Banned Books Week 2024, taking place September 22 – 28, is a time to celebrate the freedom to read and to raise awareness about the ongoing issues of book banning and censorship.
The ninth annual Banned Books Social Media Contest, alongside other NEHS initiatives like the sale of limited-edition Banned Books Week merchandise, and the provision of resources for educators, underscores the importance of protecting access to diverse and often controversial literature.
Through these efforts, NEHS aims to empower educators, students, and book lovers to stand against censorship and promote the essential right to read. Read on to find out more.
Banned Books Week Social Media Contest
In celebration of Banned Books Week (September 22 – 28, 2024), Sigma Tau Delta, NEHS, and the ELA Honor Society are teaming up to host the ninth annual Banned Books Week social media contest. To participate you must tag us in a post on any of the following social media accounts:
- NEHS Facebook
- NEHS X (@NEHSXpress)
- NEHS/Sigma Tau Delta Instagram (@EnglishMatters)
What to do in Your Post:
Books are banned for a variety of reasons. Take your own original photo of your favorite banned book and share with us (on one social media platform) one of the reasons it has been contested. If you wish to post on a second platform, please choose a second banned book to post about.
The contest will run September 22 – 28, 2024. Everyone who participates during this time frame will be entered in a drawing to win one of three $25 Bookshop.org gift cards. A $50 Bookshop.org gift card will also be awarded for the best overall post. Select submissions will be shared across our social media platforms.
Banned Books Week Merchandise
What better way to show your support for Banned Books Week, NEHS, and the importance of free and unrestricted access to information than with limited edition NEHS Banned Books Week T-shirts and stickers.
The limited-edition merchandise can be purchased from Shop NEHS.
Book Banning & Censorship Resources for Teachers
NEHS is acutely aware of the growing efforts to ban and censor literature in schools and libraries across the country. To assist Chapter Advisors in confronting this challenge, NEHS is partnering with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Intellectual Freedom Center to offer a range of valuable resources. These resources include a database of book rationales, the NEHS Freedom to Read statement, a platform for reporting censorship attempts, and additional materials supporting intellectual freedom.
Book Rationales
The database contains more than 1,300 book rationales, enabling educators to search by title, author, and grade level. This feature is invaluable for finding rationales for classroom use or responding to book challenges. Additionally, educators can explore new literature to incorporate into their curricula or classroom libraries, further enhancing students’ learning experiences.
NEHS Freedom to Read Statement
The NEHS Freedom to Read statement is an essential resource for promoting intellectual freedom and resisting censorship in educational environments. Chapter Advisors can utilize this statement to reaffirm their commitment to preserving the right to access diverse literature when confronting book challenges or efforts to limit access to certain materials. It can be presented at school board meetings, included in official communications, and incorporated into chapter bylaws.
Report Censorship Attempts
NCTE offers guidance, useful documents, and support to Chapter Advisors facing challenges related to texts (including literary works, films, videos, and drama productions), student writing, or teaching methods in their classrooms and schools. If you are aware of any ongoing censorship incidents, please use this form to report them.
Additional Support
NCTE offers a variety of additional resources for NEHS Chapter Advisors, covering topics such as selecting materials for English language arts classes, guidelines for addressing material censorship, and statements on academic freedom and the significance of classroom libraries.
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