Jawboning: When Educational Censors Don’t Bother Passing a Law
Censorship advocates have increasingly responded to growing resistance with a new tactic: trying to achieve the same results without passing a law at all. More
The Discriminatory Impact Of Book Bans And Educational Gag Orders On LGBTQ+ Expression
Threats to free expression in education have a discriminatory impact on LGBTQ speech and topics, PEN America and PEN International show in a joint submission to the United Nations. More
The Perilous State of Academic Freedom and Free Expression in Education
PEN America and PEN International jointly submit a contribution to the Special Rapporteur’s report on academic freedom in educational institutions. More
Champions of Higher Education Unite to Fight Educational Censorship
PEN America was joined by 13 former college presidents for a summit to discuss legislative assaults on higher education and what academics and their allies can do to fight… More
The Topics Teachers Are Too Afraid to Teach
Frederick Douglass, women’s suffrage, jazz and the blues, Batman, reproductive biology, philosophy. In states with restrictive educational policies, teachers and professors have questioned if they are allowed to teach… More
America’s Censored Classrooms 2023: Lawmakers Shift Strategies as Resistance Rises
In 2023, Educational gag orders changed dramatically in their shape. Their supporters have new and more insidious strategies for silencing America’s educators. More
PEN America Criticizes U.S. Human Rights Record (Update Oct 16, 2023)
PEN America submitted a report to the United Nations Committee on Civil and Political Rights, criticizing the human rights record of the United States on free expression, discrimination, and… More
PEN America Criticizes U.S. Human Rights Record at the U.N. Human Rights Committee
PEN America submitted a report to the United Nations Committee on Civil and Political Rights, criticizing the human rights record of the United States on free expression, discrimination, and… More
Teachers and Librarians Describe a Climate of Fear Stoked By New Laws
A wave of educational censorship laws has created a climate of fear among teachers and librarians that has led to the departure of seasoned educators across the country. More
PEN America: Withdrawal by Arkansas of AP African-American Studies Course is “Reckless and Ideologically-Motivated”
PEN America’s Freedom to Learn program director Jeremy C. Young said: “In its zeal to copy Florida’s destructive policies, Arkansas has demonstrated that attacks on intellectual freedom in schools… More