Stop the Book Bans in Calvert County!
Act Now
Across the state of Maryland, a small number of bad-faith parental and religious groups have called to strip schools of mostly BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and coming-of-age centered stories. We must protect and uplift the stories that center BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized groups. The literature that our children read should include and reflect every person, not just straight, white cismen.
Students, who are BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or from other marginalized groups need to be able to read books that center similar life experiences to their own. This helps them understand themselves and the world around them better. Without having avenues to see yourself in books and media, students are at a greater risk of feeling ostracized, depressed, and worse.
Right now in Calvert County Public Schools, Superintendent Dr. Andraé Townsel is overriding the decisions of the Calvert County Public Schools’ (CCPS) library book reconsideration committee. He is restricting access to multiple books and requiring a parent or guardian’s permission if the student is under the age of 18. However, CCPS has not given any permission slips to read the restricted books.
We are taking action to stop the book bans along with Calvert County Parents for Practical Solutions, PFLAG Southern Maryland, and Southern Maryland Young Democrats. We call on the Calvert County Board of Education to prohibit the Superintendent from overriding the library book reconsideration committee and to add a student member to the committee to ensure students’ voices are reflected in those decisions too.
Message Recipients:
Calvert County Board of Education members