Zwicker and Ruiz Seek to End Book Banning: Insider NJ Report
New Jersey lawmakers, Andrew Zwicker and Teresa Ruiz, are seeking to end book banning in the state. The two legislators have introduced a bill that would prohibit school districts from removing books from their libraries based on their content.
The bill, A-6024, was introduced in the New Jersey Assembly on June 10th, 2021. It seeks to amend the current law that allows school districts to remove books that are “inappropriate for the age and maturity of the students” or that contain “sexually explicit material.” The proposed amendment would remove these provisions and prohibit school districts from removing books based on their content.
Zwicker, who is a physicist and a member of the Assembly’s Education Committee, said that book banning is a form of censorship that goes against the principles of free speech and academic freedom. “We should be encouraging our students to read widely and critically, not shielding them from ideas that might challenge their beliefs or make them uncomfortable,” he said.
Ruiz, who is the chair of the Senate Education Committee, echoed Zwicker’s sentiments. “Banning books is not only unconstitutional, it’s also counterproductive,” she said. “We need to teach our students how to think critically and engage with different perspectives, not shelter them from ideas that might be controversial or unpopular.”
The bill has received support from various organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Jersey and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC). In a joint statement, the two organizations praised the bill as a step towards protecting students’ right to access information and ideas.
“Book banning is a form of censorship that undermines the educational mission of our schools,” said Amol Sinha, executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey. “We applaud Assemblyman Zwicker and Senator Ruiz for taking a stand against this harmful practice and for upholding the principles of free speech and academic freedom.”
The NCAC, which has been advocating against book banning for over 45 years, also expressed its support for the bill. “We believe that students have the right to read and explore a wide range of ideas, even those that might be controversial or unpopular,” said NCAC’s executive director, Joan Bertin. “This bill is a crucial step towards ensuring that this right is protected.”
Book banning has been a contentious issue in the United States for decades. According to the American Library Association (ALA), there were 377 reported attempts to ban books in 2019 alone. The reasons for these attempts ranged from sexual content to political viewpoints.
Opponents of book banning argue that it stifles intellectual curiosity and critical thinking, and that it can lead to a narrow-minded and intolerant society. Supporters of book banning, on the other hand, argue that it protects children from harmful or inappropriate material.
Zwicker and Ruiz’s bill is still in the early stages of the legislative process, but its introduction has already sparked a conversation about the importance of free speech and academic freedom in schools. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether New Jersey will become the latest state to end book banning.
