School board censorship of library books and of curriculum materials and methodology can infringe on fundamental constitutional rights, according to this seventh chapter in a book on school law. In the last decade, cases in federal courts have tended to support the authority of school boards to control library materials. However, board authority…

While in office, the 1976 chairman of the Committee against Censorship of the National Council of Teachers of English received reports of complaints about classroom and library materials; debated with textbook protestors; and participated in over 100 radio shows, at least half of which were call-in shows involving exchange of views with schoolbook…

Controversies about the choice of books in school libraries raise two perplexing questions: (1) To what extent does the First Amendment allow the government to control what students read in schools? (2) If educational materials are to be selected, who makes these decisions? Several relevant court cases are reviewed. (Author/IS)