The "Freedom to Read Act" in Tennessee is an essential piece of legislation that would protect the constitutional rights of both students and educators, ensuring that every child can benefit from a well-rounded education.
Currently, Tennessee restricts access to certain books in our schools. While it’s important to protect children from genuinely inappropriate content, the current law in place undermines our constitutional rights to free speech, free access to information, and the ability to think critically. This law effectively censors ideas, preventing children from encountering diverse perspectives and expanding their knowledge.
Our legislature is currently considering SB 1130/HB 1051, which would prohibit the exclusion or removal of educational materials based on the creator's background or ideologies, putting the freedom to teach back into the hands of our educators.
SB 1130/HB 1051, would:
- Uphold the First Amendment: The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and expression. If passed, this bill would reinforce the right of students to access a broad range of ideas, ensuring they can engage with history, literature, and culture without unjust censorship.
- Empower educators and parents: Teachers and parents are the best equipped to decide what is appropriate for their children. Censoring classroom lessons wastes educators’ valuable time – this law reinstates their right to choose books and content that best suits the developmental and educational needs of their students.
- Promote intellectual curiosity: Reading is one of the best ways for children to explore new ideas and grow intellectually. Students learn best in environments where they feel safe enough to talk and learn about complex issues. Limiting access to books creates unnecessary educational barriers and stifles the natural curiosity that helps kids learn and develop.
Most parents and educators believe that restricting access to books for political reasons is not in the best interest of children. This proactive policy would put the right to educate back into the hands of our teachers and allow students to engage with materials without unnecessary censorship.
The Freedom to Read Act fights back against policies that threaten free speech in classrooms. Every child, no matter their background, deserves a high-quality education that prepares them for success.
CLICK HERE TO Urge lawmakers to support the Freedom to Read Act today!
