Commonwealth Policy Center

There’s been much talk about so-called book bans at the beginning of this school year. Groups like the American Library Association are hysterical when books are removed from public school libraries. The latest controversy is over Scholastic, the largest distributor of books to our public schools. In response to controversial, objectionable, and sometimes pornographic material being marketed to children, Scholastic has segregated the books from its main offerings. And for that, they’re being criticized for taking part in book bans. But is it really banning books to keep pornographic, inflammatory, and age-inappropriate materials out of the hands of minors? Just as we are for free speech in this nation, we should also be for age-appropriate material being given to our kids. And this isn’t book banning.