CVUSD community protects book accessibility
Introduction
In our country, there have always been controversies surrounding the banning and censoring of books. Though it often feels far removed from NPHS, with our curriculum consisting heavily of
banned literature, there have been debates within the CVUSD. Local parents, teachers, students and admin continue to debate this topic, while several states are banning more and more books.
School board
The CVUSD school board is ultimately responsible for approving the curriculum taught in a classroom, and each trustee plays a significant role in this process. From the kindergarten picture books to the senior novels, books are chosen to best fit the students’ education.
Dr. Betsy Connolly, a member of the CVUSD school board from 2008-20, experienced many changing tides regarding literature in the classroom during her time as a trustee. From 2008-16 Connolly noticed a cultural shift. “We were focused on student success and fiscal discipline. That was what was happening during that first half of my service on the board. In 2016, the focus shifted away from those two things and towards what I’m going to call culture wars…things that were very divisive and split the community on a lot of issues,” Connolly said. During the “culture wars,” Connolly distinguished the difference between outright bans on books and soft censorship. “They actually did it initially through not an outright ban, but instead a promise to parents that they would be able to keep their child from a particular book in the English or social studies curriculum if they objected to that book,” Connolly said. However, this quickly became an issue. “[It was a] huge burden on teachers, and then those students had to be somewhere else during the time that the book was used for instruction…you don’t always have to completely ban something in order to keep it from happening. You can make it so difficult, so expensive, so time-consuming, so contentious that teachers self-censor their book collection,” Connolly said. Currently, as a local activist, Connolly prioritizes the freedom for students to read all types of books. “Literature is a way to experience the world beyond what you yourself know. And there are a lot of reasons why people want to explore and understand the world beyond their own, and diverse literature allows that to happen,” Connolly said.
Lauren Gill, a current trustee on the CVUSD school board, has been aware of debates surrounding book bans and has spoken about her opposition to such forms of censorship for many years. A proponent of the freedom to read all books, Gill believes in representation. “Representation is essential–students deserve to see authors and protagonists who reflect the diversity of our students and their families…attempts to ban certain stories are really efforts to exclude certain people or groups from full participation in life, learning and culture,” Gill said. As a board member, Gill is involved in choosing the book curriculum. “We protect books and people through policy that reflects law. Nondiscrimination is embedded in our policies, and we have specific policies that affirm our commitment to instructional materials that offer representation and inclusion,” Gill said. Although there have been no attempts to ban books in the CVUSD since Gill joined in 2020, she has witnessed attempts. “Attempts by previous board members to ban or exclude books were met with resistance by students, teachers, and community members. UItimately, those board members who attempted to restrict or ban books were not reelected,“ Gill said. “[I] worked to oppose censorship in our district and to elect trustees who value diversity and who will protect our students’ right to read. In 2020, I ran to join the board and continue that work,” Gill said.
Cindy Goldberg, a trustee on the CVUSD school board since 2018, worked to promote equity and book accessibility long before she ran for her position. “I came to the board out of a real concern that students would not have the opportunity to have an expansive curricular library,” Goldberg said. Goldberg believes that diversity and representation are essential for students. “Literature is one of the most powerful tools we have to build understanding and empathy… By reading books from diverse authors and about diverse experiences, students can better understand people from all walks of life,” Goldberg said. Although the school board ultimately approves all curriculum, it is a long process that involves teachers and administrators. “It begins with making sure our teachers feel empowered to bring forth quality literature that they believe teaches students something novel about the world and its inhabitants,” Goldberg said. Goldberg has been involved with CVUSD for many years, and she believes that there was a time in which book accessibility was threatened. “When challenges arise, I believe it’s important to have an open, transparent process where the merits of the book are discussed thoughtfully,” Goldberg said. Although no bans have been placed on material that can be taught in English courses in CVUSD, Goldberg has strived for full book accessibility throughout her time on the school board.
Libraries and bookstores
The City of Thousand Oaks is home to two public libraries: the Grant R. Brimhall Library and the Newbury Park Library, both filled with thousands of books, movies, archives and other resources. First opened in 1982, the Thousand Oaks library branch offers free books to all ages, with a collection containing nearly 400,000 different items. These libraries also provide spaces for communities to gather and access technologies, including computers, audiobooks, streaming video and 3D printing.
The Thousand Oaks Library supports the American Library Association’s “Freedom to Read Statement” and the State of California’s Freedom to Read Act, according to Darren Jeffrey, a city librarian. “The spirit of both documents expresses the belief that society in general, and American democracy specifically, are strengthened by a well-informed populace,” Jeffrey said. The “Freedom to Read Statement” expresses many problems that come with censorship, and the dangers resulting from the pressures of conformity. The statement also expresses that the freedom to read is something that is guaranteed by the United States Constitution. The entire statement may be found on the Thousand Oaks Library website. To affirm the propositions of the statement, the widest diversity of views and expressions should be made available for the public interest, in addition to providing books that enrich the quality and diversity of thought and expression. “Central to this belief is the thought that a balanced collection of materials, available in formats accessible to everyone, is the most straightforward way of providing the Thousand Oaks community with the tools necessary to build an informed opinion about whatever interest they are researching,” Jeffrey said.
American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights is another affirmation followed by the City of Thousand Oaks, guiding the basic policies of the services offered. It states that libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment. Library materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background or the views of those contributing to their creation.
When it comes to the selection of books within the library, the Collection Development Policy is followed, adopting the mission to “Inspire, Inform, and Engage.” The purpose of this document and selection criteria is to ensure that the library’s collection “reflects the needs of the Thousand Oaks community, while creating meaningful experiences and inspiration for the individual library patrons.” The library collection is said to be unbiased and contain as many viewpoints as possible. The library offers a Request for Reconsideration of Materials form, which allows anyone who is objecting to a book or other material to have it taken off the shelves. According to the mayor of Thousand Oaks, David Newman, no books have been banned from city libraries. “Requests to remove an item entirely are very rare. When that has happened, library staff denied the request, and the requestor did not escalate the issue from there,” Newman said.
As mayor for the city, Newman believes that students can largely benefit from the libraries, as they provide a quiet place to study, as well as free access to educational materials. “Libraries make books and other materials available to everyone. Not everyone can afford all the materials in our libraries – but anyone with a library card can still enjoy them,” Newman said. On his stance on book banning, Newman opposes book bans on two grounds. “First, I believe them to be unconstitutional. Like all elected officials, I took an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution, the First Amendment of which prohibits government restraints on speech and assembly,” Newman said. “Second, I’m not aware of any episode in human history where a book ban ended well.”
As well as these libraries, citizens can purchase a wide range of books and other texts from local bookstores, such as Barnes & Noble. Barnes & Noble, located in the Westlake Promenade, has dedicated a small section of their store to the display of “Banned Books.” Along with this, they also have a list of banned books on their website. The books, which vary in publication date and subject matter, are available for purchase with a description of the reasons for its ban in certain places on their website. Anne Tibbets, Deputy Assistant Manager and Deputy Buyer of Barnes & Noble Booksellers, has noticed how book bans have influenced customer demand. “If anything, having a book listed as ‘banned’ makes some customers want it more,” Tibbets said. If a customer is offended by or has a sensitivity to a topic being covered in one of the banned books, the store works to offer countless other options that are likewise accessible for all interested readers. “Just read something else. There’s 30,000 square feet of books to choose from,” Tibbets said. Barnes & Noble does not enforce restrictions on any books, letting authors sell their books in this store regardless of content. Despite the controversy surrounding the censoring of certain book titles and authors, Barnes & Noble remains committed to allowing curious readers to gain knowledge on their own terms.
Teachers
Books taught in English classes have been sources of controversy across the United States and in California. In the Conejo Valley school district, no bans have been placed on material that can be taught in English courses, as long as it aligns with the set curriculum. For this section of the article, the Panther Prowler reached out to English teacher Alana Bond for an interview, which she declined due to concerns of the confidentiality of students.
At NPHS, English classes follow the opt-out policy, meaning that students and families can opt out of material being taught in class, however these materials are not censored for everyone in the classroom. Jill Magnante is an IB Literature and 12 CP teacher who has experienced opt-out situations. “I will completely respect a family’s right to review the syllabus and make those choices,” Magnante said. “But I’m not going to let it censor the texts that are approved by our district.” Classes at NPHS teach books that are banned in other parts of the country, yet many teachers feel they contain important lessons or alternate points of view. “The idea that we are exposed to lived experiences outside our own makes us better human beings and able to understand our own experiences in a light of, sometimes, gratitude,” Magnante said. Students enrolled in IB Literature and Language or IB Literature read books such as “1984” and the graphic novel “Persepolis,” which have been considered problematic in the past.
These books can give students an opportunity to examine difficult subject areas. “[Books like “1984” provide] an opportunity to have a conversation about what it means to be intimate with other humans on a relationship basis, and the idea of having trust with individuals,” Magnante said. As a proponent of book accessibility, Magnante has taught books that have been considered difficult over the course of her career and continues to protect this right.
Gregory Coull, a 9 H and 11 CP teacher, finds the banned books controversy as a reason to seek out and read the titles being challenged. Similarly, in his classroom, banned books are not looked at as something to fear, but rather another viewpoint to explore. “Any book that is victimized by censorship is usually one that makes someone uncomfortable because it challenges their preconceived notions,” Coull said. Coull implements such thinking in his English classes as a way to encourage his students to think critically and develop compassion. “Namely, it’s my sincere belief that all learning and growth takes place when an individual is challenged to think beyond themself and consider a new point of view,” Coull said. A standard part of the ninth grade English curriculum, the Pulitzer prize-winning novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” has been challenged many times. However, a book that appears problematic does not intimidate Coull. “Instead of making me shy away from a text, when a book is on a ‘banned’ list or people take notice of its ideas which spark debate, I’m far more interested in reading it…When we ban and censor books, we take significant strides away from the harmony we all need in order to lead informed, productive and empathetic lives,” Coull said. Coull believes that books such as “To Kill A Mockingbird” lead to productive conversations and understanding.
California’s stance
California has taken a strong stance against banning and censoring books, enacting several laws to ensure such censorship is prohibited. In 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1078, which prohibits school boards from banning books based on identity groups such as race, sexual orientation or gender. There is also the California Freedom to Read Act [AB 1825] authored by Al Muratsuchi. This law requires public libraries to receive state funding and continue not to ban books based on content or views. “In California, we know that our freedom to read is a cornerstone of our democracy. Unfortunately, there is a growing movement to ban books nationwide, and this bill will ensure that Californians have access to books that offer diverse perspectives,” Murtsuchi said. This act also continues to protect books that contain explicit content, unless the content is deemed explicit according to the United States Supreme Court. California continues to take its stance as a state that prioritizes diverse opinions and viewpoints in our accessible literature through many of these laws.
Conclusion
The Conejo Valley School District, alongside local libraries and bookstores, continues to promote book accessibility and the right to explore various perspectives in history through literature. CVUSD students have access to all types of books in their libraries, and current school board trustees and teachers have vowed to protect this right.
