How Educators Can Respond to Book Banning 

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Originally published in TEACH Magazine, July/August 2022 Issue

By Adam Stone

The tide of intolerance is rising, and once again the reactionary camp wants to throw literature on the pyre, at least metaphorically.

As director of library services at Mercersburg Academy, a private high school in Pennsylvania, Alexandra Patterson worries about the long-term social impact of book banning. “Books can be a wonderful way to build empathy, and when we are cutting off access to voices from particular groups, we are creating larger divisions,” she says.

In recent months, some parents and school boards have ramped up efforts to exclude certain titles from classrooms and library shelves. Many experts say that teachers, librarians, and others have a key role to play in what they describe as a critical time for education.

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Adam Stone is a seasoned journalist with 20+ years’ experience. He covers education, technology, government, and the military, along with diverse other topics.

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Adam Stone
Adam Stone
Adam Stone is a seasoned journalist with 20+ years’ experience. He covers education, technology, government, and the military, along with diverse other topics.

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