To the Editor:

A recently published survey by the American Library Association has found that 74 percent of parents of public-school children “express a high degree of confidence in school librarians to make good decisions about which books to make available to children.”

We have seen several letters to the editor, and speakers at the past three BOE meetings where an overwhelming majority have expressed their opposition to removing challenged books from the high school library. The BOE special committee has unanimously agreed that two of the challenged books, Flamer and Blankets should not be removed from the library’s stacks. Newtown’s superintendent spoke about reaching a similar conclusion after reading both books and acknowledging that the shocking images and phrases being circulated to garner outrage, were grossly taken out of context.

Regardless of whether the Board of Education votes in support of or against the book challenges, there are already more challenges lined up to follow. The effort to remove books from Newtown’s school libraries is more than a few local parents concerned about the age appropriateness of certain books. There has been an increase in similar book challenges nationwide.

According to PEN America, the first half of the 2022/23 school year saw 1,477 challenges to 874 individual titles. Perusing the list of challenged titles that PEN America has compiled, it is easy to see a pattern of challenges to books based on the perspectives of marginalized communities, and stories that promote social justice.

The books currently being challenged in Newtown are many of the same books challenged in other places due to the concerted effort prodded by national organizations with a much deeper political agenda. The common buzzwords and hashtags being circulated on social and other media, that demonize our educators, should be the first giveaway that this movement is AstroTurf, not grassroots.

It’s apparent that the majority of Newtown’s parents and voters reject book banning.

Alenda Calderbank

Sandy Hook