Educational Censorship
Today, books in the US are under profound attack. They are disappearing from library shelves, being challenged in droves, being decreed off limits by school boards, legislators, and prison… More
5 Myths about Educational Gag Orders
The legislators behind these gag orders are not interested in a productive back-and-forth with educators; what they want is simply to dictate the terms of teachers’ surrender. More
For Educational Gag Orders, The Vagueness Is The Point
We find that instead of clarifying the laws, guidance documents have muddied the waters, further eroding academic freedom and students’ right to learn. More
Conservatives Oppose Educational Gag Orders, Too
Casual observers of the recent wave of educational gag orders could be forgiven for thinking that views on this issue are perfectly polarized along ideological lines. Conservatives support these… More
Educational Gag Orders Seek to Enforce Compulsory Patriotism
Three New Bills Become Law in Florida, Mississippi, and South Dakota Monthly Roundup, March This post is part of a series from PEN America tracking the progress of educational gag orders… More
Educational Gag Orders Target Speech about LGBTQ+ Identities With New Prohibitions and Punishments
The effort to censor anti-LGBTQ identities in the classroom is expanding rapidly. More
In Higher Education, New Educational Gag Orders Would Exert Unprecedented Control Over College Teaching
In 2022, educational gag orders are being aimed squarely at colleges and universities to exert ideological control over what is being taught and read in classrooms. More
Free Expression and Education
PEN America’s free expression and education program works with schools to ensure robust protections for freedom of speech are balanced with advancements in diversity and inclusion. More
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The vagueness is the point. @ThePlumLineGS gets it right. Lawmakers had many chances to make the Don't Say Gay law clearer; they kept it vague. State guidance has also gone further than the original law, w/ worse penalties. Results are #Chilling #EdScare
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/01/27/desantis-school-libraries-dont-say-gay-critical-race-theory/
Still so proud to have been involved in this project, with amazing and dedicated collaborators @saliltripathi, @suketumehta, and Kiran Desai. Love for India and its promise and potential span decades, nationality, and continents. https://twitter.com/PENamerica/status/1618972267354136576
I am honored to be one of the judges for this year's PEN/ROBERT J. DAU SHORT STORY PRIZE FOR EMERGING WRITERS @PENamerica
https://pen.org/meet-the-2023-literary-awards-judges/