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The American Association of University Women Silicon Valley Branch (AAUW Silicon Valley) hosted a virtual discussion titled School Book Banning: A Primer for Readers of All Ages with Jennifer Lynn Wolf, senior lecturer at Stanford Universitys Graduate School of Education and former high school English teacher.

The March 14 discussion had more than 60 attendees.

According to PEN America, book banning is defined as Anyaction taken against a book based on its content and as a result of parent or community challenges, administrative decisions, or in response to direct or threatened action by lawmakers or other governmental officials, that leads to a previously accessible book being either completely removed from availability to students, or where access to a book is restricted or diminished.

Wolf focused onthe particulars of book banning in schools. She said that the current surge in book banning is similar to a pandemic in the number of attempts (531 from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31, 2023, for example) involving 3,923 titles.

This surge is not new attempts to ban books go back to the early part of the 20thcentury. Wolf cited a case study of books being burned by the Nazis at the urging of the German Student Union in 1933. In the 21st century, the controversy on books began with the banning by the McMinn County School Board in Tennessee of the childrens graphic novelMausthat described the terrors of the Nazi regime.

The audience was encouraged to learn that in 2023, California passed AB 1078, which prohibits book bans.

According to Wolf,the current schoolbook banning movement is being driven by Moms for Libertyandhas great impact on both children and families.

She pointed out that the American Library Association tracks and challenges attempts to ban books nationwide.

Wolf offered this advice on how to protect the right to read:Read and gift banned books, use your public library, learn whos on your local school board and hold candidates forums, and watch, listen to or read documentaries, podcasts or books on book banning.

In a question-and-answer session after her talk, one attendee said that San Joses AAUW has already gone to board meetings of four school districts and learned that the true reason for book banning is to discredit public schools and to promote private parochial schools.

In response to another question, Wolf said that in her opinion it is impossible to learn and grow without some discomfort, so the fact that children do experience some unease through reading shouldnt be a reason to ban books.

Wolf concluded with the comment that currently there are more questions than answers about book banning, particularly with regard to who (parents, school boards, teachers, legislators, the courts, for example) should decide what children should learn and read.

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AAUW speaker warns of rise in book censorship, 'similar to a pandemic' - Los Altos Town Crier

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