Action | Amendments Regarding Use of Controversial or Sensitive Instructional Materials |
Stage | NOIRA |
Comment Period | Ended on 1/15/2014 |
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When teachers select books for courses, the decision goes through a rigorous process of evaluation. Allowing parents (who often don't read the books but just respond to a list of "banned" books they receive from an organization) to censor books is a step in the wrong direction. Students should read across cultures and sometimes need to wrestle with issues outside of their own comfort zone. This is the way to grow intellectually, ethically and morally. Please understand that the implications of such an amendment are far-reaching and will have a detrimental effect on literary education in Virginia. In any case, I hope that if such an amendment does pass that it will be challenged in the courts.