Describes the background and outcome of a court case testing the right of a high school committee to bar an anthology from the school library. (CMV)

The ten papers in this document were presented at a week-long institute in 1982 and are published now because of concerns about recurring threats to intellectual freedom and First Amendment rights. Included are: (1) "Intellectual Freedom: The First Amendment and the Right To Know" (Dennis Day); (2) "How Conflicting Values Result in…

In school library cases, the courts must address the statutorily directed authority of school boards to regulate education, the recognized duty of the parents in rearing and nurturing their children, and the recognition that children also enjoy rights under the Constitution. (Author/MLF)

This paper examines the censorship of school library books and school textbooks in American public schools, with particular emphasis on recent court cases. The 1982 Supreme Court case, Island Trees Union Free School District versus Pico, is examined in detail, and it is argued that Justice Brennan established precedent for a "right to…

Discussion of censorship against books in public and school libraries focuses on intellectual freedom; First Amendment rights; and curriculum development to include lessons on the First Amendment. Offers suggestions for activities focusing on censorship and banned books. (LRW)

The "Pico v. Island Trees Union Free School District" decision affirmed students' right to receive information under the First Amendment and concluded that removing books from school libraries infringes on that right. Book removals solely to suppress ideas are open to court review in the absence of clearly established administrative…

"When you start your new job as a school librarian, one of the first steps you must take is to ask to see the district's book selection policy. If there isn't one, write one. Right away. It protects you, the teachers, and the district." That advice was part of the author's school library administration course at the School of Library and…

Reviews the "Seyfried v. Walton" court decision involving the cancellation of a school play by the superintendent. Compares decision with decisions in other First Amendment cases involving school censorship. Points out that a complex constitutional issue has left a dangerous theory that could be adapted to other issues with this…

This book presents an analysis of the current state of book banning in schools and public libraries, offering ready reference material on major incidents, legal cases, and annotated entries on the most frequently challenged books. Every section of this revised edition has been rewritten, updated, or expanded to reflect new developments. In-depth…

This manual discusses the issue of intellectual freedom as it pertains to library policy and practice and offers guidelines for ensuring the right to read. It is intended for the public librarian or school library media specialist who needs to develop new policies or update existing policies. The book is divided into 10 chapters. Chapter 1 looks…

The rights and responsibilities of boards of education in restricting the availability of certain materials through school libraries are considered in this report. The document first treats the relationship between the demands of the First Amendment and parents' expectations regarding the appropriateness of certain materials for their children.…

The 1982 Supreme Court decision in "Pico v. Island Trees Union Free School District" occasioned an ideological war over interpretation of the First Amendment, but a review indicates that it is an additional case in the long-standing attempt to find the proper balance between the amendment and the efficiencies of government. In…

Discusses a Kansas court case that addressed First Amendment rights of students when a book was banned from a school library. Topics include motivation of school board members, students' rights to information versus denial of access to ideas, viewpoint discrimination, and educational suitability. A sidebar presents viewpoints of the book's author.…

Noting that a deep concern about the suppression of ideas in the public schools of the United States is very much a part of the collective consciousness of the school library profession, the implications of intellectual freedom for school library personnel and for library collection development are explored. The position of the school library in…

Through an examination of U.S. circuit, district, and Supreme Court school library censorship cases from 1972 to 1982 an attempt is made to discover whether school officials' actions and court officials' decisions show a reverence for the spirit of First Amendment freedom of expression guarantees. (MBR)