Book Bans in Teaching and Teacher Education

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

Book bans are spreading with banned books and book challenges across the United States, impacting teaching and teacher education in significant ways. This Division K Vice-Presidential Sessions brings together Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian, Alexi Gianoulias, who will discuss Illinois State law aimed at deterring book bans, the Commissioner of Chicago Public Libraries Chris Brown, scholar Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, and Pennsylvania State Representative Chris Rabb in a conversation facilitated by Marc Lamont Hill. Topics discussed will include how book bans undermine First Amendment rights, impend on individual freedoms, and prevent many from accessing books by and about Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color as well as members of the LGBTQIA+ community. In doing so, this Division K Vice-Presidential Session broaches pedagogical, legislative, policy, and research related entanglements of teacher and teacher education pertaining to book bans.

Sub Unit

• Division K - Teaching and Teacher Education

Chair

• Mariana Souto-Manning, Erikson Institute

Participants

• Chris Brown, Chicago Public Library

• Detra Price, The Ohio State University

• Christopher Rabb, Pennsylvania General Assembly

Discussant

• Marc Lamont Hill, Graduate Center - CUNY