News Summary
South Carolina has recently surpassed Utah as the leading state in public school book bans, totaling 22 titles removed from classrooms and libraries. This follows the South Carolina Board of Education’s vote to ban an additional 10 books, with many removals stemming from challenges posed by a local parent. The bans have sparked controversy regarding censorship and access to literature, particularly impacting works by women and LGBTQ+ authors. Critics argue that the regulation under which these books were banned undermines educational principles and promotes self-censorship among librarians and educators.
Columbia, South Carolina — South Carolina has become the leading state in public school book bans, now totaling 22 titles removed from all public school classrooms and libraries. This increase follows a recent vote by the South Carolina Board of Education to ban an additional 10 books, surpassing Utah’s previous record of 17 banned books.
More than half of the banned titles in South Carolina can be traced back to challenges made by a Beaufort County parent, Elizabeth “Ivie” Szalai. Szalai has previously sought the removal of 97 books, arguing that while these texts delve into important themes, they contain explicit sexual content not suitable for K-12 students. The state’s Regulation 43-170 permits the banning of books that contain descriptions or visual depictions of sexual conduct deemed inappropriate for the age group.
As local school officials struggled to address Szalai’s challenges in the required 90-day timeframe, the decision on the book removals was ultimately left to the State Board of Education. During the recent vote, only two board members opposed the removals: Dr. David O’Shields and Rev. Tony Vincent.
The list of banned books features popular titles, including “Collateral” by Ellen Hopkins, “Empire of Storms” by Sarah J. Maas, “Half of a Yellow Sun” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky. Notably, many of these books were authored by women and LGBTQ+ writers. The decision to remove these books has sparked significant controversy regarding the impact of one individual’s challenges on the reading availability for all public school students.
Librarians in South Carolina are feeling heightened pressure and fear due to the state regulation. For instance, Chapin High School’s librarian, Ayanna Mayes, has proactively removed books suspected of being challenged before any formal action occurs. The regulation, implemented in June 2024 without state legislative approval, has faced criticism for fostering what some consider censorship and creating a “chilling effect” within educational environments.
Critics, including the ACLU of South Carolina, argue that this regulation undermines the democratic principles of education and public decision-making over educational content. Moreover, the State Board of Education is not required to read the challenged books prior to determining their removal, raising concerns about the thoroughness and fairness of the process.
In response to the growing apprehension surrounding book bans, Democratic lawmakers have introduced a “Freedom to Read” bill. This proposed legislation aims to protect access to diverse and age-appropriate reading materials for students. Overall, students and librarians report a growing awareness of book challenges, with many young readers expressing disappointment over the removal of titles that resonate with their lives and experiences.
The environment created by these bans has led to increased self-censorship among educators and librarians as they navigate the ambiguous guidelines regarding book appropriateness. The rising number of bans in South Carolina reflects a broader trend across the United States, where challenges to books in educational settings have become more frequent, generating both debate and concern over the implications for student access to literature and information.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Federal Lawsuit Filed Against South Carolina Education Law
South Carolina Leads the Nation in Public School Book Bans
South Carolina’s Education Board Bans 22 Books
South Carolina Lawmakers Tackle DEI, Abortion, and Childcare Issues
Columbia Faces Legal Challenge Over Education Policies
Additional Resources
- Island Packet: South Carolina Book Bans
- Wikipedia: Book Banning
- The State: Education News
- Google Search: South Carolina book ban
- WIS TV: SC Leads Nation in Book Bans
- Google Scholar: Book Bans South Carolina
- Greenville Online: Book Removals in SC
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Book Screening
- SC Daily Gazette: Book Removal Guidelines
- Google News: South Carolina Book Removal Regulation
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