The Absurd Year in Educational Censorship, From Gay Penguins to the Gettysburg Address
It has been an absurd year for educational censorship. More
As the Right Fights the Teaching of Race, A New AP Course Expands It
The history of academic freedom for LGBTQ educators and LGBTQ issues in the curriculum shows us that progress is not linear and that old ploys resurface in new guises. More
Universities Must Prioritize Both Campus Safety and Free Speech as Complementary, Not Competing Imperatives
During the past month, two public universities dealt with campus confrontations involving controversial speakers, student protesters, and apparent members of the Proud Boys, an organization heavily implicated in the… More
For LGBTQ Teachers, Academic Freedom Means the Freedom to Exist
The history of academic freedom for LGBTQ educators and LGBTQ issues in the curriculum shows us that progress is not linear and that old ploys resurface in new guises. More
Two Federal Judges Announce Boycotts of Yale Law Grads for Clerkships
Jeremy C. Young, senior manager of free expression and education programs at PEN America, released the following statement: “The boycott proposed by Judges Ho and Branch is both cruel and… More
Today’s Book Bans Echo a Panic Against Comic Books in the 1950s
History shows that when Americans grow panicked about the impact of reading material on children, they often don’t scrutinize specific claims against materials. More
Conservatives’ Panic Over Teachers Misses How Little Freedom They Have
In preventing teachers from guiding students in debate and critical inquiry and inhibiting them from educating about social justice, we have weakened the core elements of American democracy. More
Political Litmus Test for Campus Speakers is Inimical to the Mission of Higher Education
“Berkeley Law School appears to have handled this controversy effectively,” Young continued, “making clear the provision violated the tenets of free speech, while also acknowledging that the student group… More
Limiting Academics’ Freedom to Tell the Truth About Racism is Not New
As conservatives return to the rhetoric of their repressive roots denouncing academic freedom, the big question may be whether they will even face opposition. More
Alert Us
Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?
PEN America On 
"It's important that we build an army... instead of going on the defensive... we really (need to) go on the offensive... (to) protect and expand the right to read," says @TracieDHall1 #RightToReadAct #Students #Teachers #Librarians
When it announced its A.P. course, the @CollegeBoard clearly believed it was providing a class whose time had come. After heavy criticism from Gov. DeSantis, it has removed much of the subject matter that had angered the governor and other conservatives. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/01/us/college-board-advanced-placement-african-american-studies.html
I'm in awe of the strength and grace of @MsBoismier_ELA and so grateful I got to interview her about helping students fight book bans. https://twitter.com/PENamerica/status/1620784813719564288