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The Absurd Year in Educational Censorship, From Gay Penguins to the Gettysburg Address

Advocacy
By: Jonathan Friedman, Kasey Meehan, Jeremy C. Young, Samantha LaFrance, Tasslyn Magnusson | December 23, 2022

It has been an absurd year for educational censorship. More

As the Right Fights the Teaching of Race, A New AP Course Expands It

November 16, 2022

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

analysisNovember 3, 2022

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

October 24, 2022

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

Press ReleaseOctober 19, 2022

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

October 17, 2022

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

October 10, 2022

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

Press ReleaseOctober 4, 2022

“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

October 3, 2022

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

Censored: Free Speech & Hollywood

Wednesday, November 16, 2022 | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm PT
 More Information

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penamerica PEN America @penamerica ·
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"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

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penamerica PEN America @penamerica ·
1h

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

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lisatolin Lisa Tolin @lisatolin ·
1h

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

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