Article Summary –
Book bans are active in Arizona, impacting diverse and LGBTQ+ themes in literature. Educators criticize these bans, arguing they hinder empathy and burden teachers amidst the “culture war” on public schools. Laws like HB2495 and HB2439 enforce parental approval and book reviews, while some proposed bills were vetoed. Notable banned books include “The Color Purple” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The bans contribute to high educator attrition rates, with critics saying they exploit fear and mistrust for political gain.
Book bans in Arizona are currently in effect—a reality educators and reading enthusiasts want to highlight.
The week of September 22 is Banned Books Week, emphasizing the value of free access to information while highlighting the harms of censorship.
Sen. Christine Marsh, D-Phoenix, a former public school teacher, has opposed every law potentially banning books in Arizona.
Marsh believes book bans often ignore children from different racial backgrounds, the LGBT community, or those facing tragic circumstances.
“Taking away the opportunity for those kids to see themselves in literature is a disturbing problem,” Marsh told The Copper Courier. “Reading is one of the best ways to learn empathy.”
Marsh noted the extra work for overwhelmed teachers due to book removals. Schools might have already purchased sets of books or prepared tests, indirectly defunding public schools.
In Fall 2020, the “culture war” on public education intensified. National organizations and anti-public school legislators fueled fears about teachers’ actions.
In 2022, voters elected Tom Horne as Superintendent of Public Instruction. Horne ran on a promise of “exposing horrible teachers,” which restricts teachers’ ability to do their job and puts them in the crosshairs of the far-right.
Many teachers are taking “preventative measures” by sending out permission slips for books, fearing legal repercussions from parents.
Unfounded book fears sow mistrust
In September, a Higley Unified School District teacher was investigated by police after a parent accused her of disseminating child pornography over a book used for a school assignment, 12News reported. The unfounded accusation led to harassment and threats from other parents.
“They’re afraid of the climate created by politicians around these non-real issues,” Garcia said. “The culture war is impacting teacher retention.”
Last year, Garcia received a permission slip from her son’s teacher to read The Color Purple by Alice Walker in class. The book, detailing the life of an African-American woman facing abuse and bigotry, has been labeled as “sexually explicit.”
“It’s an amazing book that’s won every award and plays a critical role in understanding history,” Garcia said, adding parents should be upset about such books being banned.
Overburdening educators
The environment created by Horne and like-minded legislators is negative for teachers, diluting what they can teach and creating extra work, said Tyler Kowch, communications manager for Save Our Schools Arizona.
“A lot of attacks on book bans are really attacks on representation,” Kowch said. “These books are lifelines to students who may not get to be themselves at home but can see themselves in a book.”
Teachers are mindful of district standards, student maturity levels, and appropriate content, Kowch added.
“When people talk about sexually explicit material, they often mean queer representation, which are two different things,” Kowch said.
Garcia believes book bans are used to drive a wedge between parents and educators, contributing to teacher exits. Arizona had one of the highest rates of educators planning to leave the profession at 13 percent in 2023, nearly double the national rate.
What laws have been proposed, and what is in place?
LAW: House Bill 2495, introduced in 2022, requires parental approval to teach books referencing sex, signed into law by Gov. Doug Ducey.
LAW: House Bill 2439, introduced in 2022, establishes parental review for library books, signed into law by Gov. Doug Ducey.
FAILED: Senate Bill 1700, introduced in 2023, would have allowed a parent to request book removal for lewd content. It passed the Senate but did not become law.
VETO: Senate Bill 1007, introduced in 2024, an extension of HB2495 adding a felony designation, was vetoed by Gov. Katie Hobbs.
VETO: Senate Bill 1696, introduced in 2023, would have made it illegal to have undefined “sexually explicit material” or acts on state property. It was vetoed by Gov. Katie Hobbs.
“A parent can say, ‘I don’t want you checking this book out,’ but they can’t impose their values on everyone,” Kowch said.
The legislators passing these laws aren’t focused on protecting children, said Kowch.
What books are being banned?
Books labeled as “sexually explicit” or that reference sex include: The Color Purple by Alice Walker, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
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