Books, censorship, and anti-intellectualism in schools

Abstract

Books are often the targets of anti-intellectual censorship efforts in schools for two reasons. First, they are integral to the process and practice of reading, which is how people encounter new ideas. Second, the coercive nature of curriculum means that students must read books with controversial ideas. Emily Knox argues that the people who challenge books believe strongly in the power of books, and it is this belief that motivates their actions. To combat these efforts, educators must have in place robust policies and procedures for choosing and defending curriculum materials, directly name anti-intellectualism as a threat to education, and avoid treating any single book as presenting a complete and absolute version of the truth.

“‘We believe in education, not indoctrination’: Governor Ron DeSantis, critical race theory, and anti-intellectualism in Florida”

“…Nonetheless, banning books and materials conservatives find inappropriate in public schools is yet another way politicians like DeSantis contribute to anti-intellectualism. Researcher Emily J. M. Knox (2020) castigates grassroots activists, who use anti-intellectualism to censor educational content taught in public schools, purging books from traditional canons of literature. As Knox observes, because “books are instrumental for the creation of intellectuals” (p. 30), activists ban books because they do not want “to introduce people to new ideas and to change their minds” (p. 29).…”