minority students take the SAT. Faculty sponsors helped the students to first talk with
the administration, after which the group decided to hold a series of morning “walk-ins” with
protest signs – rather than walk-outs that could generate negative publicity. The school board at
first resisted and doubled-down on the ban, but after the students’ continued action through
peaceful protest events and community support that they garnered, the board eventually relented.
A Growing Problem, but Growing Help is Available
With so much political and social distrust in this country right now, parents and community
members in many school districts are actively questioning the teaching in their schools – some
with genuine interest but others with negative political agendas. However, few of us receive
training in how to address such situations. Fortunately, though, a number of social and
educational organizations have stepped up to help. Among these is Everyday Advocacy, a
volunteer committee of educators hosting the website https://www.everydayadvocacy.org/.
The Everyday Advocacy Approach
Everyday Advocacy helps teachers, librarians, and all who care about children’s learning to
actively and thoughtfully address issues around education policy, especially censorship and
book-banning – though other problems, such as equitable and constructive discipline, are
important as well. Such efforts need to be smart, safe, savvy, and sustainable if they are to be
successful. In other words, advocates need to be well informed about the issues and the
organization of a school or district, in order to offer constructive solutions – i.e., smart.
Individuals need to build support so they are not alone – i.e., to be safe. Actions need to be
strategic and likely to be effective rather than just protest for its own sake – i.e., savvy. And they
need to persist over time and against push-back – that is, sustainable.
If you are concerned about book banning or censorship, your efforts will depend on what is or is
not happening in your district and community. If there are no problems but you fear they may
develop, the first step should be to build a network of support among parents, other community
members, and teachers. If a censorship effort is in progress, you’ll need to consider steps that are
strategic and that are supported by the network you’ve cultivated. Or if draconian rules or laws
are already in place, you can still seek small ways to support your students’ voices and growth.
If you realize there’s an issue that you find you really must address, Patricia Jackson and Ben
Hodges, whom we began with, offers some advice in an interview with them at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAJGXR4tyJI&t=840s).
In Summary
- Realize you’re not alone, even when it can feel like that. Find others to work with you so
you can support each other. Trying to do this alone is difficult.
- Find your way to start with small steps. Little things matter.
- Start a website or group where people can share their concerns.
- Realize that your efforts can cause ripples, even when it seems difficult. And know there
are allies out there who can help you.
Remember, too, that there are stories you can tell about good teachers you know or experienced,
or your own student appreciated, and these can provide some of the most powerful arguments for
change and improvement.
The Everyday Advocacy website provides
- guiding principles and practical action steps
- succinct videos from authors recounting times they’ve learned how their books provided
crucial support in young peoples’ lives (also available at the YouTube channel
@EverydayAdvocacy - And now you can download from the website a detailed guide/workbook, The Everyday
Advocacy Playbook, to guide your effort. It speaks directly to teachers, but it applies to
anyone in a school community wishing to promote positive change or address a problem.
We Want to Hear from You
The Everyday Advocacy team would like to hear your stories – about advocacy lessons you’ve
learned, or simply to help you connect with other resources that can help address censorship
challenges that may be happening where you live. Contact us through
everydayadvocacycontact@gmail.com .
